Khanh Hoa: Effectiveness from forest protection contracting

The assignment of forest protection has contributed to limiting deforestation, raising awareness and responsibility for forest protection of each individual; at the same time, helping people have more legitimate income from the forest; helping to sustainably eliminate poverty.

Implementing Decree No. 75/2015/ND-CP dated September 9, 2015 of the Government on mechanisms and policies for forest protection and development associated with the policy of rapid and sustainable poverty reduction and the forest protection contract program, period 2023 - 2025, 338 ethnic minority households in the province have been contracted to protect more than 9,480 hectares of natural forest from state forest owners and commune-level People's Committees.

Khanh Vinh forest land has a coverage of up to 75% of the natural area.

The Southern Khanh Hoa Protective Forest Management Board is a state forest owner assigned to manage and protect an area of ​​more than 30,212 hectares of forest and forest land, including more than 22,470 hectares of critical protective forests. In recent years, the unit's forest management and protection has encountered many difficulties as the specialized forest protection force is thin, while the unit's forest area is quite large. Many forest areas of the unit are often targeted by subjects for illegal exploitation of forest products and encroachment to take land for production.

Since the beginning of 2024, the station has assigned 450 hectares of natural forest protection to 15 poor ethnic minority households in Son Tan commune (Cam Lam district); thanks to that, there are more human resources to carry out the task of patrolling and protecting the forest. When households that are contracted to protect the forest discover that the forest is being affected, they will immediately report to the station for timely inspection and handling. In addition, the Southern Khanh Hoa Forest Protection Management Board also assigned 6,030 hectares of natural forest protection to 204 households in 6 localities in Khanh Son district," said Mr. Nguyen Phuoc The - Head of the Forest Protection Department of the Southern Khanh Hoa Forest Protection Management Board.

Not only state forest owners, the assignment of forest protection to poor ethnic minority households and Kinh people is also being implemented by many commune-level People's Committees in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province. In Khanh Vinh district, since the end of 2023, more than 954 hectares of natural forest under the management of 5 communes: Khanh Nam, Khanh Phu, Khanh Thuong, Lien Sang and Son Thai have been assigned to 38 households in the localities for protection. The households receiving the assignment are all poor ethnic minority households, with an income of 400,000 VND/ha/year, helping households have more income, instead of completely depending on slash-and-burn farming and hired labor.

Forest rangers regularly patrol key areas.

According to the reporter's investigation, before 2023 in Khanh Vinh district, through the review of the local Forest Protection Department and the Commune People's Committee, the area of ​​natural forest that meets the criteria for allocation is more than 1,343.6 hectares, belonging to 8 communes: Khanh Dong, Khanh Binh, Khanh Hiep, Khanh Nam, Khanh Phu, Lien Sang, Son Thai, Khanh Thuong. Although the Commune People's Committees have publicly posted the allocated area, households have no need to register to receive forest protection allocation. The reason is that the area of ​​natural forest managed by the Commune People's Committee is fragmented and dispersed, making it difficult for people to organize protection.

To increase the allocation of forests to households for forest protection, localities must organize propaganda and mobilization many times. In 2023, 56 households in Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh districts signed contracts for forest protection. By 2024, through the implementation efforts of units and localities, the number of households contracting for forest protection has increased. In addition to households in Khanh Son and Khanh Vinh districts continuing to contract natural forest areas managed by the People's Committees at the commune level, many state forest owners have also signed contracts for forest protection with households. Specifically: The Bac Khanh Hoa Protective Forest Management Board has contracted more than 525 hectares to 20 households in Ninh Tay commune (Ninh Hoa town); Tram Huong Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. has contracted 750 hectares to protect 25 households in 3 communes: Khanh Dong, Khanh Hiep, Khanh Trung (Khanh Vinh); Khanh Hoa Forest Products One Member Co., Ltd. assigned 540 hectares of protection to 18 households in Giang Ly and Lien Sang communes (Khanh Vinh district).

A typical example is the family of Mr. Cao Van Dua, Lien Sang commune, Khanh Vinh district, from a poor family, income mainly depends on slash-and-burn farming, but thanks to receiving forest protection contracts, his family borrowed capital from the Social Policy Bank to develop a model of raising pigs, chickens... every year the family has more income, now they have escaped poverty...

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hao, Director of Khanh Hoa Forest Products Company Limited: Khanh Vinh forest has many types of precious wood, which in recent years have attracted the attention of "forest bandits". Therefore, forest protection work is always set out very specifically and resolutely with enough strength to deter bad guys. Fighting forest bandits always goes hand in hand with the task of preventing forest fires. The assignment of forest management and protection to households and local communities has brought double benefits, people have income from forest protection, exploiting products under the forest canopy, and enhancing their responsibility to join hands in protecting the forest. The company will continue to advise the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to submit to the Provincial People's Committee policies on forest management, protection and development; in which, focusing on developing livelihood models and capacity for forest protection forces; equipping people with knowledge and skills in forest patrolling...

In particular, deforestation, illegal exploitation and transportation of forest products still occur; illegal forest clearance and encroachment are quite complicated, causing many difficulties in forest protection. In the coming time, the company will continue to manage and protect the existing forest area, use forest resources reasonably, gradually improve the quality and value of planted forests; mobilize social resources to participate in forest protection and development.

According to Mr. Nguyen Duy Quang - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the policy of forest protection assignment to households in the province is implemented according to the National Target Program on Socio-Economic Development in the Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Regions of the province for the period 2021 - 2030, phase 1: from 2021 to 2025. In addition to creating jobs, increasing income, and improving the lives of households, this policy also contributes to strengthening support for better forest protection management of localities and units. In order for the forest protection assignment to be effective, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has issued many documents urging units to propagate, guide and strengthen support for households contracted to protect forests to carry out the management and protection of the assigned forests according to regulations. The Department also regularly inspects and evaluates the results of forest protection assignment of each unit and locality.

Do Vuong

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/khanh-hoa-hieu-qua-tu-viec-giao-khoan-bao-ve-rung-376108.html