Slow progress of forestry economic development projects

People in Tuan Giao district grow macadamia under the form of people-business cooperation. *Photo: Nhat Phuong*

Currently, the province has 14 macadamia planting projects approved by the Provincial People's Committee for investment, with a scale of over 86,000 hectares. Up to now, the projects have measured and registered land ownership for over 23,000 hectares, reaching 26% of the total area to be measured; organized planting of over 5,000 hectares of macadamia trees, reaching 15% of the approved progress until 2023. In the first 9 months of 2023 alone, the province has organized planting of 2,443 hectares of macadamia, of which: Enterprises implemented projects of 1,405 hectares and organizations and individuals implemented 1,028 hectares. In the 2023 forest planting season, only 7/13 (excluding 1 new project approved by the province for investment in July 2023) were newly planted projects; The remaining projects will not carry out site preparation and new planting in 2023.

Similarly, forest planting projects using investment capital from non-state economic sectors in the province are also facing delays compared to the registered plan.

The Dien Bien production forest planting, pellet factory and wood chip processing project was approved by the Provincial People's Committee in late 2022. The total registered area for the project is 3,573.45 hectares in 4 communes: Huoi Leng, Muong Tung, Sa Long, Sa Tong (Muong Cha district). To date, the project has measured and registered 385 hectares, reaching 11% of the total area to be measured of the project. In 2023, the investor registered and committed to planting 930 hectares of forest, of which: The area implemented by the enterprise is 500 hectares and the joint area is 430 hectares. To date, the investor has only planted 10 hectares of Acacia mangium in Muong Tung commune, reaching 1% of the total committed area.

The concentrated forest planting project creates a raw material area for the biomass power plant and other forestry products in the 4 districts of Tuan Giao, Muong Ang, Muong Cha, Tua Chua. In 2023, the investor committed to planting 5,618 hectares of forest (enterprise area 2,136 hectares and joint area 3,482 hectares). However, up to now, the investor has not implemented it. The total area measured and registered is only 10 hectares.

Ms. Mai Huong, Deputy Head of the Forestry Sub-Department (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development) said: Macadamia planting and production forest planting projects are all projects included in the Forestry Economic Development Project for the period 2021 - 2025, with a vision to 2030 in Dien Bien province. Up to now, the projects are behind schedule compared to the committed plan until 2023. The implementation of the projects has encountered many obstacles and difficulties. Most of the land area in the project implementation area is managed, cultivated and used by the people; while the majority of people in the project area cultivate on traditional fields, so it is difficult to propagate and mobilize people to agree to participate in the forest planting project. In addition, some investors are not really determined and have not focused resources on implementation.

To speed up the progress of macadamia and forest planting projects, the Provincial People's Committee requires departments and branches to strengthen coordination and further enhance their roles and responsibilities. Actively coordinate with district-level People's Committees and investors to regularly inspect and grasp the situation and progress of project implementation to promptly guide and support in resolving difficulties or propose contents beyond their authority. District-level authorities focus on propaganda and mobilization so that people agree with policies and participate in projects. Speed up the progress of measuring, assigning ownership, and granting certificates of forest land use rights in the area; coordinate with investors to well implement the preparation work for macadamia and forest planting according to the registered plan, ensuring quality and on time. For investors and enterprises, it is necessary to proactively coordinate closely with departments, branches and localities to complete the records of measuring, assigning ownership, and granting certificates of forest land use rights; Prepare well the land conditions, clear the ground, dig holes, prepare seedlings, financial resources... to implement the project according to the committed schedule. Particularly for enterprises - investors with macadamia planting projects, the Provincial People's Committee requires reviewing the financial resources and land capacity of the project area to develop a specific plan, commit to the project implementation progress in 2024, 2025 in writing with the Provincial People's Committee; completely resolve issues related to labor contracts, association contracts, land lease.

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