"Pay attention to developing native forestry" or "need to change thinking"?

(Baonghean) - Nghe An Newspaper, issue 29/10/2014, has an article “Concern for developing indigenous forestry trees” by author Nguyen Thi Ha analyzing (through comparison) the effectiveness of native forestry plantations (trees with longer production cycles) compared to new forestry trees (paper raw materials, wood chips, mine pillars, etc.) in terms of: Economic efficiency, environmental efficiency, sustainable efficiency. After evaluating the overall efficiency of indigenous trees, the author proposed 5 issues to the government, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and related sectors. All 5 of these issues are correct, but may not be highly feasible. We would like to discuss further as follows:

In our opinion, tropical forests differ from temperate forests in two characteristics: multi-layered forests and mixed forests, both of which have many types of trees on an area of ​​forest land living interspersed. This is a great advantage that we need and can take advantage of when "designing" (not planning) specific forests in a specific terrain, a specific locality. The "design" method is as follows: On a specific area of ​​forest land, based on the terrain (mainly the slope, large or small), arrange strips of perennial forest trees (10 - 15 years or more) alternating with strips of raw material trees (6 - 7 year cycle). Even in each strip of perennial forest, one type of tree is not arranged, but many different types of trees can and should be planted in a mixed manner.

Under the forest canopy, it is possible to plant plants that prefer long-range light, especially medicinal plants, mushrooms of all kinds... In the newly exploited area, in the first few years, when the tree canopy has not closed, it is necessary to take advantage of planting short-term plants such as: cassava, ginger, turmeric, legumes to both get short-term benefits for long-term needs and prevent soil erosion. At the foot of mountains, hills, near streams, non-timber forest trees such as bamboo, rattan, reeds, rattan... Higher up, exploit deeper under the forest canopy in places where it is possible to organize free-range chicken farming, valuable animals such as wild boar (or hybrid wild boar), porcupine... The "design" of production forests as above is completely different from the simple planning concept that we have been implementing for a long time.

It is also necessary to understand “native forestry trees” in an “open” way - “native trees” are not only trees in that area, commune, district, or even province, but also trees outside the province with similar climatic conditions to our province. With such a concept, it is possible to expand the varieties of indigenous forestry trees and valuable perennial timber. It is possible to propose planting the following varieties in the perennial timber area: xoan tree, agarwood tree, and red-heart rosewood tree. Red-heart rosewood and red-heart rosewood can be harvested after 10 years and are planted among other trees.

A concept of planning and then a plan to plant production forests in the style of planning sugarcane areas, tea areas, rice areas, corn areas in the style of a plan from above forcing districts and communes to implement is completely unfeasible; because it is contrary to the characteristics of nature, of tropical forests and especially it is not compatible with the market mechanism. That said, it does not mean that there is no need for a plan. A plan is needed, must exist, but the plan must be made with a different concept and content. Specifically, a plan on the premises, the necessary and sufficient conditions according to the desired set targets, and the specific time. That is the content of the plan on the market, capital, technical services, technology, logistics, and transportation. It can be said with certainty that, up to now, in our province, there has never been a plan with such a concept and content.

Second proposal: On policy.

It is necessary to have the right and strong enough policies so that the organization (design) of production forests mentioned above gradually becomes a reality. This is not a matter of a few or three years, and it is not just a policy that has been understood as it has been for a long time: support. Of course, the support policies as they have been for raw materials (paper, wood chips) can be converted into policies for perennial - native trees. However, that is not enough. There needs to be a fundamental, long-term policy to create a "push" to change the current production forest to a production forest (or economic forest) at a higher level. Here are some necessary policies: Policy to reorganize production forests (or economic forests) of our province; policy for service activities with production forests; policy to attract investment (investment in production, processing and consumption markets); Science, technology, engineering policies, human resource training policies... These policies first of all affect forest planting households, but more importantly, they affect management agencies, administrative units, enterprises, agencies, scientists, and training facilities. From here, they will impact forest planting households. All of these policies must become a synchronous and consistent system, aiming at the final result: A way of organizing the forest economy that brings many times higher income to households doing forest economy in particular and to revive the whole Western region of our province in general.

Third proposal: On propaganda work.

It is necessary to affirm the great role of propaganda through training and mass media. However, it is also necessary to affirm the most decisive factor for people to listen and follow, which is: It is necessary to create a new type of forestry, through which foresters have high and stable income to overcome poverty and then become rich. There is no more practical and effective way of propaganda than that.

Fourth proposal: On forestry and agricultural extension work.

The forestry extension agency shall preside over and coordinate with the agricultural extension agency to build an economic forest model (as mentioned in the first proposal) with a scale of 1 to 2 or 3 hectares for each model; each district (mountainous area) may have 1 or 2 models that are "designed" scientifically and ensure long-term economic efficiency (after a production cycle), environmental efficiency, efficiency in conservation and development of valuable genetic resources... Next, organize forces (from agricultural and forestry extension staff, from local labor sources) to implement the designed model. Carry out care and protection... so that after 5 - 7 years, the initial harvest can be achieved. From the model and initial efficiency, mobilize and convince the authorities (commune, district) and people to gradually reduce the existing raw material forest area, gradually increase the economic forest area for comprehensive exploitation. Also from the reality of building those models to have data to calculate investment capital, services that must be available in the content and specific data on policies that need to be issued on the quantity and quality of labor needed... From the above calculations to advise and propose to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, to the Provincial People's Committee to form a breakthrough policy for the Forestry sector, as well as for the economy of the Western region of our province. And is there a need for a research and experimental topic on this model?

Proposal 5: On the role of forestry companies.

It is necessary to identify forestry companies as the vanguard, the leading force, and at the same time, the nucleus to attract and connect with all households around the company to implement this policy of the forest business enterprise. The companies have the initial factors of land, capital, labor, technical means... to organize the model from the beginning, which is difficult for some households to do. After success, the companies will "attract" the surrounding households to do the same. From there, it is recommended that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and forestry and agricultural extension agencies work with forestry companies to discuss this issue, in order to pave the way for planning and implementing a new policy. Whatever is said, first of all, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, then the relevant sectors (including scientific agencies), then the district and commune authorities must rethink (or in other words, must renew their thinking) about the forest economy. Without this innovation, there would be nothing but temporary, situational, even sloganeering and movement-based measures and policies.

Truong Cong Anh