Creating livelihoods for forest rangers

Thai Nguyen functional units and forest rangers inspect and review forest planning to serve as a basis for allocating land and forests to people and communities for protection and management.

Nam Xuan Lac Species and Habitat Conservation Area is located in some northern communes of Thai Nguyen province with an area of over 4,155 hectares, strictly protected. However, people here are facing difficulties in economic development, when stepping out of their homes they "touch" special-use forests. Therefore, the forest protection contract policy has become a "two-in-one" solution, helping to protect the forest and create livelihoods for the people.

According to Ms. Trieu Thi Tien, Phja Khao village, Yen Thinh commune, her family has been contracted to protect more than 30 hectares of protective forest, and every year receives a contract payment to help ease their hardships and reduce the risk of falling back into poverty. In addition, the family is also instructed to grow medicinal plants under the canopy of the contracted forest, helping to increase their income.

In Vay Loan village, Yen Thinh commune, 42 households in the village have contracted to protect more than 200 hectares of natural forest. Thanks to that, not only 42 households but many other households in the village have also benefited. The policy of contracting forest protection to the community has helped invest in many concrete roads, cultural houses... contributing to improving livelihoods and raising the quality of life.

According to the Director of the Nam Xuan Lac Species and Habitat Conservation Area, Luong Quoc Hai, the unit has assigned more than 809 hectares of forest to the community and people for protection, helping 9 villages and 922 households benefit. In addition, it has also signed contracts with two units to lease the forest environment for ecotourism , resort and entertainment services in special-use forests.

Creating livelihoods for forest rangers has become an important task of the Party Committees and authorities of communes with many natural forests. Sang Moc is a particularly difficult commune, located more than 60 km from the provincial administrative center, with more than 2,300 hectares of special-use forests and more than 2,700 hectares of protective forests. More than 690 households, including more than 3,200 people of the Tay, Nung, Dao, H'Mong and Kinh ethnic groups, are facing many difficulties in livelihoods, with a high poverty rate. Recently, hundreds of households here have participated in forest protection contracts, thereby stabilizing their lives. In 2025 alone, Sang Moc supported forest protection contracts for 143 households in seven hamlets, including: Ban Chuong, Ban Chau, Khuoi Chao, Khuoi Meo, Na Ca, Na Lay and Tan Lap with a total area of more than 1,720 hectares of protective forests, production forests and natural forests. In the protective forest area, people have planted more than 130 hectares of forest.

In Than Sa commune, where the forest coverage rate is over 83% with over 9,100 hectares of special-use forests and over 1,820 hectares of protective forests, forests not only play an ecological role but are also an important source of livelihood for the people. According to the leaders of the Commune Party Committee, up to now, they have supported the allocation of over 1,200 hectares of forest to the community and households for protection. Since 2020, Than Sa has guided people to plant over 97 hectares of concentrated forests and over 30,000 scattered trees. From the planted forest areas exploited according to regulations, the total output of timber exploitation during this period is about 8,000 m3 and 1,400 m3 of firewood. The commune also maintains stable charcoal processing facilities from planted forest wood and scattered wood, helping people have a stable income.

According to the Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions of Thai Nguyen province, Hoang Thanh Oai, in recent times, the province has effectively implemented Sub-project 1 on sustainable agricultural and forestry economic development associated with forest protection and increasing people's income. Thai Nguyen has supported the forest protection contract of more than 2,276 hectares of protective forests for residential communities with a support level of VND 500,000/ha/year. Supported the protection of natural forests managed by the People's Committee of the commune that have not been leased for more than 46,998 hectares with a support level of VND 150,000/ha/year. Supported the protection of forests for communities and households with more than 61,304 hectares of natural forests with a support level of VND 500,000/ha/year. In the first 6 months of 2025 alone, the whole province has supported the planting of production forests and the development of non-timber forest products for more than 53 hectares, expected to reach more than 156 hectares by the end of the year. The province also subsidized more than three tons of rice for forest protection and development for 34 households in Na Phac and Cam Giang communes...

In addition, the province has proactively shifted to sustainable forest development, creating livelihoods to help people escape poverty through models of large timber plantation, developing medicinal herbs under the forest canopy, exploiting ecotourism, paying for contracts and protecting forests. Many medicinal herb models under the forest canopy, such as: purple Morinda officinalis, cardamom, polygonum multiflorum, purple velvet antler, yellow flower tea, etc. have been effective and are being replicated.

The People's Committee of Thai Nguyen province has directed the Department of Finance to coordinate with the Department of Agriculture and Environment, relevant agencies, units and localities to propose additional funding for forest management, protection and livelihood development under the forest canopy. According to Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Loan, localities must proactively coordinate with neighboring communes, strictly implement regulations on forest management, protection, fire prevention and fighting; ensure the payment of forest protection contract funds to the right subjects, avoid loss and waste.

Article and photos: TUAN SON

Source: https://nhandan.vn/tao-sinh-ke-cho-nguoi-dan-giu-rung-post917878.html