Bac Me uses the forest to preserve the forest.

BHG - Payment for forest environmental services (FES) is a policy aimed at encouraging individuals and organizations to protect and develop forests, improving livelihoods for the people. Therefore, Bac Me district identifies this as an important solution to help maintain and develop forest resources sustainably.

Báo Hà Giang•26/03/2025

In 2024, the total area of forest providing ecosystem services (E&S) in Bac Me district that received E&S payments (planned for 2023) was over 42,425 hectares; the total amount paid was 3,783 million VND, of which: the Forest Protection and Development Fund directly paid 1,994 households, 128 community groups, and 59 household groups assigned to manage the forest, totaling over 696 million VND; the People's Committees of communes and towns paid 2,173 million VND to communities contracted to manage the forest; and the Protective Forest Management Board paid 913 million VND for the area under its management. To implement the E&S policy, Bac Me district organized the dissemination and promotion of guiding documents from the Central Government and the province to all officials, Party members, the people, community groups, and forest owners to better understand the purpose and significance of E&S. The payment plan for forest environmental services is publicly posted in villages and residential areas; the purpose of using the funds related to forest management and protection is regularly inspected and monitored to ensure transparency; all expenditures from forest environmental services funds in the community are discussed and agreed upon, and priority is given primarily to forest protection, fire prevention, and firefighting...

Postal workers in Bac Me district are paying forest environmental service fees to residents of Lac Nong commune.

Mr. Nguyen Van Tuyen, from Bac Buu village, Yen Dinh commune, said: "My family has over 8.4 hectares of forest providing ecosystem services, and the area for which we receive payments based on the conversion coefficient is 6.4 hectares. In 2024, my family received over 670,000 VND in ecosystem service payments. Although the amount is not large, it is an encouragement and motivation that helps my family and other households in the village protect the forest better."

Comrade Pham Hung, Head of the Bac Me Forest Ranger Station, said: With the motto "openness, transparency, and targeting the right beneficiaries," the payment of forest environmental service fees in the district is carried out according to the correct procedures and guidelines from the Central Government and the province on the implementation of forest environmental service fee policies. Therefore, in recent years, there have been no complaints or denunciations related to the payment of forest environmental service fees. Given the large area, complex terrain, and limited number of forest rangers and forest protection officers in the forest management boards, timely and accurate payment of forest environmental service fees to the right beneficiaries and areas contributes significantly to forest protection; promptly prevents illegal acts related to forest management; and increases forest area. In 2024, there were no forest fires in the district; 14 district-level and commune/township-level forest protection and fire prevention and control command centers were maintained. Nearly 5,700 households have signed commitments to protect forests, prevent and fight forest fires, and strive to achieve a forest cover rate of 65% in the district by 2025.

Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) is an effective solution for protecting and sustainably developing forests. Successful implementation of this policy not only contributes to environmental protection but also improves the livelihoods of people and communities living near forests.

Text and photos: Hoang Tuyen

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/kinh-te/202503/bac-me-lay-rung-de-giu-rung-5bd3e23/