The Australian government has pledged US$507,000 towards a forestry research project to investigate the benefits of mixed plantations of indigenous tree species from Vietnam and Australia.
The research will focus on identifying the optimum mix of species to support the reforestation efforts of both countries.
Vietnamese landholders have become increasingly interested in using high-value indigenous tree species mainly because of the higher prices they command and also because some species provide income through non-timber products such as natural medicines.
The end of rainforest logging in Australia has prompted similar interest in planting indigenous rainforest tree species of high commercial value.
