Illustrative image (Source: VNA)Quang Nam (VNA) – The south central province of Quang Nam is developing a value chain for acacia trees at international standards under a project supported by the Green Annamites of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The project was launched in the province’s Hiep Duc district on December 11 to raise incomes for locals, protect the ecological environment and increase the absorption of carbon dioxide.
It will be carried out by Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative for 22 months.
The total cost of the project is more than 6 billion VND (256,110 USD), including 3.1 billion VND sponsored by the USAID Green Annamites and the remaining from the local corresponding capital.
Chairman of the board of directors and Director of Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative Nguyen Huu Duong said the project will provide technical training for locals on sustainable forest management according to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
The project will also upgrade a plant nursery at Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative to 5,000 square metres and prepare dossiers to grant FSC certification to 430 hectares of acacia forest.
It will plant 100 hectares of new acacia and 1,000 hectares of large timber forest, upgrade equipment and expand sawmills and warehouses at Hiep Thuan cooperative.
The project will help farmers grow medicinal plants in forest to increase economic efficiency.
Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative manages 715 hectares of forest, including 270 hectares of acacia forest granted with FSC certification.
Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hung said FSC certification is important in developing large timber forests because it helps determine the legal origin of wood.
Quang Nam now has 2,300 hectares of large timber forest with FSC certification. It is striving to increase this figure to 6,000 hectares by 2020 and 16,000 hectares by 2025.-VNA
VNA
