Over VND 26 billion to restore coastal forests

The People's Committee of Quang Binh province has issued Decision No. 1045/QD-UBND approving the Work Plan and 2021 Budget for the Forest Sector Modernization and Coastal Resilience Enhancement Project in Quang Binh Province.

Accordingly, in 2021, the total capital for the project will be over VND 26 billion, of which VND 3.6 billion is for activities invested by the Central Project Management Board, and nearly VND 23 billion is for operation invested by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The activities implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as an investor will include preparation of investments for sustainable management of coastal forests; investment in establishing sustainable forest models with the participation of the community; coastal forest restoration; new coastal afforestation; technical training and support; implementing forest protection works; other ancillary works; and create sustainable benefits from coastal forests.

The Provincial People's Committee requested the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to direct the FMCR Project Management Board of Quang Binh Province. The purpose is to implement activities with clearly defined capital sources; absolutely do not carry out activities in communes that no longer conform to the project's criteria.

The management board only disburses the capital according to the allocated amount, no outstanding debt. The managing and using capital sources for the right purposes, effectively ensuring the approved quality and schedule, and fully comply with the current regulations on investment of the State.

During the implementation process, the competent authority shall allocate sufficient capital sources to ensure the approved progress; review and update the quarterly and 6-monthly operational plan and budget, and submit it to the competent authorities for consideration and approval for adjustments to ensure the efficiently correct use of investment capital.

In 2020, the total forest area of Quang Binh province was 588,582.92 hectares, of which the forest area was 543,048.92 hectares; the area of planted forest that had not yet become forest is 45,534.07 hectares. If it is classified based on forest using purpose, the planned area of special-use forest 144,310.88 hectares, the planned area of protection forest 151,862.89 hectares, and the planned production forest area is 319,114.14 hectares. Forest coverage rate in 2020 reached 67.88%.

The development objective of the Forest Sector Modernization and Coastal Resilience Enhancement Project for Vietnam is to improve coastal forest management in the Project Provinces. 

The project has three technical components in addition to the fourth component on project management, monitoring, and evaluation.

The first component modernizes the technical know-how and approaches used for planning, supplying seedlings, and financing coastal protection forest management and planting.

The second component adopts a holistic approach that links the biophysical, physical, and management interventions for managing and planting mangroves and sandy soil forests.

The third component focuses on augmenting the economic benefits derived from well-protected coastal forests with the aim of reducing pressure to convert these natural systems.

Component 1 will be implemented at the central level. Components 2 and 3 will be implemented at the sub-national (provincial, district, and commune) level.

The first component consists of three sub-components, modernizing coastal forest planning, expanding quality seedling production, and broadening payments for forest ecosystem services to coastal forests.

The second component consists of two sub-components, planting and managing target coastal protection forests and protecting planting areas with physical measures.

The third component consists of two sub-component, investment packages for generating benefits from coastal forests and demand-driven productive infrastructure.

The fourth component, project management and M&E will cover all the costs associated with project management and monitoring and evaluation (M&E).