Protecting the ecosystem, biodiversity, reducing the risk of forest fires, and at the same time bringing higher economic value on the same cultivated area is the double effect that FSC certified forest planting brings!
FSC certified forests are effective in many ways - Photo: LM
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Phan Van Phuoc said that implementing sustainable forest management with principles and criteria as prescribed by the FSC certification organization will contribute to the rational use of forest resources, thereby protecting biodiversity, protecting the environment and meeting social and economic needs.
With the increasingly strict demands of the European and US markets on combating deforestation and forest degradation (EUDR, Lacey Act, etc.), the increasing demands on traceability of wood origin from exporting wood processing companies, the implementation of sustainable forest management and forest certification according to international standards will help the source of planted forest wood materials have the opportunity to access and be purchased by wood product processing units exporting to international markets, with high brands and reputations.
Director of Ha Xa Cooperative (Trieu Ai, Trieu Phong) Trinh Minh Hoa said that in 2013, the unit registered to plant FSC certified forests on an area of 406 hectares, with 110 households participating. Initially, many members of Ha Xa Cooperative were hesitant because the FSC standard assessment process was unfamiliar to farmers, and at the same time, the management regulations were very strict, so people were hesitant.
However, with the propaganda and guidance of the authorities on the benefits of environmental protection, the long-term economic efficiency of forests, especially the benefits from effective forest fire prevention, ecological protection, and forest resources, people feel secure to participate. Up to now, the cooperative has 406 hectares of forest managed according to FSC certification.
Workers of Ben Hai Forestry Company Limited are equipped with labor protection during the process of exploiting planted forests - Photo: LM
Quang Tri is one of the leading localities in planting forests according to FSC standards more than 10 years ago, with a total forest area participating in assessment and certification to date of 26,135.65 hectares. Units and individuals participating in planting forests with FSC certification include: Duong 9 Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. with an area of 4,229.8 hectares; Ben Hai Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. with an area of 8,069.3 hectares; Trieu Hai Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. with an area of 4,063.91 hectares; Ha Xa Cooperative, Trieu Ai Commune, Trieu Phong District with 406 hectares/110 households; Quang Tri Forest Certification Household Groups Association with 5,396.64 hectares (planted forests: 3,251.79 hectares; natural forests: 2,144.85 hectares); Hai Lang District Forest Certification Household Group with 3,970 hectares/444 households.
Assessing the effectiveness of FSC certified forest planting, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ben Hai Forestry Company Limited Hoang Ngoc Thanh said that the unit has participated in FSC certified forest planting since 2011. The FSC certification assessment process is carried out quite strictly every year but in the long term, it is sustainable and has dual benefits.
In which, the organization evaluates the forest planting planning stage, the forest planting must ensure technical standards, contribute to the restoration of natural ecosystems, ensure the existence and development of biodiversity in nature; in terms of society, it must ensure the rights of forest workers such as working conditions, labor protection, income...; exploitation conditions must ensure that reserves do not exceed forest production...
In terms of economic efficiency, the traditional forest planting cycle is usually about 5-6 years to harvest, with a value of about 80 million VND/ha, but with FSC certified forests from 8-10 years, the value is 200 million VND/ha, 2 times higher than the price of normal forests. Meanwhile, planting normal forests for 10 years to reach a value of 160 million VND/ha, it takes 2 cultivation cycles and 2 times the investment cost. Thus, it can be seen that the economic efficiency of planting FSC certified forests is higher than that of traditional forests.
International organization inspects and evaluates the current status of FSC certified forest planting of Ben Hai Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. - Photo: LM
Regarding the output of FSC certified forest wood products in the province, a chain of FSC certified forest wood consumption links has been established between forest owners and CoC certified enterprises such as Thu Hang Wood Processing Company, Nguyen Phong Company, Quang Tri Trading Company, Scansia Pacific Company (Ho Chi Minh City). These enterprises have signed a commitment to purchase all certified wood output of the Quang Tri FSC Association in general and cooperatives in particular at a price 10-12% higher than the price of non-certified wood.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Phan Van Phuoc said that the benefits of planting FSC-certified forests are quite clear, but the development of forest areas managed according to FSC standards faces many difficulties. With most of the current production forest areas under the management of forest owners being households and individuals with small scale and scattered distribution, it is difficult to prepare records, produce and manage forests according to the standards and principles of international forest certification.
With the global economic recession and strong market fluctuations, prices have low margins, which does not encourage small-scale forest owners. Regulations on sustainable forest management and certification according to international standards are strictly implemented, making forest growers reluctant to participate. Forest growers' mindset is to plant forests in a short time, harvest quickly, and manage them independently, so they are still hesitant to participate in sustainable forest management and forest certification.
To develop FSC-certified afforestation sustainably and with dual benefits, it is necessary to have a feasible and long-term solution soon, including promoting propaganda to raise awareness of the whole society and especially directly to forest growers. In addition, it is necessary to focus on policies to support purchasing and processing enterprises so that product consumption becomes a breakthrough in FSC afforestation development.
Le Minh
Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/hieu-qua-tu-trong-rung-fsc-189474.htm
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