Opening a path out of poverty through forest economy.

QTO - In recent years, forest-based economic development has become the main direction for many households in Truong Phu commune. From barren, deforested hillsides and mountains, people have boldly reforested them with acacia and other suitable forestry trees. Forests not only contribute to protecting the ecological environment but also provide a stable source of income, helping many local families become more prosperous.

Walking along the road to Dong Xuan village today, one easily encounters lush green hills of acacia and eucalyptus trees stretching as far as the eye can see, along with newly built, spacious and impressive houses. Few would imagine that many years ago, the lives of the people here were still very difficult. Yet, in recent years, thanks to the shift to economic forestry, the appearance of the countryside has changed significantly.

The family of Ms. Hoang Thi Vui (born in 1969), from Dong Xuan village, currently owns about 10 hectares of acacia and eucalyptus forest. Each year, after deducting expenses, her family earns approximately 400 million VND. “Previously, my family's life depended solely on a few acres of rice paddies, so we faced hardship year-round. In the late 1990s, my family boldly reclaimed and cultivated barren land to plant forests. Thanks to this, our family's economy has gradually stabilized. The forest is now the main source of livelihood for my family. With income from the forest, our children have received a full education, and our house has been built to be more spacious and comfortable…,” Ms. Vui shared.

Not only Mrs. Vui's family, but many households in Dong Xuan village are also enjoying a better life thanks to forestry development, mainly through forest planting. Mr. Pham Xuan Thuy (born in 1963) currently cultivates over 11 hectares of forest. Thanks to applying proper care techniques and rotational harvesting, his family's forest is thriving, yielding high productivity, and his family earns several hundred million dong annually.

Forestry in Truong Phu commune helps people escape poverty - Photo: NH

Mr. Thuy shared that in the past, people often harvested planted forests too early, resulting in low economic efficiency. In recent years, many households have switched to sustainable forest planting, focusing on larger timber and extending the harvesting cycle to increase the value of the wood. Therefore, income from forestry is higher.

Thanks to the economic benefits it brings, the reforestation movement in Dong Xuan village is developing strongly. Many households are investing in expanding their planting areas and introducing machinery for harvesting and transportation. Numerous families have built new houses, purchased production equipment, and are gradually improving their quality of life.

According to Dong Xuan village head Hoang Van Nam, the village currently has 145 households with approximately 540 inhabitants, and over 90% of them are involved in forestry. The total forest area of ​​the village is about 850 hectares. Income from forestry for the villagers is estimated at around 25-27 billion VND per year. On average, each household in the village owns between 2 and 100 hectares of forest. Some families have large areas of planted forest, such as Mrs. Tran Thi Chien with about 100 hectares, and Mr. Hoang Manh Hung with 30-40 hectares…

“Thanks to the development of economic forests, people's lives have changed significantly. The percentage of well-off and wealthy households has increased, while the number of disadvantaged households has decreased considerably compared to before. Not only does it provide a stable source of income, but the forest economy also contributes to job creation for local laborers. During the planting, tending, or harvesting seasons, many workers have additional employment with decent incomes…,” Mr. Hoang Van Nam informed.

The entire Truong Phu commune currently has 3,922 hectares of forest, of which nearly 2,800 hectares are planted forests that have matured. In recent years, the locality has harvested over 333 hectares of planted forest, yielding over 29,200 tons of raw timber; replanted over 314 hectares; cared for 728 hectares of planted forest; and harvested 34 hectares of pine resin from the PAM project, producing 233 tons of resin… The local forest economy is estimated to generate hundreds of billions of VND in income annually.

According to Phan Thanh Ha, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Truong Phu commune, the villages and households involved in forest planting in the locality have gradually organized forestry production according to the value chain, replicating effective forestry production models. Initially, a link has been formed between forest planters and processing and consumption facilities for forestry products, linked to sustainable forest management. Currently, the entire commune has more than 1,646 hectares of acacia and eucalyptus forests certified under the FSC standard.

NH

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202605/mo-huong-thoat-ngheo-tu-kinh-te-rung-8791c0d/