Strengthening forest management, protection and development

Overview of the Conference. Photo: Van Truong

On the morning of March 15, the People's Committee of Nghe An province held a conference to review 5 years of implementing Directive No. 13-CT/TW dated January 12, 2017 of the Secretariat on "Strengthening the Party's leadership in forest management, protection and development"; Summarizing forestry work in 2022 and deploying tasks in 2023.

Attending the conference were comrades: Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Van De - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Also attending were representatives of provincial departments, branches, sectors and localities.

Forest cover reaches more than 58%

Nghe An is the province with the largest forest and forestry land area in the country, over 1.16 million hectares. Implementing Directive No. 13-CT/TW, Nghe An has synchronously implemented from the province, district to the grassroots level of communes, wards and towns and has received attention from all levels, sectors, local authorities, and the support of forest owners and people. Thereby, creating a strong change in awareness and sense of responsibility of the entire political system and the whole society regarding forest management, protection and development.

Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee gave a speech at the Conference. Photo: Van Truong

As a result, in the period 2017-2022, the number of casesviolating the lawin the forestry sector in Nghe An province decreased by 30.12% compared to the period 2011-2016, confiscated forest products decreased by 57.32%. The number of forest fires decreased by 16.5 cases (down 52.67%). The area of ​​planted forests increased rapidly and stably; the area of ​​natural forests, forest ecosystems and forest biodiversity in Nghe An were basically well protected, forest cover increased continuously.

At the same time, the province has well implemented policies and mechanisms on forest management, protection and development, so that people can enjoy the benefits of the State's policies; create livelihoods and jobs, reduce negative impacts on natural forests and forest ecosystems. The forestry sector has gradually developed and affirmed its role in the economy, and the lives of people working in the forest sector have been significantly improved.

The conversion of forest use to other purposes is strictly controlled and monitored, and the process is carried out systematically, especially for hydropower projects, mineral exploitation projects, projects that affect natural forests and special-use forests. Since 2017, Nghe An province has temporarily suspended more than 50 projects that have converted the purpose of using forestry land, to submit to competent authorities for consideration.

At the Conference, delegates reported on forest protection management, pointing out difficulties such as inadequate policies and regimes for specialized forest protection forces, and a lack of civil servants in the forestry sector. Delegates made recommendations on the need to promptly allocate funding for localities to ensure progress in land and forest allocation.

Speaking at the Conference, Comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee commended the efforts of the forestry sector and localities in the 5 years of implementing Directive No. 13-CT/TW.

However, the implementation of the Directive still has limitations: National forestry planning and provincial planning are still slow to be implemented; Value, capital sources, and investment policies for forestry are still low, not meeting the needs to ensure the implementation of the set goals, tasks, and solutions.

Comrade Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee spoke at the Conference. Photo: Van Truong

The work of combating illegal deforestation has not yet ensured sustainability; the work of allocating land, issuing certificates of forest land use rights, and marking boundaries between forest types and forest owners has not been completed. The lives of people who depend on forests are not yet sustainable.

To effectively implement Directive No. 13-CT/TW, comrade Hoang Nghia Hieu requested departments, branches and localities to effectively implement the Party's guidelines and policies and the State's laws on forest protection and development.

Continue to improve and consolidate the organization and management apparatus.protective forests, special-use forests; improve the operational efficiency of the forest rangers. Review, supplement, and complete the system of directive documents and regulations on forest management, protection, and development in the province. Direct the review of plans and projects that affect forests and forestry land, and propose adjustments to unreasonable plans and projects.

Comrade Nguyen Huu Hien - Vice Chairman of Tuong Duong District People's Committee reported at the conference. Photo: Van Truong

At the same time, focus on completing the allocation of land, forests, and granting of forestry land use right certificates to organizations, individuals, households, and individuals according to regulations. Increase attraction and investment in processing; focus on building and developing high-tech forestry zones in the North Central region.

Implement forest protection and development plans in 2023

At the Conference, the Provincial People's Committee also deployed and summarized forestry work in 2022 and deployed tasks for 2023.

In 2022, the forestry sector basically completed its mission targets. The whole province detected, arrested and handled 648 cases of forestry law violations, a decrease of 138 cases. 402.76 m³wood of all kinds, 483 wild animals, contributed 5.9 billion VND to the state budget.

Forest fire prevention and fighting work is effectively controlled. In 2022, the whole province had 3 forest fires, a decrease of 10 cases compared to the same period. Concentrated afforestation reached 20,789 ha/18,500, an increase of 6%. Up to now, the whole province has had 15,614 ha of forest certified for sustainable forest management by FSC, and 25,999 ha of forest has been allocated to forestry land.

Deploying the tasks of the Forestry sector in 2023, Comrade Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested sectors, localities, and forest owners to continue to strengthen the inspection and supervision of the implementation of forest protection plans in localities and forest owners. Speed ​​up the progress of national forestry planning for the period 2021-2025, with a vision to 2050.

Forest protection work still faces many difficulties in Nghe An. Photo courtesy

Strictly implement Directive No. 04/CT-UBND dated March 9, 2022 of the Provincial People's Committee on strengthening measuresforest fire prevention and control2023. Promote the development of high-quality intensive forest plantation material areas associated with the issuance of sustainable forest management certificates.

At the same time, provide guidance on exploiting planted forests, especially from the state budget, according to the provisions of Circular No. 26 dated December 30, 2022 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on tracing the origin of forest products to avoid unfortunate violations.

In addition, it is necessary to speed up the progress of forest land allocation associated with forestry land allocation and granting of Forest Land Use Right Certificates to households and individuals in the province, which have been extended by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 425/QD-UBND dated February 22, 2022.