Efficiently utilize planted forests.

In recent years, planting and harvesting production forests has become an important livelihood for ethnic minority communities in the highlands of the province. From fragmented and inefficient agricultural production, many households have switched to forest planting, gradually increasing their income, improving their lives, and contributing to the protection of natural resources and the ecological environment.

The wood processing factory in the center of Bang Thanh commune consumes a large amount of timber from local people's planted forests every year.

Thai Nguyen has a large area of ​​forest land, mainly distributed in mountainous communes, far from the central areas. Previously, people's lives were difficult, their income depended on slash-and-burn farming, and their ability to accumulate wealth was low. The development of production forests, especially with tree species suitable to the local soil and climate conditions such as acacia, pine, mahogany, and cinnamon, has opened up a direction appropriate to the local reality.

Currently, the selling price of pine and acacia wood in many highland communes ranges from 0.9 to 1.3 million VND/m3, providing a relatively stable source of income for forest growers.

The family of Mr. Nong Van Huong, in Bjooc Ve village, Thuong Minh commune, is a prime example. Since 2008, his family has converted over 3 hectares of hillside land to planting oil palm trees. After two harvests, deducting the costs of seedlings, materials, and labor, each hectare of oil palm forest yields an income of over 100 million VND. According to Mr. Huong, compared to many other crops, oil palm and acacia trees are easy to cultivate, suitable for the local soil conditions, while the market is favorable because traders come directly to the farm to purchase the produce.

In reality, if the correct technical procedures are applied, each harvesting cycle of planted forests, lasting 5-7 years, can generate hundreds of millions of VND per hectare. This income helps people cover living expenses, invest in their children's education, and create opportunities for reinvestment. For many households in mountainous areas, planted forests are considered a long-term source of savings, contributing to the self-reliance in family economic development.

Besides its economic benefits, the exploitation of planted forests also creates local jobs for rural workers. All stages, from planting and caring for the trees to harvesting and transporting the timber, require a large workforce, contributing to increased regular income for the people. In some localities, linkages between forest-planting households and cooperatives and forestry enterprises are gradually forming, helping to ensure a stable market for planted forest timber products and preventing price manipulation.

Timber from plantations owned by residents of Thuong Minh commune is being stockpiled awaiting sale.

According to Mr. Ly Van Truong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thuong Minh commune, the entire commune currently has more than 5,000 hectares of planted forest, most of which have reached the age for harvesting. Thanks to funding from national target programs, the locality has invested in opening roads to production forest areas, creating favorable conditions for logging and transporting timber. In addition, several timber processing facilities have been established, contributing to providing stable employment for local workers.

In Cao Minh commune, over the past 10 years, many households have proactively invested in forest planting. Local authorities have focused on providing technical guidance on planting and caring for the trees, helping people improve production efficiency. Thanks to the harvesting of planted forests, many households have escaped poverty and are gradually stabilizing their lives. People hope that the State will continue to pay attention to investing in transportation infrastructure to make forest planting and harvesting more convenient.

To enhance long-term effectiveness, the highland localities of the province are stepping up propaganda and guidance for people to apply advanced techniques, gradually shifting from small-timber to large-timber forests, extending the harvesting cycle to increase economic value. Along with income benefits, planted forests contribute to protecting the ecological environment, limiting soil erosion and landslides, regulating water resources, and reducing pressure on natural forests.

It can be affirmed that exploiting planted forests is a suitable direction for the natural conditions of the highlands of Thai Nguyen, contributing to poverty reduction, improving people's lives, promoting sustainable socio-economic development, and preserving the greenness of the mountain forests.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202601/khai-thac-hieu-quarung-trong-b1e3ca0/