Strategy of the Vietnamese Timber Processing Industry for Procuring Raw Materials Under Planted Forest Expansion

University of Agriculture and Forestry, Hue University, Viet Nam

FY 2018-2020 Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI)

IWANAGA, Seiji

There is a tendency for developing countries to be polarized between those in which the forest area is starting to increase and those in which it is still decreasing. In the former countries, natural forests are still exposed to logging pressure, but planted forests that specialize in timber production support an increase in forest area. In particular, countries in Southeast Asia often plant fast-growing trees that can be harvested in 5 to 10 years, resulting in intensive timber production being implemented. Therefore, it is important to understand the potential for sustainable timber production and supply in tropical regions.

The aim of this research is to gain an understanding of the potential of timber production and supply from planted forests in tropical countries by investigating the timber processing industry’s raw materials procurement strategy, forestry management by plantation companies, and the actual situation of farmland afforestation management by local people in Vietnam, which is a country where the area of planted forest is increasing.

We obtained information by interviewing timber processing companies such as sawmills, tree planting companies, and local people who are planting trees on farmland.

This research focuses on the potential of industrial and farmland plantations for providing a source of raw materials for the timber processing industry and plantation companies and the role of local people as suppliers. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of forestry systems in planted forests to provide a sustainable timber supply without reducing natural forests and to improve the livelihood of local people.

Iwanaga S, Yokoyama S, Duong DT, Minh NV. 2019. Policy effects for forest conservation and local livelihood improvements in Vietnam: A case study of Bach Ma National Park. Journal of Forest Research, 24(5): 267-274.

Photographs of timber being harvested from a planted forest (left) and an acacia (Acacia spp.) plantation and nursery (right)