Exploiting forest resources in a sustainable manner

BHG - Quang Binh has more than 47,500 hectares of forest implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services (PFES), accounting for 87% of the district's forested area. In 2024, the total amount paid was over 4.4 billion VND. With the huge benefits from forests, people are increasingly raising their awareness and responsibility in managing, protecting and developing forests in a sustainable direction.

In the past 5 years, the main source of income for 62 La Chi and Pa Then ethnic households in Ha Son village, Yen Binh town has been developing the forest economy. The forests are mainly planted with good timber species such as: Acacia hybrid, Bodhi, cinnamon. Many families have a forest area of ​​2 - 13 hectares. After each exploitation cycle, people can earn tens of millions of VND, the highest is over 100 million VND. Last year, the village had more than 158 hectares of forest paid for forest environmental services with an amount of 9.8 million VND. In addition, 28 households received more than 10 million VND in forest environmental services. This is a significant source of income to help ethnic minorities improve their lives and escape poverty.

Mr. Lan Van Tuong (right), Ha Son village, Yen Binh town (Quang Binh) develops forest economy.

Mr. Lan Van Tuong, Ha Son village shared: “With 2 hectares of newly exploited forest, my family has earned 50 million VND. I used this money to invest in barns, buy more livestock and poultry to develop livestock farming. Besides, I also participate in the community forest protection team, to increase patrol activities, maintain the assigned forest area, and prevent forest degradation. Therefore, the forests here are always green, playing an important role in regulating water resources, limiting erosion, effectively serving daily life and agricultural production”.

The total forest area in Yen Binh town is 3,540 hectares, of which more than 441 hectares are protective forests and nearly 3,000 hectares are production forests. In 2024, the total budget for payment of forest environmental services according to the 2023 plan will reach 210 million VND, allocated to forest management and protection by the town People's Committee, and contracted to village communities and households. The payment process is transparent, public, and ensures the right beneficiaries. Villages and residential groups have all developed conventions and village covenants to protect forests, signed commitments to prevent and fight forest fires. Along with the forest environmental services policy, the town is restoring natural forests by means of zoning, promoting regeneration, planting additional forests, and growing medicinal herbs under the forest canopy, both creating long-term livelihoods for people and increasing forest cover.

Through the discussion, comrade Linh Van Huan, Deputy Head of Quang Binh District Forest Protection Department, said: “The locality has a large forest area and a large amount of money for forest environmental services. Every year, the Forest Protection Department has done a good job of advising and reporting on the disbursement situation to the District People's Committee and participating in inspecting and supervising the payment of forest environmental services in communes and towns. With a large area, diverse types of forests, and a small force, we always stick close to the grassroots, rely on the community, and diversify forms of propaganda to create positive changes in people's implementation of the provisions of the Forestry Law. At the same time, we reward individuals who report violations and promptly and strictly handle acts of encroachment on forests. The District Forest Protection Department is continuing to pilot the application of high technology, building a system for early detection of deforestation from satellite images; monitoring forest fire warning information via the website: https://kiemlam.org.vn and on the system giamsatrunghagiang.ifee.edn.vn; verifying reporting points fire from the HaGiangFFW application on personal mobile devices”.

This year, Quang Binh district strives to increase the forest coverage rate to 70% and plant 983 hectares of new forest. By benefiting from the policy of payment for forest environmental services, the forest will certainly become greener and greener, bringing higher income to people attached to the forest.

Article and photos: MOC LAN

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/kinh-te/202504/khai-thac-nguon-loi-tu-rung-theo-huong-ben-vung-e65495b/