Increase investment, support forest protection and development

Recently, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 02/2025 regulating investment levels and support for investment in forest protection and development in the province. Accordingly, investment levels and support for investment in forest protection and development have increased compared to before.

Support level is still low

In recent years, the timely implementation of investment support policies in forest protection and development has brought about many positive results: The number of violations in the forestry sector has gradually decreased over the years. There are no longer hot spots for deforestation and illegal exploitation of forest products in the province. Forest development work has also been focused on. Thanks to that, the forest coverage rate in the province has reached nearly 46%, an increase of 0.36% over the same period last year. Currently, the total forest area in the province is more than 245,598 hectares. Of which, the forest area under the planning of 3 types of forests is more than 214,967 hectares (including: Nearly 177,811 hectares of natural forests, more than 33,501 hectares of planted forests and 3,655 hectares of planted forests but not meeting the criteria for becoming forests); The area of ​​forest outside the planning of 3 types of forest is more than 30,631 hectares (including: Nearly 11.4 hectares of natural forest, more than 28,833 hectares of planted forest, more than 1,786 hectares of planted forest but not meeting the criteria for becoming a forest).

Specialized forest protection force of the Northern Khanh Hoa Protective Forest Management Board went to inspect the Ninh Tay Cam Xe forest.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duy Quang - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, despite many positive results, the management, protection and development of forests in the province is facing many difficulties. In particular, the level of investment and support for investment in forest protection and development in the province in the past is still low. For example, in terms of forest protection contract support for ethnic minority households and poor Kinh households living stably in communes with difficult socio-economic conditions (areas II, III) in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, the whole province has 347 households contracted to protect more than 9,578 hectares of natural forest, with a support level of 400,000 VND/ha/year. This level of support is very low, so it does not attract many households to participate in contracting to protect natural forests, because according to the explanation of households, protecting forests is very difficult and hard, this level of support compared to the current working day is very low, so people are not interested in participating.

Through the survey and work of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council with localities and forest owners in the province, it was also pointed out that: The budget for forest protection contract support is 400,000 VND/ha/year; the budget for forest protection, investment support and forest protection orders for forestry companies is 300,000 VND/ha/year; the support for production forest planting, scattered tree planting, and forestry promotion is 5 million VND/ha is not suitable for the reality, specific work and living needs of the force participating in forest protection. Due to the low budget currently applied, it does not attract or encourage organizations, individuals and people to participate in forest protection and development, and does not promote sustainable forest development in the locality.

Increase investment and support

According to the leader of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, from July 2024, when Decree No. 58/2024 of the Government stipulating a number of investment policies in the forestry sector takes effect, investment costs and investment support in the forestry sector such as: Forest protection, support for afforestation, forest regeneration promotion... will be increased compared to the previously applied levels, more suitable to the actual needs of organizations and individuals participating in forest management, protection and development. Based on the authority prescribed in Decree No. 58, the Provincial People's Council has recently issued Resolution No. 02/2025 stipulating investment levels and investment support for forest protection and development in the province.

Accordingly, for the contract to protect special-use forests, protective forests, and production forests that are natural forests from the state budget is 500,000 VND/ha/year; in communes in regions II and III, it is 600,000 VND/ha/year; in coastal areas, it is 750,000 VND/ha/year and the support for the cost of preparing the first dossier for forest protection contracts is 50,000 VND. The cost of management, inspection, and acceptance of forest protection is 7% of the total annual budget for forest protection. In addition, poor households and ethnic minority households living in regions II and III that are contracted to protect and develop forests are also supported with rice during the period when they are not yet self-sufficient in food.

For special-use forests, the State grants the special-use forest management board a forest protection fund of VND 150,000/ha/year; in communes in regions II and III, it is VND 180,000/ha/year; in coastal areas, it is VND 225,000/ha/year on the entire area of ​​​​special-use forests assigned, in addition to the regular operating budget of the forest management board. For natural regeneration promotion zones under the special-use forest planning, it is VND 1 million/ha/year, in coastal areas, it is VND 1.5 million/ha/year, implemented over a period of 6 years. For natural regeneration promotion zones with additional afforestation under the special-use forest planning, the funding level is VND 2 million/ha/year for the first 3 years, VND 1 million/ha/year for the next 3 years...

For protective forests, the State grants forest protection funding to the protection forest management board of VND 500,000/ha/year; for regions II and III, it is VND 600,000/ha/year; and for coastal areas, it is VND 750,000/ha/year on the entire area of ​​assigned protective forests. The special-use forest management board is granted forest protection funding of VND 150,000/ha/year; for communes in regions II and III, it is VND 180,000/ha/year; and for coastal areas, it is VND 225,000/ha/year on the entire area of ​​assigned protective forests. State-owned enterprises, households, individuals, communities, armed forces units assigned forests, scientific and technological organizations, and forestry vocational training and education organizations are granted forest protection funding of VND 500,000/ha/year by the State; Areas II and III are 600,000 VND/ha/year; coastal areas are 750,000 VND/ha/year on the entire area of ​​assigned protective forests. The People's Committees of communes managing the area of ​​protection forests that have not been assigned or leased are provided with a State budget for forest management and protection of 150,000 VND/ha/year; in communes in areas II and III, it is 180,000 VND/ha/year; in coastal areas, it is 225,000 VND/ha/year on the entire area of ​​assigned protective forests. For natural regeneration promotion enclaves or natural regeneration promotion enclaves with additional planting of protective forests, the investment cost is similar to that of special-use forests.

Regarding the level of financial support for protecting production forests which are natural forests during the period of forest closure, the management boards of special-use forests, protective forests, and commune-level People's Committees that are managing unassigned or leased forest areas will receive a state budget for forest protection of VND 150,000/ha/year; in communes in regions II and III, it will be VND 180,000/ha/year; in coastal areas, it will be VND 225,000/ha/year on the entire area of ​​natural production forests assigned. State-owned enterprises assigned natural production forests before January 1, 2019; households, individuals, communities, economic organizations (directly owned by foreign-invested enterprises), and units of the armed forces assigned natural production forests will receive a forest protection budget of VND 500,000/ha/year; in regions II and III, it will be VND 600,000/ha/year; Coastal land is 750,000 VND/ha/year on the entire assigned forest area... In addition, the support level for natural regeneration promotion with additional planting of forests in the production forest planning is 8 million VND/ha.

In addition, the Resolution of the Provincial People's Council also has regulations related to the following levels: Support for investment in planting production forests and developing non-timber forestry; support for developing sustainable forest management plans and granting sustainable forest management certificates; support for investment in forestry seedling production facilities; support for scattered tree planting.

HAI LANG

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/kinh-te/202504/tang-muc-dau-tu-ho-tro-bao-ve-va-phat-trien-rung-85710c1/