Central Highlands new forest areas fall short of target

Dak Lak (VNA) – Central Highlands provinces have planted 4,811 hectares of forests, including 101 hectares of protective forests, accounting for 59.4 percent and 24.2 percent of their plans.

Dak Lak has the largest area of planted forests, with 2,359 hectares out of its 3,663 hectares of forests.

According to the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands, the forest targets have not been met due to a lack of land and capital.

The localities’ budgets are also insufficient to plant new protective forests.

Some of the zoned land for protective forests is also small-scale and encroached on by farmers.

The Committee suggested the provinces review uncultivated and encroached land to expand forest planting area while calling for different resources for forest development.

Technology use should be strengthened in producing and caring for forests to enhance productivity.

In 2017, the region aims to plant another 12,557 hectares of forests, including 1,000 hectares of protective and specialised forest.

Efforts will be made to care for the 21,570 hectares of existing forests, upgrading 11,000 hectares, and planting 4.57 million trees.-VNA