The Van Kieu people of Ho village protect the forest.

QTO - Huong Phung commune has 24 villages and hamlets, 2,865 households with 12,131 inhabitants, mainly ethnic minority people of the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic group. With a natural area of ​​over 44,548 hectares, Huong Phung is an important buffer zone of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve. Therefore, most villages and hamlets in Huong Phung have relatively favorable conditions in terms of land and water resources for sustainable agricultural and forestry economic development. However, the reality is that the living standards of the people remain low, mainly relying on the forest for their livelihood, so forest management and protection have faced many difficulties and challenges in the past. However, since the State adopted the policy of entrusting forests to community management, people's awareness of the importance of forests has gradually changed positively.

Some members of the community forest protection team in Ho village, Huong Phung commune - Photo: PTL

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Pa Thien mountain range, Ho village has been a shining example of community-based forest protection for many years. This has helped restore and regenerate hundreds of hectares of natural forest, while also playing a crucial role in creating a safe buffer zone for the adjacent special-use forest area within the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve.

Mr. Le Van Quoc, Deputy Head of Huong Hoa Forest Ranger Station, said: “Forest protection is the shared responsibility of the whole society, not just one person. However, for communities living near forests, the role of the people is very important. If they protect their community's forest area well, they will contribute to the overall forest protection of the whole society.”

"In particular, in the special-use forest area bordering the community forest, the Van Kieu people in Ho village always do a good job of protecting it from the outside, so the special-use forest area is safer."

Members of the community forest protection team in Ho village regularly take notes whenever they patrol the forest - Photo: PTL

Like many villages in western Quang Tri province , the shift in awareness among 85 Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority households in Ho village regarding the forest truly began when the State entrusted them with managing 886 hectares of natural land and forest. Consequently, the people established a community forest protection team based on voluntary participation to patrol the forest. The community's efforts over the years have been recognized by the State and several international projects and organizations.

In 2021, along with the natural forest of the Chênh Vênh village community, the Hồ village community forest in Hướng Phùng commune was granted FSC certification according to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Subsequently, in December 2022, the Quang Tri Association of Certified Forest Household Groups announced the FSC certification for ecosystem services (carbon storage and absorption) for 2,145 hectares of natural forest managed by five communities, including: Chênh Vênh, Hồ, Cát, and Xa Bai villages of Hướng Phùng commune, and Trăng-Tà Puồng village of Hướng Lập commune. The storage capacity in these forest areas reached approximately 350,000 tons of CO2 and the annual absorption capacity was approximately 7,000 tons of CO2.

Ms. Ho Thi Mam, a member of the community forest protection team in Ho village, Huong Phung commune, during a patrol - Photo by PTL

This result promises to open up great opportunities for community forest owners to access funding and voluntary payments for ecosystem services initiated globally by the International Forest Management Council. On the part of the people, they are increasingly aware of the meaning and importance of protecting natural forests for human life.

You may also like

Sustainable economic development from an integrated modelQTO - Embracing the spirit of daring to think and act, Mr. Le Ba Khanh in Dong Van village, Trieu Co commune, boldly transformed barren land to build a comprehensive economic model. His flexible and creative approach has helped his family achieve a stable income, making him one of the exemplary farming and business households in the locality.

Be decisive and proactive in forest fire prevention and control.QTO - On the afternoon of June 24th, Mr. Le Van Bao, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, chaired an emergency meeting on forest fire prevention and control. Representatives from relevant departments, agencies, and localities attended. The meeting was conducted online with participants from communes, wards, and special zones.

Identifying the construction of new rural areas as a key task for local Party committees and authorities.QTO - On the afternoon of June 24th, Mr. Le Van Bao, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, chaired a meeting with communes striving to achieve new rural standards by 2026. Representatives from relevant departments, agencies, and localities also attended.

After receiving FSC certification, the people of Ho village have continued to receive support from the forestry sector and several organizations and projects to improve their forest management and protection capabilities. As a result, their forest management and patrol methods have been reformed. Instead of traditional patrols primarily focused on searching for and detecting illegally harvested timber, the people of Ho village have learned to plan and define specific patrol routes.

During their time in the forest, the villagers all use their smartphones to take photos and record any traces of wildlife or new plant species they discover, in order to compile monthly reports.

Mr. Ho Chuong (in the middle), a member of the community forest protection team in Ho village, Huong Phung commune - Photo: PTL

Mr. Ho Chuong, a member of the community forest protection team in Ho village, shared: “Every month, the forest protection teams usually patrol 2-3 times. Since our forest received FSC certification, the protection work of the whole village has improved even more. Regarding the benefits from the forest, firstly, we have a source of clean water; secondly, because we protect the forest well, the air is always cool and fresh. When we go into the forest and see many large trees, we feel very happy because we have done a very good job of protecting the forest.”

Besides doing a good job in forest management and protection, the Bru-Van Kieu ethnic minority people in Ho village are also actively planting trees in areas where landslides have occurred and restoring forests on land that was previously cleared for farming. After the floods at the end of 2020 in Huong Phung commune, a large amount of soil, rocks, and trees from the high mountains were swept away by the floodwaters, damaging transportation and water supply infrastructure. Many areas of farmland and fields were buried, severely affecting the lives of the people.

Recognizing the role of forests in mitigating damage caused by floods, local people have taken advantage of support from various reforestation programs and projects, prioritizing the planting of native tree species that can withstand harsh weather conditions and provide sustainable income.

The Van Kieu people in Ho village, Huong Phung commune, receive native plant seedlings provided by the Center for Nature Conservation and Development - Photo: PTL

Specifically, during the 2024 and 2025 reforestation seasons, the people of Ho village received support from the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) in the form of many native tree species such as Dalbergia tonkinensis, Melia azedarach, and Dalbergia tonkinensis, along with valuable timber species like Dalbergia tonkinensis, Dalbergia cochinchinensis, Pterocarpus indicus, and Pterocarpus indicus. Ms. Ho Thi Son, a member of the community forest protection team, shared: “After receiving 200 Dalbergia tonkinensis saplings, I planted them on my farm to make a windbreak. The trees are growing very well now. I planted the trees so that my children and grandchildren will have wood to build houses and can also sell it to earn extra income.”

Besides providing seedlings, the villagers also received guidance from officials of the Center for Forest Protection and Development (CCD) and the Huong Hoa Forest Ranger Station on planting and caring for forest trees, ensuring that the reforestation process is truly effective. The active participation of the people in Ho village in reforestation shows that their awareness of the importance of forests to their lives has truly changed. This support for reforestation also contributes to raising awareness among the people about sustainable management and protection of natural forests.

You may also like

Promoting Vietnamese family values ​​and strengthening community bonds.QTO - On the afternoon of June 24th, the Women's Union of Dong Son ward held a conference to commemorate Vietnamese Family Day on June 28th, in response to the "Millions of Gifts Sharing Love" program, and to quickly announce the results of the 14th National Women's Congress, term 2026-2031.

Male body found floating on Nhat Le RiverQTO - According to information from the Nhat Le Border Guard Station, under the Provincial Border Guard Command, on the afternoon of June 24th, the unit, in coordination with other functional forces, verified the identity of a male body found floating on the Nhat Le River, in the Dong Hoi ward.

Expedite the disbursement of public investment funds and the progress of projects serving the high-speed railway project.QTO - On the afternoon of June 24th, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, held a working session with the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and agencies regarding the disbursement of public investment capital and the status of resettlement projects serving the North-South high-speed railway project section passing through the province. Also in attendance was Mr. Hoang Nam, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Nevertheless, the management, protection, and reforestation efforts of the Bru-Van Kieu people in the mountainous areas of Quang Tri province generally face difficulties due to bureaucratic obstacles; the people have not received adequate support to manage, protect, and sustainably develop their forests.

However, the people of Ho village in Huong Phung commune still uphold the spirit of forest protection and effectively exploit the resources from the forest. This includes not only a clean living environment, a source of daily drinking water, and protection from the forests during floods, but also the effective utilization of water for rice cultivation. When people can secure their own food supply locally, they have more favorable conditions to develop agricultural and forestry economic models, striving to become wealthy right on their homeland, a place they have been connected to for generations amidst the vast forest.

Phan Tan Lam

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/xa-hoi/202606/nguoi-van-kieu-thon-ho-giu-rung-ef36cec/