Ninh Thuan looks to forest management to develop economy

The south-central province of Ninh Thuan is focusing on strengthening the management and protection of natural forests, afforestation and developing the forest economy in association with building livelihoods for people in the buffer zone.
Ninh Thuan looks to forest management to develop economy ảnh 1Residents in Phuoc Huu Commune, Ninh Phuoc District plant forest to develop household economy. (Photo: VNA)

Ninh Thuan (VNA) - The south-central province of Ninh Thuan is focusing on strengthening the management and protection of natural forests, afforestation and developing the forest economy in association with building livelihoods for people in the buffer zone.

Dang Kim Cuong, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said to improve the efficiency of planted forests, the province has planted trees that can adapt to a dry climate and valuable trees like jackfruit, avocado and grapefruit.

The department reported in 2020, it has planted nearly 843ha of forest and cared for 1,294ha of forests under the sustainable forestry development projects.

Ninh Thuan signed contracts to give local households more than 66,587ha of forest under the Government's Decree No 75/2015/ND-CP.

On average, each household received 30ha of forest to protect and develop the economy.

Additionally, it has provided rice to households so they could protect the forest with peace of mind, Cuong said.

Chau Van Khuc, who lives in Phuoc Huu commune, Ninh Phuoc district, said in 2016, the Tan Giang Lake’s Protective Forest Management Board assigned his family 30ha of forest under a forest protection contract for 400,000 VND per hectare annually.

The family planted fruit trees and raised breeding cows to earn an annual income of about 80 million VND.

The province is building infrastructure systems in difficult areas and investing in clean water supply and irrigation systems to aid people living near forests.

According to Cuong, thanks to protecting and planting forests, the quality of local forests has improved with many poor forest areas restored and forest coverage increased to a rate of 46.8 percent in 2020.

The management of natural forests is still being closely monitored, the director said, and local authorities have controlled deforestation.

However, forest fires and deforestation prevention has faced many difficulties due to the dry and hot climate, as well as drought.

Dangerous terrain also causes difficulties for forest management and protection, according to Cuong./.
VNA

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