Nearly 175 billion VND in forest environmental service fees were paid on time.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of September 10th, the Provincial People's Committee held a conference to review the results of the past five years of organizing and operating the forest protection and development fund in conjunction with the implementation of the policy on payment for forest environmental services.

Comrade Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Chairman of the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund Council, presided over the meeting. Also present were Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; and representatives from the forest ranger stations and the Protective Forest Management Board.

Comrade Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Chairman of the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund Council, delivered a speech at the conference.

Over the past nearly five years of implementing the policy on payment for forest environmental services, forest management and protection in the province have seen many positive changes. This has gradually improved the lives of local people and enhanced the sense of responsibility of forest management units.

The number of households contracted to protect forests has increased significantly, mobilizing a large workforce for regular forest patrols and protection. This contributes to the socialization of forestry, improves livelihoods, increases income, and enhances the living standards of those directly involved in forest protection and development. Payments for forest environmental services are made fully, promptly, and transparently.

Comrade Dinh Viet Hong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, presented certificates of commendation to collectives that achieved good results.

The Ky Son Protective Forest Management Board pays forest environmental service fees to local people who protect the forest.

By the end of April 2016, the Fund had disbursed a total of nearly 175 billion VND; supported reforestation with over 9 billion VND; benefited over 6,000 forest owners, including 10 organizations, 40 commune People's Committees, and 5,976 households and individuals granted long-term land use rights, with over 10,000 land allocation contracts.

In particular, the number of violations related to forest protection and forest fires has decreased gradually year after year. The policy has gradually contributed to stabilizing and ensuring forest area, maintaining forest cover, improving forest quality, and contributing to improving the quality of the ecological environment.

Forest rangers, in coordination with border guards, patrol the forest in Yen Khe, Con Cuong.

Speaking at the conference, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Viet Hong highly appreciated the efforts of the units in implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services. He also emphasized several issues, including accelerating the process of preparing forest protection dossiers to facilitate timely payment for forest environmental services to forest owners. He stressed the need to strengthen the review, inspection, and monitoring of forest management units, the area of ​​forest eligible for payment, and new planting to achieve the best results. He also called for intensified communication through various means to contracted entities and the entire population in the area to generate widespread public interest.

At the conference, 7 collectives and 12 individuals were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and 1 collective and 34 individuals were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for their outstanding achievements in implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services during the 2011-2015 period.

Van Truong