On 24 May 2012, the National workshop on "Combination of remote sensing based and community based carbon monitoring for REDD+" has been organized by World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Vietnam in the partnership with Vietnam Forestry University (VUF) and Michigan State University (MSU) at Flower Garden Hotel in Hanoi.

The workshop was aimed at:

1) presenting the results of application of participatory carbon monitoring (PCM) and remote sensing (RS) techniques in forest carbon monitoring;

2) synthesizing findings in the application of RS based and community based carbon monitoring;

3) discussing the utility the RS based and community based carbon monitoring at different scales.

This event has brought together the expertise and lessons learnt from the central government organizations, local government organizations and international organizations, NGOs & research institutions working across Vietnam with remote sensing based and community based carbon monitoring.

During the half-a-day workshop, many questions were raised amongst feasibility and applicablity of PCM and RS techniques at national level after pilotting at project scale. Conclusing the workshop, Dr. Delia Catacutan, ICRAF Vietnam Country Representative, stressed "The workshop has reviewed advantages and disadvantages of both PCM and RS techniques. It showed that RS seems to be applicable at larger scale while PCM may be applied at local level. Thus the decision of choosing which technique is more preeminent will depend on the practical situation of each project.

Lists of Presentations:

1. MRV & M for national REDD+ implementation - FAO

2. Framework methodology for participatory carbon monitoring for REDD+ purposes - SNV, Vietnam

3. Community & Satellite Remote Sensing - Michigan State University, USA

4. Participatory Forest Carbon Monitoring in Na Ri district, Bac Kan province - ICRAF Vietnam

5. Overview of PCM in Carbon monitoring in Vietnam/Case study in Central Highlands - Tay Bac University6. Monitor of forest carbon in Yok Don National Park using remote sensing technique - Space Technology Institute, Viet Nam

Photo 1 <above>: Participants were actively engaged in the presentations

Photo 2: Many questions were raised and answered even when limited time didn't allow group discussions to be happened