How feasible is a landscape approach to REDD+ in Vietnam?

There is growing concern amongst tropical countries on the emphasis of REDD+ to the conservation of forest areas alone, while significant tree cover can be found outside forest areas and officially demarcated forestlands may have little tree cover. A landscape approach to REDD+, which accounts for emission reductions from all land uses can help address this concern.
Reducing Emissions from All Land Uses (REALU) is a landscape approach that is being tested in selected tropical countries. The REALU concept is based on the argument that trees outside forests contribute to carbon-rich landscapes, and incentives for forest conservation alone may undermine the potential of local communities to conserve or enhance carbon outside forest boundaries. Drawing from our REALU feasibility study in Bac Kan province, in the northeast region, we provide insights for a national REALU strategy in Vietnam.