ERPA supports forest protection

The community forest protection team of Ho village, Huong Son commune, Huong Hoa district promotes the sense of responsibility in participating in forest protection - Photo: TT

As one of the six North Central provinces benefiting from the North Central Region Emission Reduction Agreement for the 2018-2024 period signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) and the World Bank (WB) in February 2022, Quang Tri has received more than VND 51 billion from the Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund. The Quang Tri Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund has issued official dispatches, notices, and plans related to ERPA payments to forest owners and stakeholders in the province.

In order to create consensus and unified awareness of the greenhouse gas emission reduction payment policy under the ERPA agreement, the Quang Tri Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund has strongly implemented communication and dissemination of Decree 107/2022/ND-CP to many different audiences. Through mass media to spread information about the policy to all levels, sectors, beneficiaries and people in the province.

At the same time, organize specialized training courses on forest carbon absorption and storage services, contributing to capacity building and improving professional qualifications for forest owners, commune-level People's Committees and communities directly benefiting from ERPA revenue.

According to the report of the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund, the locality has mobilized more than 65.5 billion VND in revenue from the ERPA Program, actively disbursing to directly support beneficiaries, mainly households and communities participating in forest protection and development. Accordingly, in 2023, more than 16 billion VND was disbursed, reaching 99.9% of the plan. In 2024, the approved plan is more than 21.7 billion VND, of which more than 19.5 billion VND for beneficiaries has been fully disbursed.

For 2025, the province has developed a disbursement plan with a total estimated budget of more than VND 25.7 billion, of which more than VND 23.2 billion will be paid directly to beneficiaries. Currently, the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund is closely coordinating with forest rangers and forest owners to review and synthesize the area of ​​natural forests and determine a list of beneficiaries as a basis for submission to the Provincial People's Committee for approval in the coming time.

The ERPA program has been bringing positive impacts to forest protection and development in Quang Tri, especially in the two mountainous districts of Huong Hoa and Dakrong, where the majority of the province's natural forest area is 96,157.13 ha/126,693.78 ha, accounting for nearly 80% and the majority is inhabited by ethnic minorities. Although the implementation period is not long, revenue from ERPA has contributed significantly to increasing income for forest owners, especially ethnic minority communities and households in remote areas.

Thanks to that, people are increasingly aware of the importance of forests and actively participate in the work of protecting and reducing deforestation. Revenue from ERPA has paid 63 ethnic minority communities and households managing 12,348.94 hectares of natural forest with an amount of more than 1.5 billion VND, and 82 ethnic minority households managing 557 hectares of natural forest with an amount of more than 70 million VND.

This will create stable jobs, increase income and improve the lives of people in remote areas. In particular, 47 communities will receive an additional VND 50 million/community/year to carry out livelihood development activities chosen by the community itself, such as repairing community houses, installing lighting, buying livestock, contributing to the completion of infrastructure and public works.

Organizations assigned to manage forests in the province also receive important funding from ERPA, helping to ensure continuous and effective forest management and protection activities. Currently, there are 8 forest owners who are organizations allocated revenue from ERPA. In 2023, the total forest area managed by these organizations will be paid 85,752.93 hectares, equivalent to more than 10.8 billion VND. In 2024, the area paid will be 85,652.40 hectares, equivalent to more than 13.2 billion VND. It is expected that in 2025, revenue from ERPA paid to forest owners who are organizations will reach more than 15 billion VND.

Through the ERPA payment policy, awareness and knowledge of forest protection and management as well as the state's forestry development policies have been significantly improved among forest owners and local authorities. The ERPA payment source has created a strong motivation, encouraging people to actively participate in forest protection, contributing to improving the quality and increasing the quantity of forests.

Thanks to that, the number of violations of forestry laws such as deforestation, encroachment on forest land, forest fires... have been limited to the lowest level. In the process of implementing payments for greenhouse gas emission reduction under ERPA, agencies, departments, branches and local authorities have paid special attention, directed and thoroughly implemented, thereby the work of forest management, protection and development in the province has had many positive changes.

The ERPA program is truly an important “lever”, not only contributing to the protection and sustainable development of the province’s valuable forest resources but also bringing practical benefits, improving the lives of people, especially ethnic minorities, while enhancing the effectiveness of state management in the forestry sector.

Aquarius

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/erpa-tiep-suc-bao-ve-rung-193623.htm