Strengthening protection of special-use forests

Thai Nguyen is the locality with the highest forest coverage rate in the country. In recent years, the province has achieved many positive results in forest protection and development, especially in conservation areas and special-use forests. In addition to tightening inspection and control, mechanisms and policies to encourage people to participate in forest management and protection have initially shown effectiveness, contributing to maintaining the existing forest area.

Forest rangers and residents of Vinh Thong commune patrol the forest in Kim Hy Nature Reserve.

The Kim Hy Nature Reserve, covering over 15,000 hectares across the communes of Con Minh, Van Lang, and Vinh Thong, is one of the key areas. Its ecosystem is rich and diverse, home to many rare animal species, such as the white-cheeked langur, the sand turtle, the civet, the rock gecko, and hundreds of valuable medicinal plant species. In recent years, forest protection efforts in Kim Hy have been carried out seriously and effectively.

Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Head of Forest Ranger Station No. 6, said: "The unit closely coordinates with the communities in the villages, organizes regular patrols, and implements various forms of propaganda to ensure that people understand the regulations on forest protection. All villages have established regulations and committed to strict implementation; any village that violates these regulations will not benefit from forestry policies, thereby enhancing responsibility and community awareness."

Besides Kim Hy, Thai Nguyen also has many other conservation areas such as: Nam Xuan Lac Species and Habitat Conservation Area, Ba Be National Park and Thac Gieng Landscape Protection Area, where the ecosystem of valuable timber forests is still relatively intact.

Faced with the increasingly complex situation of illegal logging in some areas, the forest protection force has implemented many coordinated solutions to protect the existing forest area.

Forest patrol in the Gieng Waterfall Landscape Protection Area.

Authorities not only focus on patrolling and inspecting but also coordinate with local governments to strengthen propaganda and raise public awareness of forest protection. Mechanisms and policies to support and encourage people to participate in forest protection have also proven to be effective.

Specifically, according to Government Decision 24, each hectare of forest under contract receives a subsidy of 150,000 VND per year; villages in the core and buffer zones of the conservation area also receive 40 million VND per year to invest in essential infrastructure. As a result, the lives of the people have gradually improved, while also enhancing their responsibility in protecting the forest.

Since the beginning of the year, the forest rangers in Thai Nguyen have detected and documented more than 300 violations of regulations on forest protection, development, and forest product management, seizing nearly 300 cubic meters of wood, of which only about 4.9 cubic meters were rare and valuable wood.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Deputy Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, said: The unit has implemented a comprehensive set of solutions, from raising public awareness through propaganda to fully implementing the forest protection contract policy. In particular, the province has temporarily suspended the buying, selling, auctioning, and transportation of rare and valuable timber, resulting in a significant reduction in the encroachment on precious timber forests.

These efforts both protect rare forests and open up avenues for developing ecotourism and resort tourism linked to local culture, helping Thai Nguyen sustainably exploit its forest potential and develop its economy while protecting the environment. As a result, forest protection has become a crucial pillar for the province's sustainable development, contributing to maintaining ecological balance, conserving biodiversity, and improving the lives of communities in forest areas.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202510/tang-cuong-bao-ve-rung-dac-dung-a303fc3/