Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Quang Nam (VNA) – The south centralprovince of Quang Nam is developing a value chain for acacia trees atinternational standards under a project supported by the Green Annamites of theUS Agency for International Development (USAID).
The project was launched in the province’s HiepDuc district on December 11 to raise incomes for locals, protect the ecologicalenvironment and increase the absorption of carbon dioxide.
It will be carried out by Hiep Thuanagricultural cooperative for 22 months.
The total cost of the project is more than 6billion VND (256,110 USD), including 3.1 billion VND sponsored by the USAIDGreen Annamites and the remaining from the local corresponding capital.
Chairman of the board of directors and Directorof Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative Nguyen Huu Duong said the project will providetechnical training for locals on sustainable forest management according to thestandards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
The project will also upgrade a plant nursery atHiep Thuan agricultural cooperative to 5,000 square metres and prepare dossiersto grant FSC certification to 430 hectares of acacia forest.
It will plant 100 hectares of new acacia and1,000 hectares of large timber forest, upgrade equipment and expand sawmillsand warehouses at Hiep Thuan cooperative.
The project will help farmers grow medicinalplants in forest to increase economic efficiency.
Hiep Thuan agricultural cooperative manages 715hectares of forest, including 270 hectares of acacia forest granted with FSCcertification.
Deputy Director of the provincial Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hung said FSC certification isimportant in developing large timber forests because it helps determine thelegal origin of wood.
Quang Nam now has 2,300 hectares of large timberforest with FSC certification. It is striving to increase this figure to 6,000hectares by 2020 and 16,000 hectares by 2025.-VNA
VNA
