The effectiveness of afforestation in Chau Thai.

(Baonghean)Following the agricultural and forestry officials of Chau Thai commune (Quy Hop district), after traversing nearly 10 km of muddy dirt roads, we arrived at Ban Bom hamlet. From afar, Ban Bom hamlet looks like a picturesque landscape painting, with old and new stilt houses of varying heights arranged in a undulating pattern along the mountainside.

The village of Bản Bom has only 56 households, but all 56 participate in reforestation. The people here regard the forest as a great mother that protects and provides a source of livelihood for their village. Mr. Ngân Thanh Vượng – the village head of Bản Bom – said: “The whole village has 56 households with 278 people, and the people's lives depend on reforestation, livestock farming, and rice cultivation. Everyone here likes to plant trees and wants to expand the area, but there's no more land. Currently, the entire village of Bản Bom has planted more than 80 hectares of acacia trees, with the smallest planted area being 0.5 hectares and the largest being over 10 hectares.”

In recent years, thanks to the propaganda and guidance from higher authorities, the villagers have realized that planting and protecting forests is both a way to protect the ecological environment and water resources, and to bring economic value to the people. Based on the experience of some households participating in forest protection and planting who have already harvested and earned income, the villagers are actively following suit. Previously, the forests were marked with boundary lines, but now the villagers have planted acacia trees densely, growing so well that the markers are indistinguishable. Many households can't even tell the boundaries of their own land. The acacia forest in Bản Bom has been planted for 4-6 years now, and it's doing very well; the people are very happy!”

Bomb Village.

Even the village head, Ngan Thanh Vuong, planted 3 hectares of acacia trees, which have been there for almost 5 years now, and will be ready for simultaneous harvesting in just 2 years. Mr. Vuong estimates that currently, 1 hectare of acacia trees is priced at 30-35 million VND, and if the trees are 7 years old, the price is 40-45 million VND/hectare. Thus, in almost 2 years, his family's 3 hectares of acacia trees will generate an income of about 120 million VND. "This is a very large source of income for my family. Now my family really wants to expand the area of ​​forest planting, but unfortunately, we no longer have any land," Mr. Vuong confided.

Mr. Lo Van Thoai from Ban Bom hamlet has the largest area of ​​forest plantation in the village, with over 18 hectares of acacia trees that are now in their 7th year. Currently, the acacia trees are growing well, with trunks reaching 18-20 meters in height. In 2014, when the acacia trees are 8 years old, the entire area will be ready for simultaneous harvesting. Large, beautiful trees can fetch a price of 50 million VND per hectare. Mr. Thoai estimates that his 18 hectares of acacia trees will bring in approximately 1 billion VND in income, and he is overjoyed! After years of hard work planting and caring for the trees, he is now almost reaping the rewards, exceeding his expectations.

Mr. Lo Van Thoai shared: “My connection with the forest was quite coincidental. Before, I knew some guys from the general team, and they advised me to participate in reforestation. Back then, I invested all the capital I had at home to buy seedlings and hire workers to clear the forest, remove weeds, and plant trees. The total initial investment was 90 million dong. At that time, I never imagined that planting acacia trees would be as valuable as it is now. I only thought about planting acacia trees to build up the forest, protect the village, and ensure the stream's water source flows year-round!”

In addition, in Chau Thai commune, there are hundreds of households actively engaged in reforestation with good results, such as Mr. Vi Van Bot in Dong Minh hamlet, who planted over 10 hectares of acacia trees that are 6-7 years old; and Mr. Ha Thanh Tam in Dong Minh hamlet, who also planted over 8 hectares of acacia trees that are nearing the harvesting stage…

People in Chau Thai commune received acacia saplings to plant.

The acacia forests in Chau Thai commune were planted by the local people from 2007-2008, and some areas have now been harvested, bringing income to the people. Many households have learned to combine forest planting with livestock and poultry farming, bringing higher economic value. In 2012, the Quy Hop Forestry Station handed over 500 hectares of regenerated forest to Chau Thai commune for management, and the commune People's Committee assigned households to protect and cultivate it. Forest planting alone has attracted more than one-third of the households in the commune to participate, planting 1,500 hectares of acacia forest. In addition, over 50 households participated in planting forests on land belonging to the Youth Volunteer Brigade, covering approximately 200 hectares.

Mr. Vi Van Vinh, an agricultural and forestry official in Chau Thai commune, said: "Based on the people's livelihoods, who annually engage in idle agricultural production, while many production areas are entirely dependent on rainwater, resulting in uncertain harvests and many difficulties in people's lives, with surplus labor, the local government recognized the commune's strength in forest conservation and protection. They actively promoted and encouraged people to transform unproductive forest gardens into economically valuable ones. Some areas received government support under Programs 135 and 147."

Based on the local potential in forest protection and development, in 2012, the People's Committee of Chau Thai commune continued to plan for a community forest protection project covering 80 hectares in three hamlets: Ban Bom, Ban Co, and Noong On. A community forest protection nursery was also established in Ban Bom hamlet. Thanks to forest protection and reforestation efforts, many jobs have been created for local laborers, contributing to improving people's lives and ensuring social security in the area. Simultaneously, it has protected the ecological environment. To date, the reforestation movement in Chau Thai has developed strongly, and the locality no longer has land available for people to plant...

Text and photos: Quynh Lan