Planting large timber forests creates sustainable livelihoods

Promote the planting of large timber forests

Implementing the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2030, Quang Ninh has focused on developing sustainable forests according to the planning of 3 types of forests. , strengthening forest management and protection, forest fire prevention and fighting, promoting forest conversion, developing large timber forests, forest product processing, sustainable forest management and forest certification.

Mr. Trieu Tien Loc, in Bang Anh village, Tan Dan commune, Ha Long city is known as one of the typical households in preserving and replicating decades-old ironwood forests in Quang Ninh province. Currently, Mr. Loc’s family owns nearly 10 hectares of large wood forest, including up to 500 large ironwood trees that are several decades old, along with hundreds of small ironwood trees. To have a regular source of income for his family, under the forest canopy, Mr. Loc intercrops many short-term trees with high economic value such as Ba Kich, purple rose, and yellow camellia. At the same time, Mr. Loc is renovating the hill garden, turning this precious forest into one of the eco-tourism destinations and attractive experiences for tourists in the near future. Not only developing his family’s forest, Mr. Loc also actively propagates and mobilizes local people to actively plant and protect forests, especially large timber forests.

Recently, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province Cao Tuong Huy signed document No. 784, dated April 4, 2024 on registering to respond to planting ironwood, bamboo and larch forests in the province in 2024. Accordingly, it is requested that the Units, localities, and businesses contribute resources to plant over 1,448 hectares of lim, gioi, and slices in 2024, to contribute to completing the set goal of planting 5,000 hectares of lim, gioi, and slices.

Thanks to that, up to now, the concentrated afforestation area in Quang Ninh province has reached 39,413 hectares, of which the area for planting ironwood, slices, and rosewood has reached more than 2,242 hectares. Continue to maintain a stable forest coverage rate at 55%. At the same time, from 2021 up to now, there have been 1,016 households and individuals participating in the policy to support the planting of large timber and indigenous tree production forests with a budget of over 34 billion VND and have planted more than 1,656 hectares of timber trees. large, native tree.

Create sustainable livelihoods for ethnic minorities

With many solutions and policies to support people, especially ethnic minorities in highland communes, they actively responded to shifting to planting large timber forests combined with medicinal plants for high economic value, creating income and jobs. stabilize, improve living standards, and escape poverty sustainably.

In order to promote the strengths of each region and locality, Quang Ninh province focuses on restructuring the agricultural sector, developing large-scale commodity agriculture in a modern direction to increase added value and development. lasting. In particular, the province chooses a form of cooperation, linking production and consumption of agricultural products along the value chain, focusing on consolidating and developing cooperatives (Cooperatives) closely associated with socio-economic development programs. festival.

From 2021 up to now, in Quang Ninh province, there have been 221 newly established cooperatives, of which in ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, border areas, and islands there are 69 cooperatives, 119 cooperative groups, 2 agricultural cooperative unions. industrial, general and 232 farms. Currently, most farms operate with high efficiency, with an average revenue of over 1.5 billion VND/farm and profit of 220 million VND/farm.

Along with that, to diversify people’s livelihoods, Quang Ninh province has implemented many solutions to support people in ethnic minority areas. In particular, policy credit loans have truly become a “fishing rod” for people to develop production and escape poverty sustainably. Only in the period 2021-2023, Quang Ninh province has prioritized spending 240 billion VND in entrusted budget through the Social Policy Bank for people in ethnic minority areas, mountainous areas, border areas, and islands to borrow capital for development. production, increase income, stabilize life.

Mr. Trieu Quay Phuc, Director of Ba Che Agriculture, Forestry and Service Cooperative, Ba Che district, Quang Ninh province said: The cooperative was established in 2020, including 11 members. Immediately after going into operation, the cooperative cooperated with Collaborating and purchasing products for nearly 100 households in the commune with over 180 hectares of cinnamon. With the money mobilized from members and supported by the capital support policy from the State, in addition to purchasing cinnamon bark, the cooperative also boldly invested in building a nursery to produce cinnamon seedlings to sell to people in the country. and far away, contributing to creating jobs and stable income for dozens of local workers.

With a series of groundbreaking and effective policies, it has created sustainable livelihoods and improved the lives of people, especially ethnic minorities in mountainous districts. By the end of 2023, the average income per capita in 67 communes in mountainous, border and island ethnic minority areas of Quang Ninh province will reach over 73 million VND/person, an increase of more than 27 million VND/person/year compared to 2020.

This result has contributed to helping Quang Ninh province complete 3 years in advance the National Target Program for sustainable poverty reduction for the period 2021-2025 according to the Central criteria and deploy the application of multi-dimensional poverty standards in the area. The province is higher than the Central regulations.