Relying on the people to protect the forest
In recent years, Nghe An province has identified forests as not only natural resources but also a long-term livelihood foundation for people in mountainous areas. On that basis, many community-based forest management and protection models have been deployed, gradually creating positive changes in people's awareness and actions.
In Chut An village, Con Cuong commune, since 2017, the model of forest management, protection and development teams was established with the goal of enclosing and regenerating forests after the fields. On an area of over 106 hectares, people focus on protecting native plants that can regenerate naturally such as monk fruit, yellow apple and some bright, fast-growing plants.
To operate the model effectively, the forest rangers coordinate with local authorities to conduct field surveys, organize meetings with people, unify boundaries and develop management plans suitable to people's living conditions. This area has many resettlement households, mostly ethnic minorities, with difficult living conditions, a large demand for wood and firewood for daily use, and a potential risk of forest encroachment if there is no replacement for livelihood.
Currently, the forest protection team has nearly 30 members, regularly patrolling, grasping the situation, promptly informing the authorities and functional forces when detecting acts of forest encroachment; at the same time, propagating and mobilizing people not to cut down forests, not to burn nests to cause forest fires.
In Tang village, Muong Chong commune, the model of enclosing, protecting and restoring sacred forests and maple forests has been implemented since 2015. More than 26 hectares of forest are managed by the community under the form of protection contracts. Regularly, members organize the clearing of forest cover, removing pests and diseases, adjusting the appropriate density to ensure stable growth of forests, and promoting the regeneration of natural forests.
Over the implementation period, the quality of forests has been significantly improved, coverage has increased, and the density of regenerated trees has increased. More importantly, people's awareness of their rights and responsibilities in forest protection and development has been gradually improved, forming management skills, enriching forests associated with long-term livelihoods.
Many sustainable development livelihood models
In the buffer zone of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, many combined agroforestry models have been deployed to both preserve forests and develop the economy. The family of Mr. Lo Hong Ngan, Thong Thu commune, was supported to grow cinnamon on an area of 3,000 m2. After more than two years, cinnamon trees have grown well, opening up a stable income prospect in the coming years.
From the reality that many areas of garden land are abandoned while people's lives are still difficult, the Pu Hoat Nature Reserve Management Board coordinates with local Party committees and authorities to deploy a model of renovating ornamental gardens, planting large timber forestry trees combined with fruit trees. The funding source is mobilized from voluntary contributions from cadres and party members in the unit, along with the efforts of the people.
Along with building community models for forest protection, Nghe An continues to promote replacement forest planting, planting scattered trees with native trees and large trees. In Pu Hoat Nature Reserve alone, more than 1,000 households are supported to plant 253 hectares of cinnamon trees and nearly 480 hectares of protective forests and concentrated special-use forests, contributing to greening the vacant land, steep hills and preserving cinnamon trees - a typical product of the locality.
Thanks to appropriate approaches, the awareness of ethnic minorities in the reserve about forest protection and forest capital development has changed significantly. More than 85,000 hectares of Pu Hoat forest not only create ecological belts for the highland communes of Que Phong area but also play an important role in environmental protection, biodiversity and stabilizing people's lives.
Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporters, the leader of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Nghe An province emphasized: Forest protection cannot only rely on functional forces but must be closely linked to the livelihoods, rights and responsibilities of people, especially ethnic minorities in mountainous areas. The province will continue to improve mechanisms and policies, creating conditions for people to participate in forest management, benefit legally from the forest and live on the forest.
practice shows that when people are empowered, have their livelihoods created and accompany the government, Nghe An mountainous forests are not only protected but also become the foundation for long-term sustainable development.
