Double benefits from forest contracting in Canh Lien

Effective forest protection

In mid-August 2025, we followed the people of Chom village (Canh Lien commune) and officers of Van Canh Protective Forest Management Board to visit the protective forest areas that the people had contracted for many years in sub-area 349 (in the Dak Ram stream area).

Thanks to the good forest protection communities, the precious habitat of the protective forest in Canh Lien has been preserved. **Photo: Trieu Chau**

Since 2022, thanks to regular patrols, there has been no logging or encroachment on forest land in this forest area; fire prevention and fighting work has always been ensured. Thanks to effective protection by community groups, the local contracted forest area still has many rare animals, precious woods with diameters of more than 1-2 human arms, and tall foliage covering large areas of forest.

Following the trails covered with dry leaves, sitting by the Dak Ram stream after many hours of patrolling, Mr. Mai Thanh Phuong (45 years old, Bahnar, in Chom village) said: His family has contracted more than 24 hectares of forest. Twice a month, 11 households in his group patrol for 2-4 days. When they discover strange signs such as trees being cut down, soil being dug up or footprints of strangers, the group immediately reports to the Forest Management Board for inspection and handling. "The forest sustains us, so protecting the forest is protecting the source of life and the memories of the village," said Mr. Phuong.

Joining the group, Dinh Van Den (19 years old, Bahnar ethnic, in Chom village) has been involved in forest protection work since graduating from high school. “Patrolling is very hard, having to climb slopes, wade through streams, and sometimes encountering sudden rain in the forest is even harder. But in return, I get to see wild animals, ancient trees, and breathe fresh air. Thinking about preserving the forest for future generations makes me happy,” Den shared.

Cat Village has 97 households assigned nearly 2,302 hectares of forest. Thanks to the coordination with local officials of the Van Canh Protective Forest Management Board, the village's households regularly patrol, promptly report, and handle violations. Many areas that were previously sparsely forested and bare have now become green again, with increasingly abundant flora and fauna.

Mr. Dinh Van Krep, Party Cell Secretary and Head of Cat Village Management Board, said: “The village has included forest protection in the conventions and village covenants; anyone who violates them will be punished. People are also regularly informed that they absolutely must not destroy forests or hunt rare animals. Thanks to that, everyone understands that protecting the forest means protecting water sources and food for their children and grandchildren. Every time they patrol, seeing green trees and wild animals still there, everyone feels relieved.”

Improve people's income

According to the Van Canh Protective Forest Management Board, Canh Lien commune has over 540 households in the villages of Chom, Cat, Ka Bong, Ka Nau, Ka Bung, Ha Giao, Kon Lot assigned to protect nearly 6,485 hectares of protective forest. Households actively patrol, detect early acts of encroachment on forest resources and immediately report to local officials and forest rangers. Thanks to that, the effectiveness of forest protection has been significantly improved.

Households of Chom village and officers of Van Canh Forest Protection Management Board patrol the forest in sub-region 349. **Photo: Trieu Chau**

Not only does it protect the forest, the contract policy also helps people have a stable source of income. With a support level of 600 thousand VND/ha/year, it is expected that by the end of 2025, the Board will pay nearly 3.9 billion VND to the communities and households receiving the contracts. Many households receive 12 - 24 hectares of forest, this amount is enough to cover part of their lives, buy production tools, invest in livestock, develop the economy , and reduce illegal entry into the forest to make a living.

Mr. Dinh Van Tung (52 years old, Bahnar ethnic, in Ka Nau village) has been contracted 12 hectares of forest. Every year, he earns an additional 7.2 million VND. “My family is poor, and our main income comes from rice farming, so it is unstable. Since I received the contract, in addition to the support money, I have also been instructed on how to protect the forest and how to develop the economy properly. With the money I received, I bought more cows and goats to raise,” said Mr. Tung.

Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, Chairman of Canh Lien Commune People's Committee, assessed: Forest protection contracting is a humane policy, both preserving forests and forest resources and creating stable livelihoods for people. Thanks to this source of income, many households have known how to invest in economic development, gradually escaping poverty, contributing to bringing the commune's poverty rate to 23.36% (in 2025), down 33.08% compared to 2020 (56.44%). This is an important foundation for the commune to continue to reduce poverty, towards building new rural areas associated with sustainable development.

Director of Van Canh Protective Forest Management Board Nguyen Thanh Quang said: “To improve the effectiveness of forest protection and build a strong local forest protection force, the unit regularly coordinates with the government and community groups, households to organize training on forest fire prevention and fighting skills, handle violations... On the other hand, the Board is also making recommendations to superiors to expand the contracted area, with the goal of creating more opportunities for people to have jobs, increase income, and become more closely attached to the forest”.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/loi-ich-kep-tu-viec-giao-khoan-rung-o-canh-lien-post563823.html