Encouraging businesses to invest in and link with people to plant large timber forests

As a mountainous locality in Quang Nam province, Hiep Duc district has many advantages in developing the forestry industry. In recent years, this district has actively supported and encouraged people to develop afforestation, especially large timber forests. Thanks to that, as of now, the entire Hiep Duc district has about 7,800 hectares of large timber forest planting area. Regarding FSC-certified planted forests, the whole district has more than 3,800 hectares meeting the standard, accounting for more than 52% of the area of Quang Nam province.

Hiep Thuan Agricultural Cooperative (Hiep Thuan commune) is considered a pioneering unit in developing forestry and planting large timber forests in Hiep Duc district. In recent years, this unit has actively supported high-quality seedlings and provided people with training on planting techniques. In addition, the cooperative also builds an afforestation risk support fund to support affiliated households whose forests are damaged by natural disasters and forest fires.

These practices of Hiep Thuan Agricultural Cooperative have helped local people feel secure in planting and developing large timber forests. According to Mr. Nguyen Huu Duong, Director of Hiep Thuan Agricultural Cooperative, up to now, more than 200 households have participated in forest planting with the cooperative, with about 1,200 hectares certified for sustainable forest development.

“Recently, our cooperative also received attention from the VFBC project on sustainable forest management to support people with good-quality tree varieties. In particular, in 2023, people received free support for tissue-cultured seeds. Later, we commit to buying back all products at high prices for forest owners," said Cooperative Director Nguyen Huu Duong.

Mr. Ngo Van Dung (residing in Hiep Thuan commune, Hiep Duc district) has 5 hectares of large timber forest, and he is linking with Hiep Thuan Agricultural Cooperative. Mr. Dung's planted forest is rated as good quality, planted with correct techniques, and has entered the 4th development cycle.

“When first joining the linkage, we were still relatively vague. However, only when the wood is sold at a high price and profit can we see the effectiveness and benefits of certified planted forests. So, up to now, many people have boldly participated in planting and developing forests according to FSC standards to increase economic efficiency," Mr. Dung said.

With the potential and advantages gained from the resolution on internal restructuring of the agriculture sector, Hiep Duc district also clearly identified forestry economic development as the locality’s spearhead. However, looking back at the afforestation work of people in this district, they are also facing certain difficulties. Specifically, natural disasters such as windstorms and heat waves frequently occur, posing huge risks to the development of large timber forests. Besides, the mechanism to support the development of large timber forests in Quang Nam province is also currently paused.

With this reality, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoang Viet, Vice Chairman of the Hiep Duc District People's Committee, said that to solve these problems, the district is increasingly calling for businesses in the fields of wood processing, finger joints, and energy pellets to invest in factories in the industrial cluster. “In the cooperation agreement between the district and businesses on investment, there will be a requirement to commit to coordinating with farmers in planting large timber forests.

Currently, these projects are being implemented and are about to begin operations. We will continue to implement this policy. Some large businesses, such as Hao Hung and Phu Xanh Forest, will link with farmers to plant large timber forests, create raw materials for the factory, and develop the district's forest area," Mr. Viet said.

In the planning of Quang Nam province for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, it is determined that the area of production forest planting by 2030 will be more than 274,000 hectares. Of which, the area of large timber forests accounts for more than 30% of the planned area (about 45,000 hectares); about 30,000 hectares of planted production forests will be certified for sustainable forest development.

This is an important premise for increasing the forest coverage rate of Quang Nam province from 58.8% to 61% by 2030. At the same time, aiming to participate in the carbon credit market to improve planting efficiency, develop forests, and increase income sources under the forest canopy for people.