Keep the "heart" of the great forest beating steadily (3)

Lesson 2: Keeping the mountains and forests green

Lesson 1: When the Party's will is in line with the people's will

The beekeeping model was developed by the people of Na In village (Cha Nua commune) under the forest canopy. Photo: Sam Phuc

Escape poverty from the forest

Touching the ground of Na In village (Cha Nua commune), we immediately see the lush green forest next to the stilt houses. Welcoming us from the "gateway" of the forest road, old farmer Leng Van Sim happily said: "Now I have moved completely to the livestock area in Huoi Ngua stream, developing the economy under the forest canopy. Luckily, the forest is surrounded, providing water and forest products, so whatever animals I raise and whatever plants I plant will grow very well!"

After more than 10 minutes of riding a motorbike, swaying along the winding forest road, we arrived at Mr. Sim's livestock farm. The small house is nestled under the old forest, lush and shady. Pouring us a cup of cool forest stream water, Mr. Sim excitedly said: This entire livestock farm has an area of more than 5,000m2. Realizing the potential for developing the VAC model, since 2020 I have started building separate areas to raise goats, dig ponds to raise fish, and plant fruit trees (mango, orange, grapefruit). Being blessed by Mother Nature and the old forest with many types of grass, banana leaves, etc., the goats, chickens, and fish have an abundant source of natural food, rich in nutrients, and are growing rapidly. Currently, Mr. Sim has more than 30 goats, hundreds of poultry of all kinds, and 2,000m2 of fish ponds.

Not stopping there, with the motto of short-term to long-term, livestock income sources have helped Mr. Sim have capital to take care of fruit trees, with a total area of 3,000m2. Cherishing each mango ready for harvest, Mr. Sim continued: "Since the forest patrol and protection road was opened, it has created favorable conditions for me and other livestock households to transport agricultural products to the commune and district markets to sell, and the price is also higher. Every year, the economic development model under the forest canopy helps my family have a stable income of over 120 million VND".

Leaving Mr. Sim's house, we went to Na Cang village to meet old farmer Thung Van Phong, a pioneer in growing purple cardamom, considered a "poverty-reducing tree" under the forest canopy. With a tall and sturdy figure like a wild ironwood tree, Mr. Phong led us uphill to visit the purple cardamom growing area. Mr. Phong said: "This year, the harvest and price were good, my family harvested nearly 500 kg of purple cardamom, sold at a price of 60 - 65 thousand VND/kg, bringing in a revenue of nearly 30 million VND". With the advantage of land and water resources from the forest, in 2020, Mr. Phong planted nearly 1 hectare of purple cardamom. According to Mr. Phong: Purple cardamom is easy to grow, taking advantage of the land area under the forest canopy, requiring little care, high selling price, the plant begins to yield after 2 - 3 years and the area for planting cardamom is expanded as the roots spread. Intercropping between trees or planting under the forest canopy also solves the problem of soil erosion and leaching, creating diverse vegetation, contributing to protecting forest resources.

Keep the forest, the forest will not fail

By chance, during a forest fire prevention and fighting drill in Cha Nua commune, I had the opportunity to meet again the “9X” guy Mua A Chang, Head of Nam Dich village. Looking intently, Head of Chang village said: “We must watch and learn carefully from gathering people, how to zone and put out fires… Because if a fire breaks out in the forest we take care of, we will know how to put out the fire and protect the forest”.

Understanding the value of forests, especially since receiving money for forest environmental services (FES), many households in Nam Dich have voluntarily participated in protecting, protecting and regenerating forests. “Every year, when receiving FES money, everyone is very happy! Although the amount of money divided for each household is not much, it is a source of encouragement, helping many poor and disadvantaged households to cover their living expenses and buy necessary items. Thank you for the attention of the Party and the State. In the coming time, we will continue to make efforts, together with the Party Committee, the government and the forest rangers to protect the forest,” Mr. Mua A Chang shared more.

In 2022, Cha Nua commune was paid more than 5.3 billion VND of forest environmental services. The effectiveness of the policy of "using forests to nurture forests" brought about by the forest environmental services payment policy is truly an important turning point marking a positive change, helping people have more jobs, improve their livelihoods; become more attached to the forest, reduce deforestation, illegal exploitation and transportation of forest products.

Worthy of being the pioneer

From the top of Pom Sut, looking out over the vast forests, the White Thai villages of Na In, Cau, Na Cang, Na Su... appear as beautiful as paintings, with cool green terraced fields. The ancient stilt houses, green roofs, red roofs close together create a rich landscape in the borderland of the Fatherland. Not only is it the first commune of Nam Po district to be recognized as meeting the new rural standards (NTM) at the end of 2018, but Cha Nua is also a typical address in the province reaching the NTM finish line 2 years ahead of schedule.

Mr. Khoang Van Van, Secretary of the Party Committee of Cha Nua commune, firmly stated: "The picture of a prosperous and peaceful border countryside was created thanks to the efforts, solidarity and joint efforts of the Party Committee, the government and the people of all ethnic groups in the commune". From the poverty rate of 53% in 2016, in order to revive the economy and successfully implement the new rural construction program, the Party Committee and the government of Cha Nua commune have stepped up propaganda and mobilized people to promote internal strength, change production methods, and decide what to plant and raise in accordance with the local potential, land and soil conditions; apply science and technology to cultivation to liberate labor and increase production value and economic efficiency.

Having gone through the dry seasons, the people of the lowland villages of Cha Nua commune understand better than anyone the importance of water from the streams and water bodies that flow from the old forests. Small streams flow to the Nam Bai stream and then all lead to the dam and provide water for more than 241 hectares of two-crop rice and crops for the fields. While neighboring communes are struggling to fight drought or leaving their land fallow, farmers here are still able to produce two-crop rice with high yields.

From the abundant irrigation water source and fertile land, the Party Committee of the commune has promoted the pioneering role of cadres and party members, joining hands with the people in building "model" economic models, initiating zero-dong projects: Model of growing green squash; growing purple cardamom under the forest canopy; planting fruit trees; building livestock and production areas; project of "1,200 Bauhinia trees"; "opening internal roads"... With efforts and solidarity, up to now, Cha Nua commune has had 280 livestock and production areas, developing the economy under the forest canopy; 42 hectares of purple cardamom trees, more than 445 hectares of naturally growing cardamom trees; maintaining and developing about 700 beehives... And today, models and projects, especially economic models under the forest canopy, have brought a "new wind" that not only helps people escape poverty sustainably but also makes Cha Nua a "bright spot" in economic development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction, and new rural construction. The poverty rate has decreased to 5.5%, the average income has reached 34.1 million VND/person/year, 1 village has met the model new rural standards.

Mr. Hang Nhe Ly, Vice Chairman of Nam Po District People's Committee, assessed: "Although it is a border commune with a low starting point, with the consensus, perseverance and determination of the Party Committee, the government and the people of the Cha Nua ethnic group, it deserves to be the pioneer in economic development, hunger eradication, poverty reduction and new rural construction of the district. The Cha Nua effect has added motivation and inspired determination for the communes in the district to strive to bring a prosperous and happy life to the people."

Saying goodbye to Cha Nua, when the afternoon sun spread a pale yellow color over the green forests, what remained in me were the warm and steadfast words of Secretary Khoang Van Van: "Having people, having the people's trust is having everything". So that not only the roads protecting the forest are the source of eternal flow, but each person, each house, and community in the border area of Cha Nua will be a solid "fortress" to preserve the "heart" of the great forest as well as protect the territorial integrity of the westernmost fence of the Fatherland.

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