"Stimulus" to restructure the Forestry industry

(Baonghean) - In reality, planting large timber forests always brings better economic and environmental efficiency than small timber forests. However, planting large timber forests currently faces many difficulties.

The effectiveness of large timber plantation

In Tuong Duong, due to the difficulty in selling acacia trees, people have switched to growing xoan trees. Mr. Lo Van Ly in Tam Bong village, Tam Quang commune said: In 2006, his family converted 3 hectares of acacia trees to grow xoan trees, and up to now, the harvest has been from 140 - 150 million VND/ha, while acacia trees only reach 30 - 40 million VND/ha.

People in Tam Bong village, Tam Quang commune (Tuong Duong) take care of large mahogany forests.

According to Ms. Kha Thi Hien - Vice Chairman of Tam Quang Commune People's Committee: The whole commune has about 700 hectares of raw material forest, of which xoan accounts for more than 270 hectares. Previously, people growing acacia suffered losses due to very low prices, while growing xoan is very effective, easy to consume, traders come to the place to buy, on average each cubic meter of xoan wood costs from 2 - 2.5 million VND; each hectare of xoan after 5 years of planting brings an income of about 150 million VND. In 2015, Tam Quang also intercropped xoan and pave over 30 hectares. Currently, the commune is planning about 40 hectares of "mixed multi-layer, multi-purpose" forest area, intercropping xoan with naturally regenerated casuarina trees, this casuarina wood is salt-resistant, specialized in building boats, so it has high value.

Mr. Lo Kham Kha - Head of the Agriculture Department of Tuong Duong district added: From 2007 to now, the district has focused on planting large timber trees, with 7,200 hectares of raw material forest, of which mixed mahogany and lat trees account for 80%. The effectiveness of mahogany planting has been confirmed, it is easy to plant, requires little investment, and is 3-4 times more effective than planting acacia. In addition to the State's investment policies on afforestation such as Project 147, Program 30A... every year, the district supports people with 2.5 - 2.7 billion VND for afforestation (100% support for tree varieties).

Director of Song Hieu Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. - Mr. Ho Dinh The said: From 2004 - 2005, the company planned and planted 2,700 hectares of large timber, up to now 1,000 hectares have been exploited, the remaining 1,700 hectares are still being exploited. Planting large timber forests reaches 140 - 160 m3 of wood/ha/cycle of 10 - 11 years, revenue from 180 - 200 million VND/ha. Especially large timber forests are used for multiple purposes, from laminated timber to wood chips. Not only does it bring higher economic benefits but it also helps reduce erosion, soil leaching... contributing to environmental protection and climate change prevention. Many areas of large timber forests effectively prevent erosion in Nghia Mai and Nghia Minh communes (Nghia Dan).

At Con Cuong Forestry Company Limited, from 2000 to 2002, the company intercropped hybrid acacia with native large-wood trees such as Vang Trung, Canarium... on more than 60 hectares. From 2009 to present, the company has also intercropped native Vang Trung with hybrid acacia on nearly 350 hectares. Vang Trung is known to be an easy-to-grow tree, with light wood, classified in group VII, less prone to warping, easy to process, used for sawing boards, peeling wood to make plywood, matches, pencils, making household furniture, carving clogs, some office tools...

Difficulties to be resolved

Recently, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued a decision approving the project to Restructure the Nghe An Forestry Sector by 2020, which includes the goal of achieving forest coverage of 57% and increasing the industry's production value by 4 - 4.5%/year. The project's goal is also to protect and develop the existing forest area, gradually meeting the demand for wood, forest products, consumption and export. Existing planted forests will be converted into large timber production and business forests of 15,000 hectares, new large timber forests will be planted on land without forests of 8,000 hectares and large timber forests will be replanted on land that has been exploited for 30,000 hectares. The large timber forest groups are: Acacia auriculiformis, eucalyptus, lat hoa, lim xanh, sao den, mat tram, pine; in which Acacia is the main tree with an area of ​​90%.

People of Tang Thanh commune - Yen Thanh deploy planting large timber forests.

Up to now, the whole province has over 160,000 hectares of raw material forests, the area of ​​large timber forests is about 4,000 hectares, concentrated in some districts of Nghia Dan, Con Cuong, Tuong Duong... However, planting large timber forests is facing many difficulties. In recent years, the area of ​​planted forests and timber output has increased significantly, but mainly providing small timber for paper raw materials, wood chips... with low economic value. We do not have technical and policy solutions to develop large timber plantations to serve the wood processing and export industry to increase economic value.

Mr. Dang Xuan Minh - Deputy Director of the Forestry Department shared: The reason for this is determined to be capital difficulties. Because planting large timber forests requires a long time for care and protection, at least twice as long as planting small timber forests, leading to a long exploitation and capital recovery process, while people's conditions are still very difficult, and their living needs always require money to cover expenses. Besides, borrowing capital to invest in planting new large timber forests is not easy. Although the State has sanctions and credit policies to develop forestry, in reality, banks are often reluctant to lend in this field because of high risks and long repayment periods.

The benefits of planting large timber forests are clear, and the province's policy is timely and correct. However, the roadmap to implement this policy is extremely difficult. Without appropriate and effective mechanisms and support, it will certainly be difficult to achieve the desired results.

Van Truong