Planting large timber forests is a global trend and an important solution for sustainable forestry economic development. However, the development of large timber forests in many localities in the province still faces many difficulties, requiring synchronous support mechanisms and policies from capital sources to science and technology for intensive forest plantation for forest owners.
Can Khe Commune (Nhu Thanh) has more than 2,000 hectares of production forest land, but currently only about 6 hectares of land are planted according to the large timber forest model. According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung, Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, although planting large timber forests brings many benefits and has attracted many households to register to participate when the Project "Developing large timber forests, protecting and restoring green lim forests in Nhu Thanh district in the period of 2016-2021, with a vision to 2030" was first implemented. However, after a period of participating in the model, many households are no longer interested and have withdrawn. The reason is that the cycle of planting large timber forests is long, only suitable for State forest owners, forestry companies or households with financial potential and large forest land areas.
Meanwhile, the forest plantation area in Can Khe commune is fragmented and small, averaging from 0.5 to 3 hectares per household. Most households with production forest land are in difficult economic conditions, making it difficult to maintain the large-scale timber plantation model for many years. In addition, people also have difficulty meeting the criteria to enjoy support policies according to regulations. The case of Ms. Vi Thi Huyen's family, one of the acacia plantation households in Dong village, is an example. Difficult economic conditions, pressure on income, and daily living expenses do not allow her family to switch from small-scale to large-scale timber plantations. There were even times when the family had to harvest young acacia trees and sell them to traders to make ends meet.
Thanh Hoa Commune (Nhu Xuan) is also in the same situation. The whole commune has 360 hectares of planted forest, with 291 households having forest land but no household participates in planting large timber forests. Mr. Luong Van Duong, Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, said: Most of the forest land area of households in the commune is fragmented and small. Therefore, most households choose to plant forests seasonally, with a cycle of 5 to 7 years. When exploiting wood, whichever unit buys at a high price, the households will sell, without any association. For example, in 2024, the price of acacia increased, many households, in order to have money for living expenses, were willing to harvest acacia from 4 to 5 years instead of waiting for 7 years.
This is also one of the reasons why the construction of a linkage chain between forest growers and processing enterprises in Nhu Xuan district is not popular. Mr. Le Chi Lieu, manager of Nhu Xuan Wood Processing Factory, said: The factory started operating in 2012. This is the first factory operating in the forest product processing sector in Nhu Xuan district. When established, the enterprise was shaped to be associated with the local raw material area. However, in recent years, due to unhealthy competition from some spontaneous businesses, the factory's raw material area has been narrowed, affecting the production and processing process. In addition, many households have a "quick-fix" mindset, selling to any unit that buys at a high price, willing to abandon the traditional purchasing unit. This is a "barrier" that prevents the connection between people and forest product processing enterprises from finding a common voice. While people are worried that businesses will break their promises and not share risks, businesses are afraid that people will not comply with the contract, sell young acacia or wood to outsiders, instead of selling to businesses.
Every year, Nhu Xuan Wood Processing Factory needs about 50,000 tons of raw materials to process wood chips for export to markets in Japan, Taiwan (China), Singapore... To meet this source of raw materials, in addition to Nhu Xuan district, the factory is having to import from many other places such as Thuong Xuan district or Nghia Dan district (Nghe An).
To achieve the goal by 2025, the whole province ensures the maintenance and stable development of the large timber forest business area with a scale of 56,000 hectares and continues to expand the development of the large timber forest model, Thanh Hoa province has directed functional departments, branches and districts to synchronously implement solutions from planning, planting, care, exploitation to processing. The focus is on localities needing to step up propaganda and mobilize forest owners to participate in planting and converting small timber forests to large timber forests, associated with the issuance of FSC sustainable forest management certificates. At the same time, focus on forming industrial wood and large timber material areas and focus on building a sustainable linkage chain between forest owners and processing enterprises. In addition, the funding source for large timber plantations is not only limited to the State budget but needs to be diversified, by integrating capital from related programs, projects and other legally mobilized and sponsored sources. It is also a binding mechanism and sanction for households, individuals, and forest organizations when participating in large timber plantation projects; processing enterprises participating in the association ensure that the purchase is in accordance with the contract.
Joining hands to develop the large timber plantation model, the Provincial Forest Protection Department has innovated production organization, built and expanded forestry production cooperative models; promoted sustainable linkage chains between forest growers and processing enterprises. At the same time, accelerating the issuance of forest certificates, linking processing with export, meeting the requirements of domestic and international markets, contributing to increasing the added value of the forestry sector. Along with that, the Provincial Forest Protection Department continues to research and select suitable forestry tree species for each different ecological zone, with the ability to grow quickly, create large biomass; enhance the transfer of new technologies, create breakthrough key products in forest product processing, and develop deep processing.
Article and photos: Dinh Giang
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phat-trien-rung-ben-vung-bai-2-tiem-nang-mo-nhung-con-nhieu-rao-can-234359.htm
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