LookAtVietnam – The central province of Thua Thien-Hue plans to raise the forest coverage rate from the current 56 per cent to 60 per cent by 2020. LookAtVietnam – The central province of Thua Thien-Hue plans to raise the forest coverage rate from the current 56 per cent to 60 per cent by 2020.
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A pine forest in A Luoi Town of Thua Thien-Hue Province. The central province plans to increase forest plantings by up to 60 per cent. (Photo: VNS) |
The province will plant 4,000-4,500ha of forest each year, according to its plan for forest protection and development until 2020.
In past years, the authorities separated forested land into specific planting orientations. For instance, babul trees, coast oak, pine and other native trees were grown in productive-forest areas.
One hectare of forested land under babul tree cultivation yields a profit of VND13-VND33 million (US$700-1,700) in five to seven years. Such earnings have encouraged afforestation by farmers.
Thua Thien-Hue Province has also announced a four-year, VND34.2 billion (US$1.8 million) programme to allocate 240,854ha of forests to individuals and organizations for protection.
In Thuy Yen Thuong Hamlet, where 404.5ha have been handed to the care of residents, illegal logging has completely stopped and the guardians of the forest profit from collecting rattan and fallen branches for firewood.
Trees of a certain age are allowed to be harvested.
Without the programme, each forest ranger in the province has to protect 1,000ha of forest.
The province has regularly organised training courses for farmers, forestry staff and farm owners, and offered incentive policies for forestry officials who volunteer to work in remote areas.
The forestry sector has created 18,000 jobs each year in recent years, which has helped lower the poverty rate in the province.
VietNamNet/Viet Nam News
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