Highland localities share experiences in afforestation and timber export

The entire Son Dong district currently has over 66,000 hectares of forest and forestry land, which have basically been allocated to people and forest owners.

According to Mr. Le Duc Thang - Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Dong district, Bac Giang province, the whole district has over 66,000 hectares of forest and forestry land, which have basically been assigned to the people and forest owners. To protect the forest, Son Dong district assigns the responsibility of forest protection to the heads of the Party Committee and the government, marking the boundaries of each type of forest, strictly handling violations, maintaining support for natural forest protection contracts or inviting businesses to build factories, cooperate in forest planting, purchasing and processing forest products for export.

Son Dong district strives to complete the certification of sustainable forests (FSC certification) for at least 10,000 hectares by 2025. The estimated value of forestry production is about 1,000 billion VND. This not only protects sustainable forests but also maintains biodiversity, increases income for people, especially ethnic minorities, and aims to participate in the carbon credit market.

To increase people's income, Son Dong district has signed a cooperation agreement with Vietnam Forestry Corporation (VINAFOR) on building a wood processing factory for export to the Japanese market and investing in industrial cluster infrastructure.

“This is the time to drastically change the method of forest planting, attract investment in wood processing for export to high-end markets such as Japan instead of just selling raw acacia chips. In the long term, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant agencies need to have a plan to provide financial support, training to raise awareness as well as train human resources in planting, managing forest products, and implementing FSC certification in Vietnam…” – Mr. Thang said.

Sharing at the Conference, Mr. Nguyen Van Ha - Chairman of the People's Committee of Dinh Lap district, Lang Son province said that, besides many households planting forests to escape poverty and become rich, the district faces many challenges in maintaining sustainable forest certification. Specifically, such as changing long-standing farming practices of the people or implementing forestry production and business without negative impacts on the environment...

“With the advantage of bordering the two provinces of Bac Giang and Quang Ninh, Dinh Lap district is encouraging wood processing facilities to enter industrial clusters, forming large concentrated wood material areas… In the long term, it is necessary to establish an inter-regional forestry association including forest growers, wood processing and exporting enterprises, and local authorities to ensure the harmony of interests of all parties,” said Mr. Ha.

According to Mr. Khieu Anh Tu, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Che District, Quang Ninh Province, the district strives to become the province's forestry and medicinal plant economic center, with an expected area of ​​500 hectares of medicinal plants by 2025. To create livelihoods from forests, localities need to promote investment in inter-regional transport connections and forestry trade.

At the conference, Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Forestry Corporation, said that FSC sustainable forest certificates and carbon certificates will increase selling prices, reduce emissions, and create long-term livelihoods for people. With regard to exports, many foreign partners want to maintain long-term contracts and have the participation of local authorities.

Xo Dang people plant forests to green bare hills

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/cac-dia-phuong-vung-cao-chia-se-kinh-nghiem-trong-rung-va-xuat-khau-go-1732709090293.htm