A turning point in forest protection and development.

(PLVN) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has just released a report on the five-year implementation of the Sustainable Forestry Development Program for the period 2021-2025 (Program 809), showing that we have achieved many results in forest protection and development.

By 2025, the national forest cover rate will reach 42.03%. While increasing in scale, the quality of forests will also improve significantly. Many models of large-scale timber plantations and FSC-certified forests (certification for sustainable forest management, ensuring wood products have clear origins, responsible harvesting, and compliance with environmental, social, and economic standards) have been implemented in Quang Tri, Tuyen Quang, etc., contributing to job creation and stable income for many households.

Revenue from forest environmental services reaches trillions of VND annually, contributing to improving the livelihoods of people in forest areas; it is a bright spot, affirming the "people-centered" approach of the program; and it is an effective solution combining forest protection and sustainable livelihood development. Ecotourism and resort models in forests have expanded, generating revenue of over 500 billion VND in 2024 alone.

In recent years, the forestry sector has also promoted public-private partnerships (PPP) in management and forest protection. The Forestry Department has signed several cooperation programs with international organizations, businesses, research institutes, etc., to transfer technology, improve management capacity, and expand markets for forest products. The average annual growth rate of added value in the forestry sector is 5%, and the export value of wood and forest products averages US$16.2 billion per year, making Vietnam one of the top 5 wood exporting countries in the world .

During the period 2021-2025, the law on forest protection and development was supplemented and gradually perfected with a series of new legal documents: Decrees on investment in forestry, development of medicinal plants, ecotourism, management of forestry seeds, etc. Another important factor is the strengthening of inspection, supervision, and handling of forest violations, which has significantly reduced illegal logging and deforestation.

The above figures show that the forestry sector has made many efforts. However, in reality, we also recognize that climate change is becoming increasingly evident, with frequent storms causing floods and landslides, resulting in losses of life and property nationwide. Therefore, forest protection and conservation efforts need to be intensified, not only increasing forest area and greening barren land, but also focusing on improving the quality and value of forests. We need more mature forests that are resilient to storms and capable of withstanding natural disasters, not only as the "green lungs" of nature, but also as "shields" protecting people's lives, conserving water, and preventing flash floods and landslides from the source. We have changed our actions and thinking about forestry, from "protection" to "sustainable development"; from "resource exploitation" to "investment in ecological value". Forests have been recognized as a "resource for long-term development," not just a task for state management. In this new phase, we need forest protection and conservation in the direction of green economic development, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/buoc-chuyen-minh-trong-bao-ve-phat-trien-rung.html