Preserving forests to escape poverty

Located in the south of Sa Mu Pass, Chenh Venh village has 130 households, most of whom are Bru-Van Kieu ethnic people, whose lives mainly depend on agricultural production. With the support of the forestry sector and a number of projects on biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest development, since 2018 Chenh Venh village has established a Community Forest Management Board with 4 protection teams, directly managing and protecting 674 hectares of forest.

Previously, Mr. Ho Van Dinh's family in Chenh Venh village was considered a poor household in the commune due to the large population and lack of land for production. Since 2018, after joining the village's forest management and protection team, Mr. Dinh's family has escaped poverty and has a more stable life.

“Thanks to participating in the management and protection of natural forests, my family receives money from forest environmental service payments and participates in tourism services and growing medicinal herbs under the forest canopy, so our life is increasingly stable,” Mr. Dinh shared.

Forest protection community of Chenh Venh village - Photo: PTL

Mr. Ho Van Chien, Head of the Community Forest Management Board of Chenh Venh village, said: Previously, the natural forest area in Chenh Venh village was illegally exploited by loggers for many years, causing severe damage. Since the village's forest management and protection working groups were established, the awareness of the villagers has been raised, so many forests are gradually regenerating and developing, especially native tree species such as Doi, Sen, Sou Sot, Ngát...

“My hometown lies at the foot of Sa Mu Pass. Since ancient times, natural forests have been a source of food, medicine, water and materials for building houses. People still remind each other to love and preserve the forests because for the Van Kieu people, the forest is also home,” Mr. Chien confided.

Head of Chenh Venh village, Ho Van Thuan, said: Thanks to the good work of forest protection, each year the village receives more than 340 million from greenhouse gas emission fees and the National Target Program on socio -economic development of ethnic minority areas, period 2021-2025. In particular, when the community forest is granted FSC certification, Chenh Venh village is supported and Chenh Venh Tourist Village was born within the framework of the PROSPER project, funded by the European Union and the Netherlands-Vietnam Medical Committee (MCNV), with the goal of developing eco-tourism associated with sustainable forest management according to FSC standards. This is one of the first two community forests in Vietnam to be granted FSC certification, bringing a sustainable source of livelihood to local people.

According to Mr. Ho Van Thuan, with the establishment of Chenh Venh Tourist Village, local people can participate in tourism activities, along with income from forest environmental services and growing medicinal plants under the natural forest canopy, the lives of villagers are increasingly stable, many households have risen up to escape poverty sustainably. Bru-Van Kieu people are therefore increasingly aware of preserving the forest to protect their own living space.

P. Phuong - T. Lam

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202509/giu-rung-de-thoat-ngheo-0400172/