During a talk with VietNamNet about QuangTri's growth, Ha Sy Dong, the deputy chair of Quang Tri province, said that selling carbon credits, which was once a far-fetched dream, has turned into reality.

Could you please tell us about the carbon credit potential in Quang Tri’s agriculture?

We have many old forests with diverse rare and precious woods. We also have native plants and wild flora and fauna. These are the bases for assessing carbon absorption and storage and potential for ecotourism.

In 2023, the natural forests in Quang Tri could collect money from the transfer of emission reduction results. The money has been distributed to the people, the community and forest management units. This shows that selling carbon credits is no longer a far-fetched dream.

Also, we have 121,400 hectares of planted forests, including 26,000 hectares planted by households, individuals and forestry companies which have VFC (Forest Stewardship Council), and VFCS/PEFC (Vietnam Forest Certification Scheme/ Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification). So, in addition to natural forests, we can also sell carbon credits from planted forests.

Agriculture is a sector that can join the carbon credit market if we follow clean, green and circular production. It is expected that Quang Tri will have organic fields and ecological fields. Organic rice will be our key product and a groundbreaking development to join the carbon credit market.

There are 1,100 hectares of rice fields farmed in accordance with an organic scheme, of which 346.58 hectares meet standards for organic rice and are naturally cultivated, and 502.5 hectares are cultivated in accordance with organic scheme, 4.3 hectares with VietGap standards and 160.6 hectares meet standards on food hygiene.

We have heard that many international businesses and organizations have come to QuangTri and asked for cooperation to develop carbon credits. Is this true?

Yes, it is. Dutch Inproba is negotiating for voluntary payment for a carbon absorption volume of 1,500 tons per annum, worth 15,000 euros (1 ton=10 euros). Italian Etifor is negotiating on voluntary sponsor of 50,000 euros per annum to maintain FSC-ES, practice forest protection, forest rehabilitation and enriching and forest planting at the sites of landslides caused by natural calamities in 2020.

Quang Tri also has great potential in developing clean energy. Will this be a renewable energy source to promote green production and join the carbon credit market?

Quang Tri suffers heavily from climate change and the weather conditions are severe. However, we have turned the problems into strengths to develop sustainably.

Previously, ‘gio Lao’ (hot and dry westerly wind from Laos to central Vietnam) and the burning sun were the big fear of QuangT ri people. But the fear has turned into an endless clean energy source for people’s lives and production. 

In Quang Tri, there are Truong Son Mountains and Ho Chi Minh Trail, places with high-speed wind, favorable for wind power development. In 2019-2022, the provincial authorities approved 31 projects, of which 19 projects have become operational. 

It is expected that the wind power output will ensure sufficient supply of electricity for the central region by 2027 and satisfy the requirements for the provincial IZs to transform to green production.

The PM has released Decision 1737/2023 approving the Quang Tri development plan in 2021-2030, which says Quang Tri will become a clean energy center in the central region.

What benefits will wind power projects bring to local people?

We have set up regulations which must be observed when implementing wind power projects.

When these projects become operational, wind power farms will take shape on the space above, while people will cultivate on the ground, creating landscapes for ecotourism development.

The projects will be implemented on mountainous areas, which will pose difficulties in transport infrastructure. The provincial authorities will allow enterprises to develop roads. With 31 projects, they have built over 100 kilometers of roads.

Is Quang Tri ready to join the carbon credit market?

Quang Tri is one of six provinces implementing emission reduction projects in the north central region in 2023-2025. This means that the calculation of emissions reductions for natural forests in the province have been measured by FCPF (Forest Carbon Partnership Facility), via the World Bank, and it has committed to pay.

As for planted forests, we are negotiating with an Italian group to assess emission reduction capability before beginning carbon credit transactions.

Tam An - Hien Anh