Support models
Models of providing plant and animal varieties, supporting farming techniques, signing forest protection contracts and training people in tourism... have been implemented to help people have new directions for economic development in their families.
Mr. Dinh Xuan Hoa (born in 1953, in Hung Trach commune, Bo Trach district) has been going to the forest with people around the area to cut down precious wood for sale for many years. At that time, this helped people have a source of income to support their families. He is so familiar with and understands the value and age of each type of tree in the forest.
In 2021, Mr. Hoa and many households here participated in a livelihood model to develop production, aiming at sustainable poverty reduction supported by the Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park Management Board.
Mr. Hoa received 4 bee colonies to implement the honey beekeeping model, along with technical guidance from the Garden staff. With a large indoor garden area, many fruit trees, his bee colonies developed well. Honey is also easy to consume, and people need it all year round. From there, he multiplied the colony to 12 colonies, each year harvesting more than 100 liters of honey, creating a stable source of income for his family.
Mr. Do Van Phuc, Vice Chairman of Hung Trach Commune People's Committee, said: Livelihood support models have created a sustainable source of income for people and significantly reduced their "reliance" on forests. At the same time, the face of the countryside is also changing every day.
According to Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, livelihood support programs have so far provided more than 122,500 seedlings of various types, 311 breeding pigs, 61 breeding cows, 60 breeding goats, 14,700 breeding chickens, and over 100 breeding bee colonies.
Protect the forest with the community
Every year, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park also signs forest protection contracts with villagers in the buffer zone, core zone, and border areas; creating jobs for local people to directly participate in tourism activities, such as: Photography, souvenir sales, restaurants, hotels, motels, tourist pick-up and drop-off services, etc.
Not only that, the program also builds welfare facilities such as schools, medical stations, and roads to improve people's lives. It is known that in 2024, from the capital of the sustainable forestry development program, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park will support about 1.6 billion VND for 40 villages and hamlets in the buffer zone (40 million VND/village). At the same time, from the program to pay for forest emissions of nearly 1.9 billion VND, livelihood support will be provided to 37 villages and hamlets (50 million VND/village) and other sources of livelihood support are still being implemented effectively, thereby providing stable and sustainable income for people in the buffer zone.
Mr. Pham Hong Thai, Director of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park Management Board, said: "Protecting forests and preserving heritage sustainably is not only the responsibility of the government or the Park, but also largely thanks to the community living here. Therefore, models that help families have a stable source of income and improve their lives will reduce pressure on forest resources, moving towards sustainable forest management and protection."
