Forest cover rate in Nghe An reaches nearly 60%

Attending the Conference were Mr. Nguyen Danh Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; representatives of the Forestry Sub-Department and related units.

Forest cover rate reached 59.16%

According to the report of the Forest Protection and Development Fund, in 2024, the Forest Protection and Development Fund signed 48 trust contracts (at hydropower production facilities, clean water production and supply, industrial production) with a total revenue of more than 133 billion VND. Timely payment of forest environmental services of 144 billion VND to people protecting forests. Disbursement of money for replacement forest planting of over 99 billion VND, corresponding to an area of ​​5,350 hectares.

Regarding the implementation of greenhouse gas emission reduction support payments (ERPA), in 2024, Nghe An province has over 31,000 forest owners receiving 173 billion VND from carbon credits.

The funding from ERPA that Nghe An has received from forest protection activities and greenhouse gas emission reduction has contributed additional financial resources for forest owners to carry out forest management and protection, and support livelihoods associated with forest protection and development for the community.

However, the funding source for payment from ERPA is still slow, the reason is that the work of reviewing, making payment lists, collecting bank accounts, and related procedural documents (authorization papers) in some districts is still slow...

Also at the Workshop, the Forest Protection Department reported the results of updating the forest resource developments. Currently, Nghe An has 20/20 districts, cities and towns that have completed the updating and synchronizing of results to the central server. To date, Nghe An has 1,648,649 hectares of natural forest area, 975,436.99 hectares of forested land, and a forest cover rate of 59.16%.

Accordingly, the total fluctuating forest area includes: Planted forest area is 178,358 hectares, an increase of 6,936 hectares compared to the same period in 2023, natural forest area is 797,078 hectares, an increase of 6,725 hectares compared to the same period in 2023. The reason for the increase in natural forest area is due to silvicultural activities to regenerate forests that meet the criteria for becoming forests.

At the workshop, delegates discussed solutions on using funds for reforestation according to Resolution No. 137/2024/NQ-QH15 of the National Assembly.

Resolve existing problems and difficulties

At the end of the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Danh Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development acknowledged the efforts of forestry units. At the same time, he requested relevant units to implement a number of contents. Specifically, regarding the plan to use funds for replacement forestation according to Resolution No. 137/2024/NQ-QH15 of the National Assembly, the Forest Protection Department, based on Resolution No. 137/2024/NQ-QH15, the Forestry Law 2017... advised the Department to submit to the Provincial People's Committee a plan to use funds for replacement forestation before March 10, 2025.

Assign the Forest Protection Department to inspect and clarify the basis for explaining the reasons for increase or decrease, especially for natural forest area, to report and explain, and promptly announce the current status of provincial forests.

The Department requested the Forest Protection Department to direct the Forest Protection Districts to make estimates and prepare complete documents and procedures to synthesize reports to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development through the Forest Protection Department to advise on the allocation of the remaining funds.

Regarding the payment for forest environmental services, review and summarize the funds collected from users of forest environmental services but the payment objects have not been determined. Advise the Provincial People's Committee to consider and decide on compensation for unit prices for hydropower basins with low unit prices.

About ERPA payment (carbon credits),The Forest Protection and Development Fund urgently consults on adjusting the overall financial plan according to Decision No. 3326/QD-BNN dated October 2, 2024 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the direction of the Provincial People's Committee.

Based on the results of the announcement of the forest status in 2024, the Forest Protection Departments will review and make a list of information on forest owners who are households, individuals, and communities as a basis for ERPA payment in 2025.