The northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang aims to have more than 64 percent of its area covered by forests by the end of 2015.

To this end, the locality will plant 14,000ha of forests in 2015, including 13,500ha of concentrated forest and 500ha of scattered forest, Director of the provincial Department of Agricultural and Rural Development Le Tien Thang said.

Provincial authorities asked local agencies and forestry companies to ensure the supply of seedlings and prepare adequate land for cultivation, he added.

To encourage the involvement of local residents in reforestation, the province has entrusted them with the use of forests, including plantation and protected forests, for 50 years and provided seedlings. It has also facilitated the processing of forest products.

The province expects to exploit 8,800ha of forest with an approximated timber volume of 660,000 cu.m next year.-VNA