Quang Ngai has a vast forest area. Photo: Ha Nguyen / Tuoi Tre
The province is seeking to turn its forest resources into a source of revenue, but this requires complete data, project development and compliance with recognized standards.
Quang Ngai has potential to develop forest carbon credits
Forests protect ecosystems, regulate water resources, and absorb and store carbon, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
When measured, assessed and recognized in accordance with regulations, this value can generate additional funding for forest management, protection and development.
According to the Quang Ngai Forest Protection Sub-Department, the province has 825,851.24 hectares of forest, including 603,996.71 hectares of natural forest and 221,854.53 hectares of plantation forest.
Nguyen Van Nam, head of the sub-department, said forests in the province absorb and store around two million metric tons of carbon annually, based on the calculation method provided by the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection.
Quang Ngai is also participating in the South Central Coast and Central Highlands Emission Reductions Program under the LEAF initiative, with approximately 1.13 million carbon credits expected to be allocated.
The program gives the province an opportunity to access financing linked to emission reductions.
However, the estimated amount of carbon absorbed and stored does not represent the number of credits already issued and available for trading.
To generate revenue, projects must meet requirements for calculation methods, applicable standards, assessment and verification of results.
The province plans to develop forest carbon projects in two directions.
The first is to strengthen sustainable forest management and protection, reduce forest fires and degradation, and apply appropriate vegetation-clearing methods during forest planting.
The second is to develop pilot projects under domestic or international standards to assess the potential for generating credits through forest protection, restoration and development.
Quang Ngai Province has 825,851.24 hectares of forest, including 603,996.71 hectares of natural forest and 221,854.53 hectares of plantation forest, according to the provincial Forest Protection Sub-Department. Photo: Tran Mai / Tuoi Tre
Forest inventory and pilot projects underway
Reliable data on forest area, current conditions and characteristics is essential to developing forest carbon projects.
Such data provides a basis for determining carbon stocks, monitoring changes in forest conditions and assessing emission reduction results.
The Quang Ngai Department of Agriculture and Environment is conducting a forest survey and inventory under directives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the provincial administration.
The results are expected to be announced in 2027.
Nam said the survey and inventory data would provide a basis for determining carbon stocks, assessing the potential of individual areas, selecting appropriate methods and developing projects.
Quang Ngai is also working with the Vietnam Academy of Forest Sciences to develop pilot forest carbon projects at Dak To Forestry Single Member Co. Ltd., Kon Ray Forestry Single Member Co. Ltd., and the Dak Ha Protection Forest Management Board.
The sites were selected based on the size of their forest and forestland areas and the diversity of forest types and conditions.
Nam said the selection criteria include large forest areas and various forest types, including evergreen broadleaf forests, coniferous forests and plantation forests.
The sites also have different forest conditions, ranging from rich and medium-quality forests to poor and severely degraded forests.
The pilot projects will help assess local conditions, test methods for determining carbon stocks and identify requirements for expanding the projects.
However, developing a project and issuing carbon credits requires measurement, reporting, assessment and verification of results, as well as compliance with the standards of the selected program.
Quang Ngai has vast potential to generate revenue from its forests, described as “green gold.” Photo: Ha Nguyen / Tuoi Tre
Revenue generation must go hand in hand with forest protection
Government Decree No. 180/2026/ND-CP on forest carbon absorption and storage services took effect on July 15, 2026, providing an additional legal basis for related activities.
Projects may involve preventing deforestation and forest degradation, conserving and increasing carbon stocks, managing forests sustainably, and planting and restoring forests.
However, transfers of emission reduction results and carbon credits must comply with regulatory requirements.
Forest ownership or the presence of forestland alone does not qualify an area for carbon credit sales.
Nam said Quang Ngai needs to improve its data and legal framework, select projects, establish measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) systems, mobilize resources, register and implement projects, and complete the verification, recognition and trading processes to generate economic value from forest carbon.
Forest carbon projects must also ensure long-term forest protection.
Forest fires, deforestation and forest degradation can affect emission reduction results, the retention of recognized carbon stocks and project effectiveness.
Implementation mechanisms must ensure transparency in revenue management and benefit-sharing among stakeholders, while protecting the interests of forest owners and communities involved in forest protection.
Fair benefit-sharing could encourage local residents to remain involved in forest protection and improve the effectiveness of natural resource management.
With nearly 826,000 hectares of forest, Quang Ngai has potential to develop forest carbon credits.
However, the economic benefits will depend on the volume of emission reductions recognized, implementation costs and trading conditions.
Generating revenue from forest carbon will therefore require the province to establish mechanisms that link economic benefits with sustainable forest protection and development.