The 4th Multi-Party Forum About monitoring forest governance and sustainable timber trade 25/08/2021 Nghi Nguyen August 25, 2021 Center for Sustainable Rural Development – SRD, owner of the Project “Promoting forest governance and legal timber trade through the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement” in collaboration with the General Department of Forestry , EU, VNGO- FLEGT and VNGO- EVFTA networks and related agencies organized the 4th forum on monitoring forest governance and sustainable timber trade. CORENACCA is a member of the VNGO- FLEGT network that has participated in the online forum. Mr Pham Van Dien Deputy Director General of the General Department of Forestry Participating in the Multi-Stakeholder Forum were VNGOs and other stakeholders: Mr. Koen Duchateau Head of Cooperation Department of the European Union Delegation to Vietnam delivered a speech at the forum on promoting forest governance and legal timber trade. Mr. Pham Van Dien – Deputy Director General of the General Department of Forestry co-chaired the Forum Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hop – Director of SRD co-chaired the Forum Ms: Nguyen Thi Thu Trang – Director of the Center for WTO and Integration, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry VCCI According to Ms. Trang, in the first 5 months of 2021, Vietnam’s export of legal timber (VPA-FLEGT Agreement) to the European market increased by 37% compared to the same period last year, but Vietnam only accounted for 2% of the European market. The representative of the VPA-FLEGT Office of the General Department of Forestry presented and updated the process of implementing VPA- FLEGT and EVFTA with advantages and disadvantages. Mr. Nguyen Ba Ngai – Professor, PhD – Vietnam Association of Forest Owners gave a presentation on “Demand for export plantation timber in the context of EVFTA Agreement and VPA commitments”. Mr. Doan Diem – Institute of Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Certification presented a research report on “Environmental and social issues of wood processing enterprises to meet Chapter 13 of the EVFTA Agreement” Mr. Edwin Shank – EU VPA-FLEGT Coordinator presented “Framework for monitoring and evaluation of the VPA-FLEGT Agreement and the role of civil society organizations”. Ms. Tran Thi Huong Trang presented a report on “Indigenous peoples in using forests and forest land to meet Chapter 13 of the FLEGT Agreement and the VPA. Finally, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quang – Project Coordinator presented ” Communication strategy and plan of the VNGOS – FLEGT network. Nguyen Viet Nghi