Phu Tho: Advancement of sustainable forestry as a driver of economic growth

DNHN - In pursuit of sustainable forestry development, Phu Tho province has in recent years directed the agriculture sector and localities to implement numerous solutions to increase the value of planted forests per unit of production.

Presently, the province as a whole possesses a substantial production forest area exceeding 120,000 hectares. This area is primarily concentrated in the following districts: Thanh Son, Tan Son, Yen Lap, Doan Hung, and Ha Hoa. These forest resources serve as a valuable asset for the province in its endeavor to foster forestry-related economic growth. augment the income of the local populace.

Annually, to increase the value of production forests, municipalities, and the agriculture sector maintain the area of such forests by emphasizing additional planting alongside intensive farming and forest maintenance to achieve productivity. A stable and high output.

During the period from 2021 to 2023, the province as a whole plants an average of 9.27 thousand hectares annually, maintains 28,000 hectares of production forests, and harvests approximately one million m3 of wood per year.

In addition, individuals have been instructed by the Forest Ranger sector on how to effectively implement the procedures and methods of intensive planting in sizable timber forests; progressively implement technological advances in seed selection, land preparation, and maintenance; Incorporate technical silvicultural procedures to increase the yield, quality, and market value of planted forest wood.

Presently, there are approximately 12,000 hectares of expansive timber forests in the province, the majority of which are located in the districts of Thanh Son, Tan Son, Yen Lap, Cam Khe, Doan Hung, and Ha Hoa. Localities in the province have planted and transformed approximately 2,200 hectares of small timber forests into large timber forests in 2023 alone.

The Deputy Head of the Tan Son Forest Ranger District, Mr Hoang Anh Vu, stated that more than 600 hectares of expansive timber forests will be planted and converted throughout the district in 2023. Beyond the environmental advantages and climate change mitigation, the augmentation of expansive timber forests not only enhances planted forest productivity but also generates employment opportunities for ethnic communities residing in the mountainous district, thereby instilling a sense of security in their agricultural output.

Additionally, the province promotes a restructuring of the forest industry and a shift from cinnamon cultivation to commodity-concentrated production. 320 hectares of new concentrated cinnamon will be planted throughout the province in 2023, bringing the total cinnamon-growing area to 2,874 hectares.

The Yen Lap district is renowned for its expansive cinnamon cultivation, encompassing an estimated 90 hectares of aged cinnamon that surpasses 15 years. Mr. Dinh Van Thang, Nai area, Trung Son commune (Yen Lap district), stated, "At this time, cinnamon trees produce for my family greater economic returns per hectare than other varieties of forest trees in the same production zone." They, along with the residents of the commune, have progressively transitioned to cultivating cinnamon; as a result, my family has been able to augment their income due to the substantial economic worth of cinnamon.

At present, the province comprises 714 medium-sized wood and forest product processing establishments, 178 businesses, six cooperatives, and approximately 2,100 household-scale wood processing establishments. Numerous local businesses and wood processing firms have made investments to diversify their product lines by manufacturing wood-derived goods, including paper and paper products, plywood, and wood products themselves. Produces interior goods for both the domestic and international markets.

It is recognized that integrating afforestation with the growth of the processing industry is a fundamental and effective strategy for increasing the economic value of planted forests through the utilization of local labor, and raw materials, and the reduction of intermediate costs in production, processing, and the diversification of forest products to meet market demands.

P.V