Hua Duc Nhi, deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development made this affirmation at a seminar on forestry policies and plans for the 2011-2015 period.

Mr Nhi said that this is an important seminar which has contributed to improving issues and policies related forest protection and sustainable development but there are still shortcomings in the laws regarding forestry, land management, bio-diversity and the management of natural resources.

Dr Juergen Hess, director of the Management of Natural Resources Programme under German Technical Assistance (GTZ), and also co-president of the Forestry Sector Support Partnership (FSSP), said that Vietnam has made major achievements in its forestry sector. However, in the process of implementing forestry policies in the 2006-2010 period, shortcomings were revealed, so it is important to draw up amendments and supplements to these policies for the 2011-2015 period.

The event, co-organised by the General Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the GTZ programme and the FSSP, has attracted the participation of both foreign and local researchers, policy makers, and representatives from processing industries and private forestry businesses.