Thanh Hoa province is implementing many solutions to develop large timber forests associated with building FSC sustainable forest management certification. Thereby, not only increasing the economic value of planted forests but also ensuring environmental protection values, combating climate change, towards sustainable forestry development.
The province currently has nearly 56 thousand hectares of large timber forests. Recently, the Provincial People's Committee has issued many mechanisms and policies, allowing cooperation with organizations and enterprises to convert small timber forests to large timber forests, contributing to job creation, increasing income, helping many households to get rich from the forest.
Developing large timber plantation models, in addition to protecting the environment and preventing soil erosion, also brings high economic efficiency. For large timber plantation, in the 7-year cycle from planting to exploitation, each hectare brings in an income of 250 - 300 million VND, twice as high as small timber plantation. In addition, when participating in large timber plantation according to FSC standards, households are also trained to improve their knowledge of forest planting, forest and soil protection.
Mr. Luu Quang Anh, Lien Son village, Thach Son commune (Thach Thanh) has 2 hectares of Acacia mangium planted and is participating in the FSC forest certification group. After joining, he was supported to buy seedlings, and instructed on planting techniques, fertilization, and care.
Mr. Anh shared: “In the past, my family planted forests freely, without paying attention to the quality of the plant varieties or care techniques, so the yield was low, the selling price was unstable, and traders even forced the price down. After switching to planting forests according to FSC standards, my family took care of them according to the correct process and techniques, so the acacia trees grew better, and the wood quality was good. After harvesting and selling the wood, I earned 280 million VND. After deducting the cost of harvesting and transportation, I still made a profit of 190 million VND, an increase of 50 million VND compared to before joining the FSC certification.”
Mr. Pham Thanh Dong, Director of Thach Thanh Sustainable Forest Management Cooperative, said: "The cooperative is committed to complying with the State's processes and regulations on sustainable forest management according to FSC standards, conserving biodiversity, improving livelihoods for people in rural areas and reducing environmental impacts, creating jobs, attracting workers to participate in forestry activities. Contributing to conserving biodiversity, conserving water resources, protecting soil, and limiting erosion."
As a unit implementing the product chain from afforestation, purchasing raw materials, processing, and consuming forest wood products for people in Thach Thanh district, Xuan Son Joint Stock Company has built up the forest area participating in FSC certification of acacia tree planting households in 11 communes. At the same time, it opened training courses on planting, caring for, and exploiting forests and invited international organizations to evaluate and grant FSC certificates to households. Mr. Trinh Thai Son, Director of the company, said: "We coordinate with Thach Thanh Sustainable Forest Management Cooperative to support forest planting people participating in FSC forest certification on training courses related to silvicultural techniques, such as: training on plant varieties, planting, caring for, and exploiting to ensure labor safety, and on controlled burning of vegetation. At the same time, we commit to buying back timber at a price 5-10% higher than the market price.
A survey shows that Thach Thanh district has more than 1,500 households planting forests according to FSC standards with a total area of over 3,200 hectares. Thach Thanh is also the first district in the province to organize a joint forest planting according to FSC standards.
In Lang Chanh district, up to now, 3,828.8 hectares of people's production forests have been granted FSC certification with 662 forest planting households participating. During the process of implementing FSC certification, households have cooperated with Dai Phat Group Co., Ltd. to develop the certification, committing to maintain compliance with regulations to ensure the effectiveness of the certification. Up to now, many households planned to be granted certification have started exploiting planted forests to provide raw materials for the factory. Dai Phat Group Co., Ltd. often purchases raw materials from households with certification at 7-10% higher than market prices.
Mr. Le Quang Tung, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lang Chanh district, said: The district prioritizes the establishment of FSC sustainable forest business certification, aiming to form FSC raw material areas for the entire planted forest area of the district. It is expected that by 2030, 6,000 hectares of forest will be granted FSC certification. The district encourages processing enterprises to coordinate and support people in establishing certificates and forming raw material areas; Party committees and authorities from district to commune levels carry out the task of providing legal support and planning raw material areas to serve factories. The district also closely monitors the implementation progress, promptly adjusts any shortcomings as they arise, and urges companies and processing factories to strictly fulfill their commitments to forest growers.
In the period of 2016-2024, Thanh Hoa province has over 28,000 hectares of forest area certified with FSC sustainable forest management with over 4,600 participating households; concentrated in districts of Thach Thanh, Thuong Xuan, Quan Hoa, Cam Thuy, Quan Son, Vinh Loc... Thanks to being granted FSC certification as well as developing livelihood models, many households in the province have risen up to escape poverty sustainably.
Thanh Hoa province strives to increase the area of planted wood material areas to 125,000 hectares by the end of 2025; have an additional 25,000 hectares of planted wood forests and 10 hectares of bamboo, rattan, and cane forests granted FSC certification.
Article and photos: Anh Tuan
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hieu-qua-tu-trong-rung-theo-tieu-chuan-quoc-te-fsc-235581.htm
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