Administrative Procedures for Forest Carbon Projects and Emission Reduction Certification Announced 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE) has announced seven new administrative procedures governing forest carbon projects, the issuance of forest carbon credits and the certification of emission reduction results. The procedures are set out in Decision No. 2334/QD-BNNMT dated 22 June 2026 and provide detailed guidance for implementing Decree No. 180/2026/NĐ-CP on forest carbon sequestration and storage services. 

The new procedures establish a clear regulatory framework for forest owners, organisations, businesses and local authorities to participate in the development and registration of forest carbon projects, the measurement and verification of emission reduction results and the generation and trading of forest carbon credits. The announcement marks an important step toward operationalising Vietnam’s forest carbon market.

No.	Name of the procedure	Processed at the national level by MAE	Processed at the provincial level by Provincial People’s Committee
1	Registration and Amendment of Forest Carbon Projects
2	Revocation of Registration of Forest Carbon Projects
3	Issuance of Forest Carbon Credits
4	Certification of Emission Reduction Results and Forest Carbon Credits Available for Supply

Under Decision No. 2334/QD-BNNMT, the authority responsible for processing approval of carbon projects is determined by the project’s geographical scope. Projects located within a single province fall under the jurisdiction of the respective Provincial People’s Committee, while projects spanning two or more provinces are subject to approval by MAE. MAE is also the sole authority responsible for certifying emission reduction results and issuing forest carbon credits eligible for trading and supply. The following graphics visualise the registration procedure of a carbon project at the national level.

Decision No. 2334/QD-BNNMT came into effect on 15 July 2026. The Viet Nam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST), together with relevant agencies and units, is tasked with overseeing its implementation and ensuring the consistent application of the new procedures across the country.

National Standard on Forest Carbon Credits – Requirements Published

The requirements for the national forest carbon credit standard TCVN 14682:2026 were published by Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) through Decision 3429/QĐ-BKHCN dated 11/08/2026. The standard stipulates principles, requirements and methods for generating carbon credits from forest-based greenhouse gas emission reduction and carbon sequestration. The standard can be accessed here.

This standard provides technical requirements and guidance for the development and implementation of carbon projects in the forestry and land-use sectors. It contributes to the consistency, transparency and verifiability of carbon credits and supports the registration, recognition, exchange and trading of carbon credits in accordance with applicable laws and regulations in the Vietnamese carbon market.

Halfway there

While Decree 180 has established the legal foundation for forest carbon projects in Viet Nam, a substantial body of implementing regulations remains under development.

Under the implementation plan for Decree 180 issued through Decision No. 2200/QĐ-BNNMT on 10 June 2026, a series of legal and technical documents must be prepared and approved to enable forest carbon projects and ensure their contribution to Viet Nam’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

Priority tasks for the third and fourth quarters of 2026 include the development of a methodology for determining payment levels for forest carbon sequestration and storage services, as well as a list of eligible forest carbon credit methodologies for international transfer.

The regulatory agenda will continue through 2027, with key expected deliverables including:

• An NDC implementation plan for the forestry sector, together with assessments of emission reduction potential and the allocation of greenhouse gas reduction targets to local authorities;
• A forestry-sector database covering greenhouse gas inventories, emission reduction outcomes and the exchange and transfer prices of emission reductions and forest carbon credits.

In parallel, VNFOREST has been assigned a range of supporting responsibilities. These include raising awareness and disseminating information about Decree 180, negotiating and concluding transactions to transfer emission reductions and forest carbon credits and promoting international cooperation on forest carbon sequestration and storage services.