Breakthrough in forest management, protection and development to keep the Fatherland green

Vietnam's forestry sector has comprehensively innovated, promoted forest management, protection and development, maintained ecological security, and aimed at green and sustainable development.

Implementing Directive No. 13-CT/TW and Conclusion No. 61-KL/TW of the Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership in forest management, protection and development, in recent times, the entire forestry sector has synchronously deployed many solutions, achieving comprehensive results, contributing to maintaining ecological security and sustainable development.

Synchronize from command to action

The dissemination and implementation of the Directive and Conclusion have been carried out extensively from the central to the grassroots levels. Ministries, agencies and branches have organized conferences to disseminate to each party organization, agency, unit, cadre, civil servant and public employee; at the same time, promoting communication on the Party and State's policies and guidelines on environmental protection and sustainable development.

At the local level, Party committees and authorities proactively led and coordinated with the Fatherland Front and socio- political organizations to launch the movements "All people participate in protecting and developing forests" and "Tree planting festival to forever remember Uncle Ho", creating a clear change in the awareness and actions of the community.

On that basis, the Government has issued specific action programs such as Resolution 71/NQ-CP (2017) and Resolution 29/NQ-CP (2024) with 38 key tasks, focusing on propaganda, improving the effectiveness of state management, developing forest economy, planning and international cooperation. The Party Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment also issued a specific Action Program and Plan, clearly assigning responsibilities to each unit, creating a unified foundation for implementation.

Forest rangers inspect forest protection work at Cuc Phuong National Park. Photo: Department of Forestry and Forestry.

Impressions from outstanding results

Forest management, protection and development have seen many positive changes. From 2020 to now, the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection has advised on the issuance of 35 legal documents and developed 3 major programs, including: Sustainable Forestry Development Program for the period 2021-2025, Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy for the period 2021-2030, vision to 2050 and National Forestry Planning for the period 2021-2030, vision to 2050.

Forestry production value will grow steadily, reaching 4.7% in 2024 and 6.67% in the first quarter of 2025. Wood and non-timber forest product export turnover will increase sharply, from 8 billion USD in 2017 to 17.35 billion USD in 2024. Revenue from forest environmental services will reach more than 17,000 billion VND per year, becoming a sustainable financial pillar of the industry, contributing to improving income for millions of households working in the forest sector.

Forest protection work is carried out consistently according to the viewpoint of “strictly and effectively protecting existing forest areas, especially natural forests”. Thanks to increased inspection, supervision and strict handling of violations, the number of forestry law violations has decreased by an average of 10% each year. The role and responsibility of authorities at all levels in forest management is increasingly clear.

Currently, more than 1.2 million households with nearly 5 million workers participate in forestry activities, most of whom are ethnic minorities, mountainous and highland people. The forest protection contract policy has helped hundreds of thousands of households have stable livelihoods, improved lives, contributing to hunger eradication, poverty reduction and new rural development.

The national forest coverage rate will reach 42.02% by 2024, exceeding the target set by the 13th National Congress. The structure of three types of forests (special-use, protection, and production) will be maintained and effectively promoted in protecting watersheds and coastal areas, preventing erosion, minimizing natural disasters, making an important contribution to ensuring water security, environmental security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and green growth.

One of the achievements of the forestry sector is to always promote afforestation to increase forest cover to over 42%, many ecological zones are restored, hundreds of native tree species are preserved and developed. Photo: Department of Forestry and Forest Protection.

Towards a green and modern forestry industry

From practical implementation, the forestry sector has drawn many important lessons. First of all, the timely institutionalization of the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's policies helps create a synchronous legal framework for the entire sector. Promoting the application of science and technology and digital transformation in forest management is an inevitable requirement of the new era.

Besides, regularly check, monitor, summarize practices, replicate good models, and promptly remove difficulties.

And finally, it is necessary to identify the viewpoint that forest protection is the responsibility of the whole society. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to improve mechanisms and policies strong enough to attract investment resources, while strengthening international cooperation, applying science, expanding forest product export markets, contributing to effectively implementing international commitments on climate change and sustainable development.

In the coming period, the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection determined to: continue to thoroughly grasp and effectively implement Conclusion No. 61-KL/TW; enhance the role and responsibility of Party committees and authorities at all levels, especially leaders; promote digital transformation and application of GIS technology, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence in forest resource management.

Along with that, the industry will perfect the financial mechanism, encourage businesses, communities and people to participate in forest protection and get rich from forests; build a team of professional, brave forest rangers, attached to the grassroots, meeting the requirements in the new situation.

Implementing Directive 13 and Conclusion 61 well is not only a key political task but also a commitment to a greener, more sustainable Vietnam, where forests continue to provide shade, protecting the lives and future of future generations.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/dot-pha-quan-ly-bao-ve-va-phat-trien-rung-giu-mau-xanh-to-quoc-d422644.html