Economy under the forest canopy

3,200 cubic meters of large timber; 99 tons of medicinal herbs; nearly 400,000 bamboo trees; 28,585 kg of wild honey; 32,200 dong leaves... All are benefits from the forest in just one month. In a mountainous province like Hoa Binh, where most of the land area is steep hills, these numbers indicate an important thing: the forest is feeding the people with products under the tree canopy. The non-timber forest products economy has quietly emerged sustainably, closely connected with nature and especially... making money.

Son Thuy Company Limited (Mong Hoa Commune, Hoa Binh City) not only focuses on exploiting raw wood, but also contributes to developing the forest product value chain in Hoa Binh - from afforestation to deep processing.

Hundreds of billions of dong earned from the forest in one month

Without waiting until the end of the year, just in May, Hoa Binh forest "paid" more than 134 billion VND to those who know how to live with it. That is the result of a process of controlled exploitation, responsible care and calculated attachment.

According to the report of the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province, the whole province has exploited more than 1,560 hectares of concentrated planted forests, producing over 135,000 m3 of wood, including 3,200 m3 of large wood - a type of high value, favored by the market. But the special thing is not the "large wood", but the small products.

Also during this period, people exploited 383,800 bamboo trees, collected 293 tons of fresh bamboo shoots, 99 tons of medicinal herbs, 28,585 kg of wild honey, along with tens of thousands of dong leaves, forest firewood and other minor forest products. If calculated individually, these items may not be significant. But when added together, the total income that people and economic organizations earned from the forest in May was up to 134.7 billion VND.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, this is a very remarkable figure, especially when it does not come from large-scale logging. This shows that the economy under the forest canopy, especially non-timber forest products, is becoming a real pillar in the lives of people in mountainous areas.

On average, every day, Hoa Binh people earn more than 4.5 billion VND from what grows quietly under the forest canopy. From an economic perspective, the forest is no longer an inviolable "green wall", but is gradually becoming a "soft resource warehouse" that can be exploited sustainably if there are appropriate policies.

Preserving forests - preserving livelihoods

The forest economy is doing well, but to survive sustainably is another matter. Because a forest that generates good income today can be exhausted after a few seasons if there is no planning for planting, no control over exploitation, no preservation of seed sources and the understory ecosystem. Maintaining the forest to survive with the forest has never been an easy task.

In May, two forest fires occurred in the province (in Lac Thuy and Cao Phong), causing damage to more than 6 hectares. An illegal deforestation case was also discovered. These are things that cannot be overlooked, when over-exploitation, burning forests for farming or expanding production land are still hidden in the old way of life.

According to the Forestry Department - Forest Protection Department of Hoa Binh province, the Department is focusing on reviewing the planning of three types of forests, monitoring projects to convert the purpose of forestry land use, and promoting the exploitation model with FSC certification, associated with resource conservation.

In localities, the orientation of forest protection and forest livelihoods has been integrated into many programs such as: developing OCOP products from forest products; promoting the economy under the forest canopy; protecting forests associated with people's livelihoods through projects under the National Target Program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.

There has been specific support through training in indigenous medicinal herb processing techniques; connecting natural honey consumption... these actions, if implemented synchronously, will create a forest protection belt more effective than any prohibition signs or guard posts. Because people can only truly protect the forest when they can live off the forest. And only a policy to encourage sustainable exploitation is the longest stick, helping to lift the forest from the endless cycle of cutting - planting - cutting.

Forest economy, especially non-timber forest products, is quietly providing a stable livelihood for thousands of households in the province. Each bundle of bamboo shoots, liter of honey, and ton of medicinal herbs… is not only a raw product, but also the crystallization of sweat, indigenous knowledge, and the way people choose to live in harmony with nature.

However, if we stop at 134 billion VND in a month, that is only a surface slice. What is more important is how to make the forest continue to generate profits without being destroyed. How to reorganize those silent products into chains, process them deeply, build brands and reach out to further markets as the province is expecting from the OCOP program, digital transformation and sustainable development. Because the forest is only truly green when it is not only a place to live, but also a place to do business. And only then, the tree canopy is no longer simply a shade but a livelihood support, an ecological belt, a border that holds the land, holds the village and keeps the dream of living in nature, not leaving it behind.

Hai Yen

Source: https://baohoabinh.com.vn/12/201783/Kinh-te-duoi-tan-rung.htm