The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) are two organizations under the Asian network for creating and developing practical piloting methods for Payment for Environmental Services (PES) and Reducing Emission from Deforestration and Dedegration Plus (REDD+).

From 25 to 27 February 2012, CAREC conducted an eight-day study tour to Vietnam with 12 participants to learn about PES and REDD+ in Vietnam. During the tour, ICRAF Vietnam introduced participants about PES/ REDD+ in the country and successful related activities which have been coordinated by the organization recently in the two project sites in Bac Kan and Lam Dong provinces.

All participants have attended meetings with local stakeholders who have been working on piloting PES/REDD+ such as 3-PAD Bac Kan, Ba Be National Park, and Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in the two provinces,...In addition, the participants also shared their experience with local officials and farmers participating the projects in Ba Be district, Bac Kan province and Da Nhim district,Lam Dong province.

After the study tour, Mr Simon Charr�, Project Manager of CAREX has expressed his deep gratitude and highly appreciation on the enthusiasm from ICRAF team in organizing, planning for the study tour as well as guiding, sharing documents, knowledge and experience on PES/ REDD+

"The outcome of the trip is extremely positive and all the participants are now in touch to work together in order to advocate for these tools at their own levels. I'm confident that PES/REDD+ activities will be implemented successfully at all levels in Kyrgyzstan.", he mentioned.

Photo: 12-study-tour participants of Kyrgyzstan's CAREC visiting small households in Ba Be, Bac Kan