Lao Cai promotes the issuance of codes for raw material forest growing areas

In the context that the forestry industry must meet increasingly high standards of traceability and supply chain transparency, especially new requirements from major markets such as Europe, the US, and Japan, Lao Cai province is promoting the issuance of codes for raw material forest plantation areas. This is considered an important solution to increase the value of planted forests, while creating a foundation for sustainable forestry development.

People of Yen Thai village, Mau A commune learn about the process of granting codes for raw material forest growing areas.

In the last days of the year, at the Yen Thai village cultural house, Mau A commune, dozens of households came early to participate in a training class on the benefits and procedures for granting growing area codes organized by the Tran Yen - Van Yen Forest Protection Department. The exciting atmosphere showed the interest of the people when the growing area code is becoming a "passport" to help cinnamon, acacia, and Bat Do bamboo shoots enter the large consumer market.

Mr. Ha Van Hanh, Yen Thai village said: Before, my family's products were not competitive, depending a lot on traders. Since having a growing area code and clear origin, businesses have more trust, so the selling price has improved significantly.

The positive changes that Mr. Hanh reflected are also the common reality in many localities that are expanding the area granted codes.

According to the Provincial Forest Protection Department, the province has issued nearly 4,200 hectares of planting area codes with 5,182 codes in three localities: Yen Binh, Bao Ai and Van Phu ward. Of which, Yen Binh commune accounts for more than 1,845 hectares with 2,391 codes; Bao Ai 2,278 hectares with 2,672 codes; Van Phu ward more than 73 hectares with 119 codes. In 2025, the province continues to set a target of issuing planting area codes for about 2,000 more hectares in Mau A, Quy Mong, Khanh Hoa and Phuc Loi communes.

When the forest planting area code is granted, the forest value is increased.

Mr. Vu Trong Phuc - Deputy Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department said that the planting area code not only increases the value of the product but also ensures transparency, meeting the requirements of new generation free trade agreements. In particular, the EUDR regulation against deforestation of the European Union requires traceability of wood origin to become a mandatory condition for export goods.

Thanks to the iTwood system, forest owners can easily register and manage forest plots on a digital platform, creating convenience for both people and management agencies.

Mr. Vu Trong Phuc - Deputy Head of Lao Cai Provincial Forest Protection Department.

Mr. Truong Minh Giang's family in Da Chong village, Yen Binh commune is one of the first households to use iTwood to manage 4 hectares of planted forest. On his phone, all information from area, location, planting year, tree variety, care method to forest certification are fully updated. "In the past, I was still confused, but after being guided by the staff, my family can now update very easily. With the planting area code, we can even sell wood directly through the application without going through an intermediary," said Mr. Giang.

Mr. Giang takes care of the forest area that has been assigned a planting area code.

The planting area code not only brings direct benefits to forest growers but also helps processing enterprises confidently invest in expanding their scale, contributing to the formation of a sustainable forest product value chain and improving the competitiveness of the local forestry industry.

In Mau A commune, which has more than 9,900 hectares of forest with cinnamon as the main crop, the local government has identified expanding the area of ​​​​growing area codes as a key task in 2025. The commune is currently completing documents for about 500 hectares.

The locality will develop a trade promotion strategy and regularly update the list of forest lots that have been assigned codes to serve the traceability of origin and increase the value of cinnamon trees. The ultimate goal is to help people increase their income from the forest, creating a stable and sustainable output for cinnamon products.

Mr. Dinh Manh Cuong - Vice Chairman of Mau A Commune People's Committee

Together with the government, the village cadres are playing an important role in supporting people to complete procedures. Ms. Tran Hai Van - Head of Yen Thai village said: "We hold regular village meetings and coordinate with the front work committee to guide each household to complete the application. The biggest wish is that people will soon benefit from this program."

The planting area code along with the digital map and information management system opens up a more modern approach to forest resource management.

However, the process of expanding the planting area code in the province still faces many challenges. The biggest problem is the status of forest land, when only over 30% of the area is granted a code with a land use right certificate. Many areas have been handed over by the forestry enterprise but have not been clearly assigned, causing difficulties in verifying the origin of the forest plot. Some raw material areas are not concentrated because people still grow spontaneously, choose varieties and production cycles inconsistently.

Forest databases are synchronized from many sources such as FRMS, land allocation maps, remote sensing maps, so there are certain differences, slowing down the information verification process. In remote communes, internet infrastructure and information technology skills of people are limited, making it difficult to digitize initial records.

Faced with that reality, Lao Cai province has proposed specific directions to ensure the progress of expanding the growing area code. The Forest Protection Department closely follows the locality, directs the Forest Protection Districts to strictly manage the issued codes, and strengthens propaganda so that people are clearly aware of the benefits. Communes coordinate to update land information, support people in declaring records, and convert from paper records to digital records. Qualified records will be compiled and submitted to the Forest Protection Department for consideration and code issuance according to Circular 26/2025/TT-BNNMT, effective from July 1, 2025.

Staff from the Forestry Economics Research Center collect data from forest owners to update information on the Itwood application.

The planting area code is becoming an important tool to help Lao Cai innovate forestry management methods, adapt to market requirements and promote modern and sustainable forestry economic development. When the data system is standardized and planted forests are managed according to international standards, the province's forest products have a higher chance of competing and reaching out to export markets.

In the context of deep integration, promoting the issuance of growing area codes not only brings immediate benefits to people but is also a strategic step to help Lao Cai build the brand of cinnamon, acacia and local forest products. With the synchronous participation of functional agencies and the consensus of the people, the goal of expanding growing area codes to 10,000 hectares in the coming time is completely feasible, contributing to the increasingly developing forestry economy.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/lao-cai-day-manh-cap-ma-so-vung-trong-rung-nguyen-lieu-post888476.html