People in Hue use techniques to plant and protect forests

Training in forest planting and preservation skills

In recent years, the project of applying indigenous knowledge to plant forests with indigenous trees to create a "green ribbon" in Phuc Loc village (Xuan Loc commune, Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue) implemented by the Thua Thien Hue Forestry Club in coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has received the support of hundreds of people from the Van Kieu, Ta Oi and Co Tu ethnic groups.

More than 250 people from Phuc Loc village were equipped with knowledge about sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation and the socio-economic benefits that forests bring.

In particular, people are guided on the standards and procedures to achieve “FSC Forest Management Certification”, which is one of the tools being promoted by the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province to improve forest management, reduce poverty towards the implementation of sustainable development goals.

From the project, people have learned the techniques of collecting seeds and sowing seedlings and building a community nursery with more than 22,000 rare native tree varieties such as Uoi, Huynh and Green Lim, both trading in seedlings and planting green ribbons to prevent forest fires. Bringing economic sustainability, production according to the motto "3 on-site": On-site seeds, on-site nursery, on-site afforestation; significantly reducing the risk of economic losses because it will save investment costs for afforestation, input products are always stable and ensure quality requirements. In addition, planting large-scale native timber forests has a long business cycle but the products after harvest will have higher value.

Effective greening

Currently, 110 hectares of forest in Phuc Loc village have achieved FSC certification, affirming the community's efforts in sustainable forest management. It is expected that 60 more hectares will be granted FSC certification in 2024, bringing the total area of ​​certified forest to 170 hectares of high value; helping to improve forest fire resistance, as well as enhance ecosystem services through the conservation of native species.

Thus, from the fact that local people only know how to grow pure acacia, intervene with soil treatment measures and fertilize incorrectly according to technical procedures, causing erosion, loss of nutritious topsoil, and degradation of the soil environment, through this project, people have a better understanding of proper cultivation techniques, meeting sustainable forest management standards.

In particular, local people's awareness of the role of biodiversity has been raised, so they know how to use forest resources sustainably, maintain the conservation of genetic resources of precious timber species in natural forests; meet the needs of improving livelihoods, increasing income for the community; and ensure a sustainable living environment for future generations.

Up to now, the project has ended for nearly a year, but the local community of Phuc Loc village continues to maintain a nursery to produce native plants to provide free of charge to households to plant green ribbons along the boundaries of their planted forests and streams.

In addition, they have also exported more than 2,000 native seedlings to provinces such as Quang Nam and Quang Ngai. From this source of income, they continue to expand the cultivation of new native seedlings to serve local forestation.

Notably, at the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) taking place in Colombia (from October 20 to November 1), the Pilot Project of planting native trees to create a “green ribbon” to prevent forest fires in Phuc Loc village, Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue province was introduced to more than 23,000 delegates from most countries in the world. This project is entirely implemented directly by the local community, through the support of forest rangers and local authorities.