Efforts to restore and expand forest area with native trees

The model of planting and restoring forests using native tree species has been identified as a suitable approach to effectively respond to the increasingly severe storms, floods, and droughts currently occurring. Over the years, the forestry sector in Quang Tri province has been implementing solutions to achieve the goal of restoring natural forests and expanding forest areas using native tree species. However, this work still faces many difficulties, including funding, human resources, and the rugged terrain, which pose significant challenges to forest restoration.

Efforts to restore and expand forest areas using native tree species.

Planting tung trees to restore degraded natural forests in Huong Linh commune, Huong Hoa district - Photo: DV

In 2022 and 2023, Mr. Ho Van Bien's family in Ma Lai Pun village, Huong Phung commune, Huong Hoa district, planted over 1,500 trees of various species, including teak, ironwood, and flowering mahogany, covering an area of 1.5 hectares. These trees are mainly native species and were planted on land that had been eroded, barren, and abandoned for many years.

According to the accumulated experience of ethnic minority communities in reforestation, for trees to survive and thrive, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the procedures guided by technical staff. In particular, it is crucial to avoid drought and to properly protect the trees when they are young and their canopies have not yet closed, preventing livestock from damaging them. However, given the high altitude and steep terrain, planting trees is already difficult, and caring for and protecting them is even more challenging.

Mr. Bien said: "Planting trees on barren hills like this is very difficult for us villagers. Each time we plant, we can only carry about 20-30 saplings up to the hilltop. In addition, the climate where we plant is harsh, with intense heat, making care extremely challenging. But for the benefit of future generations, we are determined to plant and care for the trees to restore the forest in the best way possible."

Implementing the policy of developing production forests and natural forests, in recent years, the forestry sector of Huong Hoa district has directed the rehabilitation of thousands of hectares of barren hills and mountains, contributing to increasing the value of forest resources. However, for degraded natural forests, the area rehabilitated is small compared to the total existing area.

One reason for this situation is the lack of specific support policies for degraded natural forests; for a long time, policies have only supported the reclamation of barren land and deforested hills. Therefore, people are not really enthusiastic about rehabilitating degraded natural forests.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Ta Hung Vy, an officer of the Huong Hoa - Dakrong Protective Forest Management Board, said: “The microclimate of this region is very harsh, and the soil is barren, making it very difficult for trees to grow well. This is also an area contaminated with toxic substances left over from the war, which significantly affects the growth of trees. Therefore, the unit will continue to promote and encourage people to participate in planting and protecting the forest, while also motivating relevant forces to make efforts to care for and restore the forest to ensure its quality.”

In Sub-area NTK 20 of Huong Linh commune, Huong Hoa district (this area is managed by the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve), most of the forest is contaminated with dioxin, making restoration very difficult. Since 2019, the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve has implemented the "Dioxin-Contaminated Forest Restoration Project".

Thanks to persistent care and protection, more than 25 hectares of native forest trees planted here have grown well and have greened the barren hills. In fact, in areas with investment and support from projects, reforestation truly spreads and the rate of greening barren hills and mountains achieves more positive results.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Hien, a resident of Xa Bai village, Huong Linh commune, shared: “Planting forests with native trees and some other types of trees has many benefits. For example, with the tung tree, people will harvest and sell it later, generating income, thereby reducing deforestation. I think if the projects are implemented better, many degraded natural forests in Huong Hoa district will surely be restored to lush greenness in the future, bringing many benefits to the people.”

Currently, to effectively respond to increasingly severe storms, floods, and droughts, the model of forest restoration using native trees has been identified as a suitable approach. Native trees such as green lim, huynh, nhoi, lat hoa, trau... are considered to adapt well to hilly areas contaminated with dioxin and areas prone to landslides.

In reality, forest management and protection in localities over the past years have shown that resources for this work are limited, mainly coming from watershed forest environmental services, with local communities only having a small additional income from harvesting non-timber forest products. It is known that the floods at the end of 2020 caused landslides that destroyed 326 hectares of natural forest, resulting in 100% damage. However, to date, only over 50% of that area has been restored due to various reasons. Although many solutions have been proposed, besides the current difficulties, the risk of natural disasters causing landslides and deforestation remains.

According to Ha Van Hoan, Director of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve Management Board: "We hope that the synchronized and persistent implementation of the restoration work on these degraded forest areas will, in the not too distant future, create high biodiversity, with many native tree species thriving and many bird and animal species coming to take refuge."

Each year, Quang Tri province plants approximately 8,000 hectares of concentrated forest and 2.5-3 million scattered trees, maintaining forest cover throughout the province at nearly 50%, contributing to mitigating natural disasters and improving the ecological environment and landscape. To achieve these results, in addition to the efforts of local authorities and sectors, the province urgently needs the attention and support from ministries and agencies for activities developing the natural resources and environment sector, especially in tree planting aimed at conserving biodiversity and protecting ecosystems.

According to Phan Van Phuoc, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development: “The Department has proactively advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue a number of support policies related to forest protection, reforestation, and forest restoration. At the same time, the Department has focused on mobilizing and attracting various resources to implement the planting and restoration of natural forests using native tree species. The Department also determined that the restoration of natural forests must ensure compliance with regulations and standards, achieving multi-species and mixed native species to create a diverse canopy layer after the forest is restored.”

Supporting and mobilizing local people, and calling on domestic and international organizations to participate in forest development and reforestation with native tree species, is a correct approach, suitable to the actual conditions, and brings many practical benefits. This contributes to increasing forest cover, generating income, creating jobs for people, and facilitating investment in ecotourism development.

Hieu Giang

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