Gia Lai province, located in the Northern Central Highlands, stands out with its large area of special-use forests and rich tropical forest ecosystem. The total area of special-use forests in the province is currently about 82,208 hectares, mainly distributed in Kbang, Dak Doa, Mang Yang districts and Pleiku city.
According to Mr. Truong Thanh Ha, Acting Head of the Forestry - Forestry Sub-Department (Department of Agriculture and Environment of Gia Lai province), in addition to the task of conservation, the province is promoting the development of medicinal plants - a direction with great potential thanks to favorable natural conditions such as fertile land, temperate climate and diverse biodiversity.
Up to now, the area of medicinal plant cultivation in Gia Lai province has reached 7,798 hectares. Most of the remaining area, about 7,149 hectares, is deployed on agricultural land, with popular species such as Cranberries, Nghe An, Ginger, Samsung Da Nang and Sa.
However, Mr. Truong Thanh Ha also frankly pointed out that the development of medicinal herbs in Gia Lai is not commensurate with the existing potential. Currently, the production of medicinal herbs is still largely spontaneous, lacking models applying high science and technology as well as quality control systems.
In the context of forest resources is becoming an important part of the green economic development strategy, Gia Lai province needs to complete the ecosystem to support sustainable medicinal production. The promotion of technology application, investment attraction, human resource training and building a chain of links from planting to markets are key factors to improve the economic value from forests, while contributing to conservation of unique ecosystems of the Central Highlands.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Gia Lai province, the development of a carbon credit business plan has been guided by the Department of Forestry to be implemented in the Central Highlands and South Central regions. The goal of these projects is to reduce CO2 emissions through forest protection and development, while creating new financial resources for localities through the forest environmental service payment mechanism.
Gia Lai owns many advantages in special-use forests, medicinal herbs and biological resources, but still faces challenges such as forest degradation, illegal exploitation and shortage of technical resources. For sustainable development, the province needs to promote technology investment, build a suitable production model and strengthen linkages between the government, businesses and the community.
Developing products from indigenous medicinal herbs, eco-tourism and carbon credits not only enhances the value of forest economy but also opens the way for a green economic model, sustainable development. With the right orientation and effective coordination between the parties, Gia Lai can become a model in linking nature conservation with socio-economic development in the highlands.
