An alarming decrease in the ratio of forest coverage in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak has pushed the province to enact measures to raise the ratio to 39.3 percent of by the end of 2015.
The province has asked localities to review and evaluate all destroyed and occupied forest areas for re-planting. So far this year, 2,000 hectares have been reclaimed for reforestation during the upcoming rainy season.
Currently, Dak Lak’s forest coverage ratio stands at only 38.6 percent, a 9.6 percent drop from 2013, said Trang Quang Thanh, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
According to the latest review, there are 507,274 hectares of total forest area within the province, including 476,322 hectares of natural forests and 30,951 hectares of planted area, 136,591 hectares less than 2013, he said.
Natural forests have been completely destroyed in the Krong Pak, Krong Buk and Cu Kiun districts, Thanh noted.
Apart from areas designed for hydropower, irrigation, and other projects, over 26,470 hectares of forest were chopped down illegally since 2008, said Thanh, attributed primarily to nomadic ethnic minorities clearing new settlements.
He also highlighted the current loose and inefficient forest management and protection, allowing the destruction of thousands of hectares of forests.
Meanwhile, the progress on reforestation has thus far failed to meet requirements. In 2014, the total newly-planted forest area of Dak Lak was only 4,000 hectares, substantially below the set target of 5,000 hectares, added the official.-VNA
The province has asked localities to review and evaluate all destroyed and occupied forest areas for re-planting. So far this year, 2,000 hectares have been reclaimed for reforestation during the upcoming rainy season.
Currently, Dak Lak’s forest coverage ratio stands at only 38.6 percent, a 9.6 percent drop from 2013, said Trang Quang Thanh, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
According to the latest review, there are 507,274 hectares of total forest area within the province, including 476,322 hectares of natural forests and 30,951 hectares of planted area, 136,591 hectares less than 2013, he said.
Natural forests have been completely destroyed in the Krong Pak, Krong Buk and Cu Kiun districts, Thanh noted.
Apart from areas designed for hydropower, irrigation, and other projects, over 26,470 hectares of forest were chopped down illegally since 2008, said Thanh, attributed primarily to nomadic ethnic minorities clearing new settlements.
He also highlighted the current loose and inefficient forest management and protection, allowing the destruction of thousands of hectares of forests.
Meanwhile, the progress on reforestation has thus far failed to meet requirements. In 2014, the total newly-planted forest area of Dak Lak was only 4,000 hectares, substantially below the set target of 5,000 hectares, added the official.-VNA
