Quang Tri town focuses on forest protection and development.

In recent times, Quang Tri town has actively implemented many solutions to improve the productivity and quality of forests in the area. This has contributed to the sustainable development of forestry, linked to socio-economic development, environmental protection, ecological balance, job creation, and increased income for those involved in forest protection and development activities.

A forest protection watchtower belonging to Trieu Hai Forestry One-Member Limited Company - Photo: ML

To implement forest management, protection, and development; and forestry programs and projects for the period 2021-2025, the People's Committee of Quang Tri town advised the Quang Tri Town Party Committee to issue a plan to implement Directive No. 13-CT/TW, dated January 12, 2017, of the Central Party Secretariat on strengthening the Party's leadership over forest management, protection, and development; organize an evaluation of the results of forest management, protection, and fire prevention and control; and develop plans and tasks for the following year. At the same time, they developed and implemented a forest fire prevention and control plan for the period 2021-2025 and a plan to combat and prevent violations of the Forestry Law.

Issue directives to strengthen forest management, protection, and development. Allocate funds to support the Forest Ranger Station in carrying out tasks related to forest management, protection, and fire prevention and control in the area. Establish and regularly strengthen the steering committee for the sustainable forestry development program for the period 2021-2025.

Forest Protection Units, agencies, units, and People's Committees of wards and communes should effectively implement the coordination regulations to strengthen forest patrol and inspection work, prevent illegal encroachment on forest land by people for reforestation; prevent and strictly handle illegal exploitation, transportation, trading, and processing of forest products; and organize forest protection and fire prevention and control patrols.

Annually, the People's Committee of the town directs the Forest Protection Department to develop a plan and organize inspections of businesses involved in processing and trading forest products. From 2021-2025, 18 forest product processing and trading establishments were inspected; in coordination with forest owners and the People's Committees of wards and communes, 152 forest protection patrols were organized with 330 participants.

As a result, 4 violations were detected and apprehended, with 0.491 m³ of timber seized (rounded), and administrative fines totaling 3,000,000 VND imposed. To improve forest quality, the People's Committee of Quang Tri town issued a plan for the development of large-timber plantations in Quang Tri town for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2035. Simultaneously, it directed specialized agencies to coordinate with the People's Committees of wards and communes to implement forest development activities using various funding sources. During the period 2021-2025, approximately 1,546.3 hectares of acacia plantations were planted in the town.

The Forest Protection Unit monitors an exploitation area of ​​1,128.7 hectares, with a production volume of 119,099 ^m³ ; and 308.6 tons of pine resin. They also monitor the import and export of timber by wood chipping and lamination factories. To date, two units in the area have participated in and received forest certification: the Thach Han River Basin Protection Forest Management Board, which has been assessed and granted FSC certification for an area of ​​310.5 hectares, and Trieu Hai Forestry Company Limited, which has been reassessed and granted VFCS forest certification for an area of ​​1,684.2 hectares.

The inter-district agricultural extension station actively coordinated with wards, communes, and forest owners to review and propose the construction of pilot models for planting large timber forests linked to forest certification. The total funding mobilized for the scattered tree planting project in the 2021-2024 period was over 300 million VND, with 87,005 scattered trees of various types (84,333 acacia trees and 2,672 shade trees of various types).

Thanks to the attention and support from higher authorities, the close guidance of the People's Committee of the town, the timely coordination between relevant agencies and units, local authorities, and the efforts of forest owners, the targets and tasks in forestry have basically been achieved and exceeded the set plan.

During the period 2021-2025, the annual forest cover rate in the town reached 58.4%; the average area of ​​concentrated forest planting was 400 hectares/year; and the output of timber harvested from planted forests reached over 35,700 m3. Forest planting and care were carried out on schedule; the quality of forestry seedlings was increasingly strictly controlled; forest productivity and output were improved, contributing to maintaining forest cover. The increasingly diverse forest service activities created jobs, increased income for organizations and individuals, contributed to economic development, and ensured security and order in the area.

In the coming period, Quang Tri town will strengthen propaganda and education through various forms to raise awareness among all segments of the population about the role, effects, and value of forests, the significance of tree planting and reforestation; and the legal regulations on forest protection and development, contributing to the sustainable protection of the ecological environment. This will be integrated with forestry programs and projects currently and soon to be implemented in the area to focus on developing large-timber plantations.

Focus on forest fire prevention and control during the dry season; strive to combat and prevent acts of forest destruction from the perspective of protecting forests at their source, identifying key areas for forest protection, and preventing the occurrence of hotspots in the area. Organize training and workshops on criteria and standards for sustainable forest management certification and issue forest certificates to agricultural extension officers, local forest rangers, forestry officials, and forest owners for implementation.

Strengthen cooperation with non-governmental organizations and forest certification bodies to implement forest certification for large-timber plantations, ensuring the plan is met. Mobilize all resources to support and invest in the construction and technical assistance for sustainable forest management and forest certification for large-timber plantations, meeting the requirements of the global market and increasing the added value of the forestry sector. Promote the application of science and technology in forest management, protection, and fire prevention and control...

Minh Long

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/thi-xa-quang-tri-chu-trong-bao-ve-va-phat-trien-rung-192764.htm