Efforts to restore and expand forest area with native trees

The model of planting and restoring forests with native trees is identified as a suitable direction to effectively respond to the increasingly severe storms, floods and droughts that are occurring today. In recent years, the forestry sector of Quang Tri province has been implementing solutions to achieve the goal of restoring natural forests and developing forest areas with native tree varieties. However, this work still faces many difficulties, in which funding, human resources and rugged terrain are the challenges in forest restoration.

Planting tung trees to restore depleted natural forests in Huong Linh commune, Huong Hoa district - Photo: DV

In 2022 and 2023, Mr. Ho Van Bien's family in Ma Lai Pun village, Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district planted over 1,500 tung, lim and lat hoa trees, equivalent to an area of 1.5 hectares. These trees are mainly native species and are planted on land that has been eroded, degraded and abandoned for many years.

According to the accumulated experience of ethnic minorities in afforestation, if you want trees to survive and grow well, you need to strictly follow the instructions of technical staff. In particular, you need to avoid drought and protect the trees when they are still young and have not closed their canopy, and do not let livestock destroy them. However, with high terrain and steep hills, planting trees is difficult and caring for and protecting them is not easy.

Mr. Bien said: “Planting forests on bare hills like this, our people face many difficulties. Each time we plant, we can only carry about 20-30 seedlings up to the high hills. In addition, the climate where the trees are planted is harsh and hot, so taking care of them is extremely difficult. However, for the benefit of the lives of future generations, we are determined to plant and take care of the forest to restore it in the best way possible.”

Implementing the policy of developing production forests and natural forests, in recent years, the forestry sector of Huong Hoa district has directed the renovation of thousands of hectares of bare hills and mountains, contributing to increasing the value of forest resources. However, for poor natural forests, the renovated area is small compared to the total existing area.

The reason for this situation is partly due to the lack of specific support policies for depleted natural forests, and for a long time there has only been a policy to support the improvement of barren land and hills. Therefore, people are not really interested in improving depleted natural forests.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Ta Hung Vy, an officer of the Huong Hoa - Dakrong Protective Forest Management Board, said: “The microclimate of this area is very harsh, the land is barren, so it is very difficult for trees to grow well. This is also an area contaminated with toxic substances left over from the war, which significantly affects the growth of trees. Therefore, the unit will continue to promote and mobilize people to participate in planting and protecting forests, and at the same time encourage relevant forces to make efforts to care for and restore forests to ensure quality.”

In NTK 20 Sub-area in Huong Linh Commune, Huong Hoa District (this area is managed by Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve), most of the forest here is contaminated with dioxin, so restoration is very difficult. Since 2019, Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve has implemented the Project "Restoration of Dioxin Contaminated Forests".

Thanks to persistent care and protection, more than 25 hectares of native forest trees have been planted here and have grown well and have covered the bare hills. In fact, in areas with investment and support from projects, reforestation has really spread and the rate of reforestation of bare hills has achieved more positive results.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hien, a resident of Xa Bai village, Huong Linh commune, shared: “Planting forests with native trees and some other types of trees has many benefits. For example, with tung trees, people will later harvest, sell, and earn income, thereby limiting deforestation. I think if the projects are implemented better, surely in the future, many poor natural forests in Huong Hoa district will be restored to green and bring many benefits to the people.”

Currently, to effectively respond to the increasingly severe storms, floods and droughts, the forest restoration model using native trees is identified as a suitable direction. Native trees such as green lim, huynh, nhoi, lat hoa, trau... are assessed to be well adapted to the hills contaminated with dioxin, areas where landslides often occur.

The reality of forest management and protection in localities in recent years shows that the resources to pay for this work are still limited, mainly from upstream forest environmental services, local communities only have a little extra income from collecting non-timber forest products. It is known that the floods at the end of 2020 caused 326 hectares of natural forest to be eroded, causing 100% damage, but so far the recovery of the above area has only reached over 50% due to many different reasons. Although many solutions have been proposed, in addition to current difficulties, the risk of natural disasters causing landslides and loss of natural forests will still occur.

Director of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve Management Board, Ha Van Hoan, said: “We hope that the synchronous and persistent implementation of the restoration of these depleted forest areas will in the near future create high biodiversity, with many native tree species developing and many birds and animals coming to take shelter.”

Every year, Quang Tri province plants about 8,000 hectares of concentrated forests, 2.5 - 3 million scattered trees, maintaining the forest cover of the whole province at nearly 50%, contributing to mitigating natural disasters, improving the ecological environment and landscape. To achieve the above results, in addition to the efforts of local authorities and sectors, the province really needs the attention and support from ministries and sectors for the development activities of the natural resources and environment sector, especially in planting trees with the goal of conserving biodiversity and protecting the ecosystem.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Phan Van Phuoc said: “The Department has proactively advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a number of support policies related to forest protection, afforestation and forest restoration. At the same time, the Department has focused on mobilizing and calling for various resources to implement planting and restoration of natural forests with native trees. The Department also determined that the restoration of natural forests must ensure the requirements and standards according to regulations, achieving multi-species and mixed native species to create a biodiversity canopy after the forest is restored."

Supporting and mobilizing people, calling on domestic and foreign organizations to participate in forest development and afforestation with native trees is a right direction, suitable for actual conditions, bringing many practical benefits. Thereby, contributing to increasing forest coverage, creating income, solving jobs for people, creating conditions for investment in ecotourism development.

Hieu Giang

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