More than 560,000 hectares supported by forest environmental service payment policy in Nghe An

Overview of the Nghe An Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund Conference summarizing 2023 and deploying plans for 2024. Photo: Hoang Vinh

In 2023, Nghe An Forest Protection and Development Fund has promoted its important role and become a reliable address in mobilizing social resources to protect and develop forests. Through the implementation of the forest environmental service payment policy, it has had a positive impact on all aspects of life, economy and society in the province.

Mr. Duong Ngoc Hung - Deputy Director of Nghe An Province Forest Protection and Development Fund spoke at the conference. Photo: Hoang Vinh

Implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services, up to now, the payment area is 560,000 hectares (accounting for more than 57% of the total forest area of ​​the province). The good implementation of the policy of payment for forest environmental services has gradually contributed to stabilizing and ensuring forest area, maintaining forest cover, improving forest quality and contributing to improving the quality of ecological environment in Nghe An.

Mr. Pham Ba Hung - Deputy Director of Nghe An Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund reported on the results of activities in 2023 and implemented the plan for 2024. Photo: Hoang Vinh

In 2023, the Fund's revenue reached more than 123.6 billion VND (102% of the plan). In addition to the annual forest protection payment for providing forest environmental services (according to the unit price of hydropower basins), the forest environmental service policy has also supported organizations and individuals in serving forest protection work. In 2023, the Fund paid 116% of the approved plan and 100% of the actual amount to be paid to forest owners (total amount of more than 115.6 billion VND).

Up to now, in Nghe An, the number of subjects receiving payment for forest environmental services includes 20,938 forest owners who are households and communities and there are 1,310 contracts for forest protection. In addition to the budget paid according to the plan, the provincial fund has advised on supporting additional unit prices for payment for forest environmental services for hydropower basins...

Forest Protection and Development Fund staff check the map of forest environmental service payments in hydropower basins. Photo: Hoang Vinh

In order to carry out the task of collecting and spending on replacement forest planting, in 2023, Nghe An Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund has collected money for converting forest use purposes of 21 projects, which is more than 23.5 billion VND. Thanks to that revenue, replacement forest planting has been effectively implemented. Currently, the total planted area is nearly 4,600 hectares, of which, protective forest planting is more than 1,133 hectares; production forest planting is more than 1,600 hectares; scattered tree planting (converted area) is more than 1,600 hectares.

Quy Chau people carry out Lung forest restoration project. Photo: Hoang Vinh

At the conference, delegates had many opinions and contributions, completing the 2023 report and solutions for 2024, so that the Nghe An Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund can effectively implement the policy tasks of payment for forest environmental services, payment for greenhouse gas emission reduction according to Decree No. 107/2022/ND-CP, reforestation work and forest management, protection and development activities...

Source: https://baonghean.vn/hon-560000-ha-duoc-ho-tro-tu-chinh-sach-chi-tra-dich-vu-moi-truong-rung-o-nghe-an-post281825.html