More motivation to preserve forests in Yen Minh

BHG - From pristine forests along the border to watershed protection forests in Yen Minh district, these areas are being protected thanks to community involvement and the forest environmental service payment policy. This resource contributes to improving livelihoods and creating motivation for people to participate and be committed to forest protection.

Yen Minh District currently has 50,822.74 hectares of forest land; classified into three categories: 2,982.97 hectares of special-use forest, 33,151.70 hectares of protection forest, and 14,688.10 hectares of production forest. In recent years, forest land and forestry areas have been contracted out to communities and families for protection, allowing them to benefit from programs and policies on forest protection and development. Recognizing that forest management and protection can only be effectively carried out when the people understand and participate, the District People's Committee has directed specialized departments to implement forest environmental service regulations effectively. Simultaneously, efforts have been intensified to provide information and promote awareness campaigns so that people understand the importance of forests to the environment, the benefits of forest protection, and actively participate in management and protection.

Local residents and authorities in Ngoc Long commune patrol the forest.

Ms. Mua Thi Vu, from Ban Da village, Na Khe commune, shared: "The villagers used to think the forest had nothing to do with them. Since we started receiving payments for forest environmental services, the whole village receives nearly 100 million VND each year. We discuss how to use it to build roads, repair water supply facilities, and support forest patrols. Now everyone considers the forest a valuable asset. Although the amount isn't huge, it's a motivation for us to protect the forest and remind each other not to burn fields indiscriminately like before."

During the period 2021-2025, the total amount of payments for forest environmental services in Yen Minh district exceeded 50 billion VND. Of this, over 20,000 hectares of forest were paid annually, involving 187 villages/hamlets and over 3,200 households. This policy has generated significant income, motivated individuals and communities to raise awareness of forest protection, and reduced violations of the Forestry Law. Yen Minh district is also considered an effective locality in implementing forest environmental service payments with a transparent process, strict supervision, and significant improvements in community livelihoods and forest conservation. As a result, forest area has developed well, forest cover has increased from 39.8% in 2020 to over 42% in 2025, and the number of deforestation violations has decreased significantly.

The forest environmental services policy encourages citizens to cooperate with forest rangers in protecting forests.

The forest environmental services policy encourages people to work alongside forest rangers to protect forests.

Comrade Nguyen Viet Bach, Head of the Yen Minh District Forest Protection Department, said: "Previously, forest protection work mainly relied on the Forest Protection force and local authorities, which faced many difficulties. Thanks to policies from the Forest Protection and Development Fund, people have directly benefited, becoming 'extended arms' participating in forest conservation. The people have actively cooperated and worked alongside the Forest Protection force in patrolling, early detection of violations, and effectively implementing targets and goals for forest protection and development."

To ensure that the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) policies are implemented quickly, promptly, and to the correct beneficiaries, Yen Minh district actively coordinates with the Forest Protection and Development Fund, the Forest Protection Department, the Supervisory Board, and the payment service unit to organize the process according to regulations. Thanks to a thorough understanding of the policies, many forest owners in the area have flexibly implemented innovative solutions. These include: establishing specialized forces to protect and patrol critical forest areas; developing village regulations and conventions related to forest protection and development; and using PES funds to invest in welfare projects. In addition, the district has built a community network, enhanced capacity, and ensured people's access to information and resources for forest protection and development activities.

The forests are becoming greener thanks to policies that support forest owners.

When people see forests as assets and a source of livelihood, then forests will truly be protected in the long term. Therefore, propaganda activities about the significance of forest ecosystem services are incorporated into village, school, and community activities. The role of the community in developing plans for using payment funds and monitoring implementation is strengthened. However, in reality, implementation in Yen Minh district still faces certain difficulties due to a lack of dedicated forest management staff, a large workload affecting the updating of area and the preparation of payment records. There are few forest rangers in the area, responsible for many communes, making it difficult to closely monitor each village and household to identify forest owners. The lack of a modern forest management system, mainly relying on paper records and maps, easily leads to discrepancies between records and the field...

The forests in Yen Minh are being preserved not only through awareness but also through the practical benefits derived from the Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) policy. To ensure the policy continues to be effective, it is necessary to focus on overcoming difficulties, replicating transparent and practical approaches, and fostering community initiative.

Text and photos: PHAM HOAN

Source: https://baohagiang.vn/kinh-te/202506/them-dong-luc-giu-rung-o-yen-minh-40205eb/