The effectiveness of payment policy for forest environmental services

For the past ten years, after applying the payment policy for forest environment services, the forestry sector in Nghe An province has had remarkable changes. With the outstanding efforts of the whole forestry industry, people, especially professional agencies, have brought about a positive difference in forest management in the province.

The payment policy for forest environmental services is correct, which can be considered "one of the ten most outstanding achievements of the agriculture and rural development sector."

Implementing the payment policy for forest environmental services in Nghe An province has helped raise the awareness of people, forest owners, and local authorities in forest protection. People have raised the awareness of forest preservation, considering it a valuable asset that everyone has the responsibility to preserve and develop jointly.

The payment policy for forest services spreading throughout Nghe An province is a good sign because Nghe An has the largest forest area in the country.

Nghe An province needs to make an overview assessment, develop an appropriate roadmap, and plan to develop the forestry sector.

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, Nghe An's forestry sector needs to focus on improving the quality and efficiency of planted forests, increasing the area for large-sized timber business; To raise the level of industry of exploitation and processing of wood and non-timber forest products; towards comprehensive development from raw materials to production and consumption…

Nghe An province needs to develop forestry to ensure harmony between conservation and sustainable development and in line with national forestry planning and specific ecological characteristics of the province.

In the midland and low mountainous areas exclusively, which are the focus and key to developing the forestry economy, the province needs to form essential products (fiberboard, biochar, laminated wood, and other household furniture products) aiming to serve domestic consumption and export.

Therefore, it is necessary to have policies and investment resources to manage, protect, and restore natural forests, especially for areas belonging to special-use forests, watershed protection forests, and forests in border areas.

Along with that, Nghe An province must effectively implement the policy of payment for forest environmental services, calling for programs and projects in the field of nature conservation; Well enforce policies and allocate resources for land allocation associated with forest allocation;

It is necessary to apply a policy to switch from a contract to protect natural forests to cooperation in forest protection between state forest owners and households and communities to harmonize interests between the State and people.

Without knowing how to take advantage of opportunities, Nghe An province will not promote the export of timber and forest products to the world market, especially to traditional and potential markets such as China, the EU, and the US...

In addition, Nghe An province must have policies to encourage and support wood processing enterprises to participate in domestic and international fairs and exhibitions; To form industrial zones and clusters for processing wood and non-timber forest products with a concentrated area large enough to attract investors;

To form a wholesale market for wood materials according to the function of a wood import-export market or a wood trading floor to supply wood materials for the production and processing needs of forest product processing factories in the province;

Formulate policies and attract businesses in domestic and foreign provinces to invest in concentrating wood processing and non-timber forest product industrial parks.

Another core element is to review and unify the organizational structure of state management of forestry from the province to the grassroots, based on clearly defining the positions, functions, and tasks of the units according to the regulations to attach specific responsibilities and improve the efficiency of state management following particular conditions.