Forests with 'green certificates'

People exploit the forest area to meet the standards.

In recent years, Phu Luong district (old) has identified forest economic development as a key task to create sustainable livelihoods for the people. The locality currently has 16,700 hectares of forest, accounting for 48% of the total natural area, of which production forest is over 14,200 hectares.

Since 2016, Phu Luong has focused on creating favorable conditions for people to participate in sustainable forestry development programs, especially supporting seedlings and organizing training on forest planting techniques. At the same time, it has coordinated with organizations to assess and issue certificates for sustainable forest management; guided households to complete criteria and documents and invited experts to assess and issue forest certificates. Currently, there are 7,800 hectares of forest in the area certified by FSC - the largest area in Thai Nguyen province.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, Yen Trach commune: Forest care and protection according to FSC process requires higher techniques. However, in return, the plants grow better and the economic efficiency is also higher.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Thuan, Deputy Head of Forest Protection Station No. 13, assessed: FSC forest certification is an important basis for businesses to be qualified to export wood products to markets such as Europe, Korea, and Japan. For individuals, businesses, cooperatives, or forest planting organizations, this certificate helps raise awareness of sustainable development, environmental protection awareness, and economic value from forests.

With the potential and strength of forest resources, being granted FSC certification not only helps to manage forests sustainably but also improves economic efficiency for the community, while creating opportunities to affirm the brand value of local forest products.

The province currently has nearly 13,000 households forming groups to implement FSC forest certification with a total area of nearly 18,000 hectares. It is expected that by the end of 2025, the area granted FSC certification in the province will reach over 26,000 hectares, equal to 1,898.6% of the plan for the 2021-2025 period.

Mr. Vu Duc Cong, Deputy Head of Thai Nguyen Provincial Forest Protection Department, said: To increase the area of planted forests granted FSC certification after the merger, the Forest Protection sector determined to strengthen the leadership and direction of Party committees at all levels; improve the effectiveness and efficiency of state management of authorities at all levels to maximize the potential and advantages of forests and forestry land.

Along with that, it is necessary to promote propaganda and dissemination of policies and laws on sustainable forest management to forest owners and people. The industry also directs the review of planted forest areas that are capable of implementing certification to introduce and support enterprises and cooperatives to implement. At the same time, it is necessary to mobilize resources from the province, enterprises, and domestic and foreign organizations to effectively implement this work.

After the merger, the total forest area of Thai Nguyen is over 557,000 hectares. With the existing potential and advantages, the expansion of the FSC certified forest area will contribute to improving the economic efficiency of the forest for the community and the whole society, and at the same time is an opportunity to affirm the position and brand value of Thai Nguyen forest products in the international market.