In the first nine months, Nghe An province achieved over 96% of its reforestation plan.

(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of September 23, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held a meeting to review forestry activities for the third quarter of 2016.

Implementing the forest protection and development plan, in the first nine months of the year, the forestry sector directed units, localities, and forest owners to effectively carry out forest protection, forest fire prevention and control, pest and disease control, and forest care. Forest planting reached over 96%, an increase of 3.1% compared to the same period in 2015; forest cover reached 57.2%.

Forestry seed production is always given priority, with enhanced quality control throughout the entire supply chain; forest inventory is successfully completed, and regulations on nature conservation are strictly implemented.

Delegates participating in the conference

Besides developing plans, projects, and monitoring key forestry projects and forest land-use conversion, the forestry sector has successfully achieved its planned targets. Over 911,270 hectares of forest have been well protected, 37,142 hectares have been cared for, and 75,000 hectares have been designated for forest conservation. Forest planting according to provincial decisions has met planned targets, and forest exploitation and utilization activities have increased compared to 2015.

The entire province has prepared over 21 million seedlings of various types, reaching 78% of the plan for reforestation in 2016.

In the first nine months, over 18 billion VND in forest environmental service fees were collected, reaching 37% of the plan, and nearly 39 billion VND was paid to forest owners, reaching 86%. Simultaneously, 634 violations of forestry laws and forest products were detected and apprehended, resulting in the confiscation of over 1 million cubic meters of wood and 13 wild animals, and fines exceeding 4 billion VND. The total revenue collected for the first nine months of the year was nearly 6 billion VND.

Planting seedlings for reforestation in the autumn. Photo: TD

Concluding the conference, Mr. Nguyen Tien Lam, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated: In the last three months of the year, the entire sector must focus on successfully completing the 2016 plan targets. This includes directing the effective protection of the existing 911,270 hectares of forest area, effectively managing and nurturing 75,000 hectares; and completing the remaining 585 hectares of planted forest, achieving 100% of the plan according to Decision 6047/QD-UBND.

The forestry sector also proposed several recommendations to better carry out its tasks in the coming period.

Van Truong