Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc: 'Localities with forests must develop from forests'

(Baonghean.vn) -“Localities with forests must develop from forests” is the direction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on solutions for sustainable forest development.

According to the report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first 9 months of 2017, the whole country discovered more than 13,170 cases of deforestation, a decrease of 466 cases compared to the same period in 2016, the area of ​​forest destroyed was nearly 1,270 hectares. In addition, there were dozens of forest fires nationwide, damaging hundreds of hectares of forest.

Speaking at the conference, in addition to appreciating the efforts and achievements of localities in recent times, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also pointed out the existing problems in recent times, and requested: Localities need to correctly assess the current situation of forest management and protection in order to have measures to manage and protect forest capital and develop forests, create jobs, create livelihoods for ethnic minorities living near forests; put an end to deforestation, illegal conversion of forest use purposes, and illegal immigration.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc gave a speech at the conference. Photo: Phu Huong

According to the results of the announcement of the forest status in 2016, Nghe An has more than 1,235,755 hectares of forest and forestry land, accounting for nearly 75% of the total natural area, with a forest coverage of 57%. After more than 1 year of implementing the Prime Minister's Conclusion in Notice No. 191/TB-VPCP dated June 22, 2016, Nghe An has achieved many important results. Forest planting, protection and care have basically met the set plan.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong raised a number of important issues at the Conference. Photo: Phu Huong

In the first 9 months of 2017, the Provincial Police Investigation Agency prosecuted 4 cases with 12 defendants, handled 1,420 administrative violations, collected over 22 billion 850 million VND for the budget, and confiscated 2,550 m³ Forest products.

However, violations of forest protection regulations still occur and are complicated. Recently, there have been a number of serious cases of illegal logging.

Officers of Tuong Duong Forest Ranger Department carry out inventory and recover evidence to serve the investigation in Tam Hop commune, Tuong Duong. Photo: Document

Speaking at Nghe An, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Xuan Duong said that over the past time, Nghe An has thoroughly grasped the spirit of resolutely protecting and developing forests, achieving many very important results. However, the province also faced many difficulties with quite special conditions.

The forest area is large, the demand for planting raw material forests is growing very strongly, however, the allocated land area has many depleted natural forests, while support policies for people to protect forests are still low...

A pơmu tree was cut down in the protective forest in Luu Kien commune, Tuong Duong. Photo: document

The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee also requested the Government, ministries and central branches to support central budget capital for forest protection and development in Nghe An according to the new policies issued by the State; give more priority to the protection and development of coastal forests, and combating climate change; supplement policies for households and individuals who are allocated forest land but have not yet benefited from the forest; issue and amend some shortcomings in legal regulations in the field of forest management and protection.

Phu Huong