Source: Vietnamese Wood
According to the Summary of Planning Report, the total area of forest and forestry land nationwide is 16.34 million ha, accounting for 49% of the total natural area (as of 2020); in which, forest land is 14.67 million ha, equivalent to 42% forest coverage. In recent years, the national forest cover rate has continuously increased. In the period 2010 – 2020, planting production forests will reach over 200,000 ha per year. The export value of timber and forest products continuously grew at a high level; in 2021, reaching 15.96 billion USD, ranking 5th in the world, 2nd in Asia, 1st in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese wooden products have been present in more than 140 countries and territories. The policy of payment for forest environmental services has collected over VND 20 trillion, contributing to improving the effectiveness of forest protection and development and improving people’s lives.
However, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tri, Director General of the General Department of Forestry (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that the forest area has increased but the quality of natural forests is not high. The productivity of planted forests is still low (average growth of 15 m3/ha/year); have not fully exploited the potential and advantages of the forest ecosystem in terms of biodiversity, CO2 absorption services and other forest environmental services. “The increasing demand for socio-economic development has put pressure on forests and forest land,” said Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tri.
The master plan aims to maintain the national forest coverage rate from 42-43%, focusing on improving forest quality; strive for the export value of forest products to reach 20 billion USD by 2025; average afforestation strives to reach 238 thousand ha/year. The opinions of the reviewers and members of the Basic Appraisal Council assessed that the draft master plan was prepared meticulously, seriously, ensuring the plan. redundant, scientifically updated and supplemented, with a strategic and long-term vision, in line with the requirements of the Law on Forestry, the Law on Planning, the Vietnam Forestry Development Strategy and the provisions of law. other relevant laws.
However, many commented that there are still some issues that need to be further clarified in the draft planning; It is necessary to further evaluate the link between the forestry infrastructure system and the national transport system in order to maximize the economic and technical synchronization for the development of the forestry sector. The focus of the forestry planning is the planning of three types of forests (special-use forests, protection forests and production forests), so it is necessary to ensure a reasonable structure of these three types of forests. Areas of special-use forests and protection forests must be clearly located on the map with forest boundaries digitized and uniformly managed from central to local levels.
There is an opinion that, in the past 20 years, the productivity of afforestation has doubled, income has doubled. This result is due to the very important factor of breed. Therefore, it is necessary to continue investing in science and technology for selecting and creating forest tree varieties; This is a very important solution for forestry development.
At the meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan emphasized, it is necessary to change the thinking of forest management to the thinking of multi-use forest management, integrating multi-values, not just considering forests as valuable. forest products but also an aggregate value for forest raising. When integrating multi-values, multi-functions, it will create livelihoods for many people living on forests who are still struggling…
National forestry planning is very important in the management, protection and development of forest resources. This is an extremely important ecological resource, valuable for economic and social development, especially a vital weapon to adapt to climate change. This plan is also related to many ministries, branches and localities, made in the context of the national master plan and national and provincial master plans being implemented synchronously. After discussion, the Council voted on the planning document with 100% approval results.
Forestry planning ensures implementation of COP26 commitments
Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh stated that the development of forestry planning must be done firmly, carefully, carefully, and widely consulted by ministries, branches, localities, agencies, etc. organizations, experts, scientists.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in coordinating with ministries, branches, localities, agencies, organizations, experts and scientists to develop quality assurance planning, comply with the provisions of the law on planning. Up to now, the planning documents meet the requirements.
The master plan needs to update more on world trends, how to ensure the implementation of Vietnam’s international commitments, especially the COP26 commitment to bring net emissions to “zero” by 2050; review, update, ensure synchronization, consistency and conformity with the approved regional and national plannings. Once the forestry planning is approved, it will serve as a basis for localities in making their own provincial planning.
The Deputy Prime Minister suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development absorb the maximum amount of opinions to edit, complete, and seek opinions of Council members before submitting to competent authorities for consideration and approval; in which, it is necessary to carefully and carefully consider the number of areas taken out of the planning.
