Rising up thanks to the forest.

The cinnamon plantation belonging to Mr. Trieu Huu Quan's family in Bac Kan ward is about to be harvested.

Introducing us to her hill of tallow trees, planted over 10 years ago and now ready for harvesting, Ms. Hoang Thi Yen from Nghia Ta commune excitedly shared: "When I first started planting trees, due to lack of experience, caring for them was very difficult. Undeterred, I worked and learned from experienced forest planters."

By the third year, when the trees begin to form a canopy, the care becomes simpler. Thanks to this, the family gradually expanded the area, planting multiple batches of trees, and now owns more than 10 hectares of pine forest. At current market prices, each hectare of pine wood yields nearly 100 million VND in income, a significant source of revenue for farming families in mountainous areas.

Not only Mrs. Yen's family, but many other households in Thai Nguyen have also persistently dedicated themselves to forestry and risen to prosperity by effectively developing the economic potential of the hilly forests. Understanding the meaning of the saying "Forests are gold, seas are silver," as soon as the locality launched the reforestation movement, Mr. Truong Quoc Bui in Yen Phong commune boldly took on 20 hectares of forest land to plant oil palm trees.

After more than 10 years of diligent care, Mr. Truong Quoc Bui's family has now reaped the rewards from their forest. The lush, straight rows of pine trees, after harvesting, have brought in billions of dong in economic value, helping the family stabilize their lives and become wealthy. Mr. Truong Quoc Bui has become one of the exemplary figures in developing the hill and forest economy, creating motivation for local people to become more attached to and prosper from forestry.

While pine wood was once the main crop providing significant income, now, with changing market demands, people's choices are becoming increasingly diverse and flexible. Following guidance from local authorities and specialized agencies, people are shifting to planting higher-value forestry species to maximize the advantages of the forest.

The cinnamon plantation, spanning over 2 hectares in Bac Kan ward, has been cultivated for more than 5 years and is preparing for harvesting. Mr. Trieu Huu Quan shared: "When the market started favoring cinnamon, I boldly switched to planting it and found that the trees grow very well. The entire tree, from trunk and bark to leaves, can be harvested, resulting in high economic efficiency. In the newly planted areas, I also intercrop with turmeric to generate short-term income while waiting for the harvest to begin, which has shown positive results so far."

In the northern communes of Thai Nguyen province, agriculture and forestry remain the dominant economic activity. The province currently has over 100,000 hectares of planted forests, of which approximately 50,000 hectares are ready for harvesting. The main tree species include acacia, pine, cinnamon, star anise, eucalyptus, and bodhi.

Each year, the area of newly planted forests reaches over 5,000 hectares, exceeding the set plan, with the timber harvested from planted forests reaching more than 370,000 cubic meters. To help people increase the economic value of forests, in recent years, the forestry road system has received significant investment, creating a breakthrough for the development of the forest economy.

The expansion of the forest road network has created a breakthrough for the development of the forest economy, helping to reduce production and exploitation costs, increase the value of planted forests, and encourage the reforestation movement, thereby improving people's lives. As a result, the forest economy has become an important driving force in poverty reduction in the northern communes. During the period 2021-2025, the multidimensional poverty and near-poverty rate in this area decreased by an average of 2.7% per year, with the poverty rate among ethnic minorities decreasing by an average of 3% per year.

Many mountain villages are changing their appearance, and the lives of the people are improving thanks to the development of the forest economy.

Mr. Nong Dinh Thang, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghia Ta commune, said: The locality has always identified forestry as the main economic sector. Currently, in addition to promoting reforestation, the commune is guiding people to register and build planted forests that meet FSC certification (international standard for sustainable forest management) to meet the requirements for timber export and create conditions for people to get rich from forestry.

It can be affirmed that forestry has become an important path to help people escape poverty and achieve sustainable wealth in their own homeland. Properly cared for and protected forests contribute to maintaining the ecosystem, protecting the environment, and preserving the "green lungs" of life.

The potential of carbon credit mining is also opening up new opportunities, enhancing the economic value of forests and promoting green, sustainable development. When each person considers preserving the forest as preserving their own life, the forest will reciprocate with prosperity, peace, and a bright future for each village.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202509/vuon-len-nho-rung-67977ce/