Bac Ninh: Ensuring forest cover

BAC NINH - Forestry is becoming an important source of livelihood for many localities in Bac Ninh province. Following the motto "wherever exploitation takes place, reforestation will be carried out immediately," the Tet Tree Planting campaign has been implemented comprehensively, contributing to increasing the value of forests, protecting the ecological environment, and increasing income for the people.

Wherever logging takes place, reforestation should be carried out immediately.

In recent years, economic forestry has continued to affirm its role as one of the driving forces of rural economic development. By 2025, the entire province will harvest 12,182 hectares of concentrated planted forests, with a timber output of over 1.5 million m³, the highest level ever; ranking second among northern provinces and seventh nationwide. The value of forestry production in 2025 (at current prices) is expected to reach 2,363 billion VND, an increase of 5.3% compared to 2024. For people and localities in mountainous areas, forestry is identified as a primary source of income, significantly contributing to improving living standards and achieving sustainable poverty reduction. Along with harvesting activities, localities are accelerating forest regeneration and development. The principle of "replanting forests immediately after harvesting" is consistently applied throughout management and operation. As a result, most of the forest area after logging was promptly replanted by the local people, maintaining forest cover and limiting the emergence of barren land and deforested hills.

Officials from the Luc Nam inter-communal Forest Protection Department inspect the quality of forestry seedlings in Ha Phu village, Luc Nam commune.

Dong Phu commune has over 3,300 hectares of forest, concentrated in the villages of Cai Vang, Cay Da, Trai Va, Dong Son, etc. One of the exemplary households with a good income from economic forestry is the family of Mr. Tran Duc Thanh, with 11 hectares of planted forest ranging from 2 to over 7 years old. At the end of last year, his family harvested 5 hectares of acacia trees, earning over 700 million VND. Immediately after harvesting, the family promptly cleared the undergrowth, prepared the site, and selected quality seedlings for planting a new forest crop. “Thanks to the guidance and information from relevant authorities, this spring I decided to switch to planting large timber trees on the area that was just harvested. After about 10 years of planting, the trees will be ready for harvest, increasing timber yield and economic value, meeting export requirements.”

Currently, the Luc Nam Inter-communal Forest Protection Unit manages 23,800 hectares of forest land in seven communes: Luc Nam, Dong Phu, Nghia Phuong, Cam Ly, Truong Son, Luc Son, and Nam Duong. Mr. Nguyen Van Thuy, Deputy Head of the Luc Nam Inter-communal Forest Protection Unit, stated: “To enhance the value of planted forests, the unit is strengthening propaganda and mobilization efforts to encourage people, after each harvesting cycle, to switch to planting large timber forests, practicing ‘clean’ forest cultivation, not using chemical pesticides, not burning undergrowth, and aiming to achieve international sustainable forest management certification.” In reality, products from sustainably managed large timber forests are 10-20% more valuable than those from conventionally planted forests, making them eligible for export markets. Currently, the communes under the unit's management have over 4,000 hectares of forest certified under sustainable forest management; Dong Phu commune alone has over 200 hectares.

Alongside forest planters, forestry seedling production and supply facilities in the province are also proactively preparing for the new season. The province currently has 130 licensed forestry seedling production and trading establishments, including 14 nurseries specializing in high-quality seedlings. These facilities have now prepared over 7 million seedlings of various types to meet the reforestation needs for 2026.

Pay attention to the quality of seedlings.

To reforest land, especially to partially compensate for the damage to the forestry sector caused by fires and storms last year, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has directed and guided localities to urgently restore and replant damaged forests. They have also intensified efforts to care for and protect existing forest areas. In addition, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 97/KH-UBND dated October 11, 2025, on scattered tree planting for the period 2026-2030, aiming to plant 10 million scattered trees by 2030, including over 2,100 trees planted in 2026.

To concretize the goal of tree planting and sustainable forest development, this year, the Department of Agriculture and Environment advised the Provincial People's Committee to implement the Tree Planting Festival from February 23rd to March 19th and the forest planting plan for 2026. Currently, communes, wards, and relevant departments have developed plans and prepared planting sites for reforestation. The selected tree species have economic value and create green spaces, such as: Lim, Nhội, Pine, Sang, Bauhinia, Phong Linh, Osaka, Acacia, and Eucalyptus.

To concretize the goal of tree planting and sustainable forest development, this year, the Department of Agriculture and Environment advised the Provincial People's Committee to implement the Tree Planting Festival from February 23rd to March 19th and the forest planting plan for 2026.

Currently, in many forested localities such as An Lac, Duong Huu, Tay Yen Tu, Dong Vuong, Tuan Dao, Yen Dinh communes, etc., the government and people are urgently preparing for the 2026 reforestation season. Taking advantage of the light rains at the beginning of spring, households are mobilizing manpower and equipment to plant trees on time, helping to improve the survival rate of the trees. For example, in Duong Huu commune, the locality has developed a plan to participate in the 2026 Tree Planting and Reforestation Festival. Mr. Chuc Van Bo, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Duong Huu commune, said: “Last year, the value of forestry products in the commune reached 209.9 billion VND, the highest ever. Building on the achievements, this year the locality strives to replant 1,027 hectares of forest on the area that was recently harvested. To complete this plan, from the beginning of the year, the commune has reviewed and proactively developed a new reforestation plan, propagated and guided people to buy seedlings from reputable suppliers, and introduced new high-yield tree varieties into cultivation.”

The organization of the Tree Planting Festival and reforestation has created a widespread movement, raising people's awareness of tree planting and forest protection. Areas of planted forests with large timber trees are expanding. The entire province has more than 21,000 hectares of forest certified for sustainable forest management. Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Deputy Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, said: “This year, the province continues to encourage the planting of large timber forests aimed at high economic value and sustainable forestry development. To proactively secure seed sources, the Forest Protection Department continues to direct specialized units to strengthen the management of the production and business of forestry seedlings; guiding nurseries to use new, high-yield varieties with clear origins.” Along with functional forces, localities need to pay attention to the timely and full implementation of policies supporting scattered tree planting as prescribed, creating incentives to encourage organizations and individuals to actively participate in tree planting and forest protection.

Text and photos: Mai Toan

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/bac-ninh-bao-dam-do-che-phu-rung-postid439029.bbg