HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam aims to increase the nationwide forest coverage to 42 per cent by the year 2020, and 45 per cent by 2030.  

The targets are among the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, focusing on the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries) programme from 2017-2030 recently approved by Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

The REDD+ programme will be implemented across the country, focused in areas prone to deforestation and forest-degradation.

From now to 2020, the programme will reduce emissions by boosting forest conservation and increasing forest coverage.

From 2021-2030, the programme will stabilise natural forest acreage and increase forest coverage, contributing to the nation target of reducing emissions by 8 per cent.       

The programme will adjust planning for forest usage to ensure hitting a target of 16.2 million hectares of agricultural land in 2020, assist sustainable agricultural and fishery production and strengthen forest law enforcement.

At the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s meeting in March, the ministry reported that four years after launching an agricultural restructure project, forest coverage increased from 39.7 per cent in 2011 to 40.84 per cent in 2015.

Forestry production value was also rising fast, reaching average growth of 6.57 per cent a year, against 5.03 per cent during 2010-12, the ministry reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng said to hit targets on forest protection and sustainable development, the forest sector had three tasks: environmental protection, improving forest productivity and quality and increasing the competitiveness of forestry products. – VNS

Ninh Thuận Province to expand protective forest

In 2017, the southern province of Ninh Thuận will plant 460 hectares of protective forest in Thuận Nam, Ninh Sơn and Ninh Phước districts.   

The move is part of the Protection Forests Restoration and Sustainable Management project, funded by the Japan International Co-operation Agency.

Dương Đình Sơn, deputy director of Ninh Thuận Province’s Forest Management Department said the project would create livelihoods for local residents working in forest protection and management.

Participants of the project have received seed, technology and materials for planting trees.

From 2014, a total 900 hectare of protection forest has been planted in Ninh Thuận Province. In 2017-2021, the project will assist local forest growers with loans of VNĐ48 million (US$2,100) per hectare, and focus on forest management and newly-growing and protecting forest. – VNS