The JICA-GCF project has a total investment of about 71.95 million USD and will be implemented over six years across six provinces: Son La, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Phu Tho, Lao Cai, and Tuyen Quang. 

At the meeting, a JICA representative provided detailed information on the project’s key components, including overall project design and preparation of activity content, timeline, and effectiveness conditions; subsidiary agreements between JICA and the provincial People’s Committees; the role of the project owner; financial flow management; and preparation of project documents for each province. Based on agreements with the provinces, JICA will organise a project development workshop in Hanoi in May 2026.

During the meeting, Son La province presented an overview of its forestry development potential. Accordingly, the total forestry land area planned for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, exceeds 694,000 hectares. This includes over 88,800 hectares of special-use forests, more than 333,000 hectares of protection forests, and over 272,800 hectares of production forests. 

Son La has also established a sustainable forestry development orientation, focusing on conserving and developing a system of five special-use and protection forests, and designating a biosphere reserve associated with targeted, sustainable ecotourism development.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman Cong requested JICA to coordinate with the province to develop and finalise the project participation document in line with project requirements by December 2026. 

He agreed on the establishment of a provincial-level project management and executive board, assigning the Department of Agriculture and Environment as the standing agency of the project, and discussing in detail the process of preparing documents and implementing the project participation timeline. 

He also expressed his expectation that JICA would continue supporting the province in forestry spatial planning based on regional and ecosystem linkages; applying digital technology in forest resource management and monitoring; early detection of forest fires and deforestation; and enhancing direction and administration efforts.