Quang Binh strives toward 7,000 hectares of FSC forest

According to Quang Binh Provincial Forest Protection Department, accompanied by the support of An Viet Phat Group and Viet Nature Conservation Center, the province currently has over 4,300 hectares of planted forests that have been certified for sustainable forest management by FSC.

Tuyen Hoa district has the largest area of FSC-certified forest with over 3,070 ha, followed by Le Thuy with 740 ha and Quang Ninh with 490 ha.

In order to receive FSC certification, the units have focused on marketing, training and constructing technical documents for groups according to the principles of sustainable forest management and the FSC standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Assisting units also invited FSC to evaluate and issue certificates of sustainable forest management and to support assessment costs.

People looking to participate in the issuing of FSC certificates need to have afforested land with certificates of land use rights. Before converting to FSC-certified forest models, the forest is required to be cleaned, with absolutely no plastic waste present.

If valuable native plants are found during the growing process they should be preserved. Other sites with conservation value include graves, altars, shrines and streams, all of which are also strictly protected.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Director of Quang Binh Provincial Forest Protection Department, after forests are granted the FSC certificate timber from the plantations will be eligible for export.

The competent units in Quang Binh will provide the local people underwriting contracts which will consume products with a price 10-20% higher than uncertified products. The local authorities will also aid the construction of nurseries to provide for seedlings. In the near future Quang Binh will focus on expanding the area of FSC-certified forests in Minh Hoa and Bo Trach districts.