(Photo: Dong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong Forest, Vietnam. Credit: Viet Nature Conservation Center / Pham Tuan Anh.)
Carbon Balanced Paper is a global carbon offsetting initiative that allows buyers of paper-based products to support global conservation efforts that protect vital forest ecosystems via a partnership with World Land Trust (WLT).
One of WLT’s most impactful initiatives is the conservation of the Dong Chau–Khe Nuoc Trong Forest in Vietnam, a project led by WLT’s partner, Viet Nature Conservation Centre. Together, they have helped designate over 22,000 hectares as a nature reserve – an area that sequesters about 41,686 metric tons of CO2 annually.
Why Dong Chau–Khe Nuoc Trong Forest is Special
Nestled in the Annamite Mountain Range of north-central Vietnam, the Dong Chau–Khe Nuoc Trong Forest is considered a biodiversity hotspot. The area is home to over 40 vulnerable species, including nine endangered and ten critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Khe Nuoc Trong (KHT) is a sanctuary for globally iconic species like the Crested Argus, White-cheeked Crested Gibbon, and the endangered Red-shanked Douc Langur. The area is also home to the critically endangered and rare “Asian unicorn” – otherwise known as Saolo.
KHT is also one of the last remaining Annamite Lowland rainforests in the region. These tropical rainforest are characterized by dense, diverse vegetation and rich biodiversity, found in the warm, humid, lowland areas around Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos.
As a Watershed Protection Forest, KNT also provides clean water to local communities and feeds downstream rice paddies.
Tackling Threats and Protecting Biodiversity
The KHT forest faces threats from illegal logging and poaching. To address this problem, the project funds reserve rangers through the Keepers of the Wild program. These dedicated rangers patrol the forest, monitor wildlife, and remove snares, thus reducing pressures on wildlife. WLT-generated funds also support biodiversity research and joint law enforcement activities with local authorities. Protecting local fauna and promoting sustainable practices helps ensure the long-term health of the forest and its local communities.
In the areas adjacent to the KHT forest, state-owned forestry companies were harvesting high-value timber until the mid-2000’s when the Vietnamese government banned logging because the timber resources were so exhausted. Despite it now being illegal, local communities continued to cut and sell timber and the forests continued to become more and more degraded.
Supporting Local Communities
The region around the KHT forest is home to marginalized ethnic minorities, the Van Kieu, who depend on the forest for their livelihoods (which includes harvesting non-timber forest products for local sale). The project attempts to address the socio-economic challenges these communities face by creating jobs with local conservation groups, by researching how non-timber forest products can help contribute to sustainable living, and by raising environmental awareness.
Promoting sustainable practices helps reduce local reliance on damaging activities such as illegal logging or poaching. Without this joint project between WLT and Viet Nature the forest would unfortunately remain in a lower carbon state due to perpetual low-volume, high-value timber harvesting.
Blueprint for Future Conservation
The success of the Dong Chau–Khe Nuoc Trong Forest project serves as a great blueprint for future conservation efforts. It shows how carbon balancing can be integrated into conservation strategies to protect critical ecosystems, support local communities, and contribute to global sustainability goals.
