Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – The central province of Thua Thien-Hue plansto grow 13,000 hectares of large-timber forest by 2020, with 40 percent ofwhich received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)’s certificate, ensuring thatproducts come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental,social and economic benefits.

The province is housing 4,000 hectares of FSC-certificated forest, over 950hectares of which are owned by 241 local households, and more than 3,000hectares by state-owned Tien Phong Forestry One Member Limited Company.

It is targeting to plant some 2,000 hectares of large-timber forest granted theforest management certification.

Notably, the provincial Forest Management Department in collaboration with the VietnamAdministration of Forestry has carried out the cultivation of large-timberforest on an area of 55 hectares, drawing the participation of 34 households inthree disadvantaged communes of Hong Ha and Huong Nguyen (A Luoi district), andHong Tien (Huong Tra town), two mountainous communes of Binh Thanh and BinhDien (Huong Tra town), and Huong Ho ward (Huong Tra town).

According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen VanPhuong, enhancing the planting of large-timber forest is in line with thenation’s socio-economic development in the context of global integration.

It creates a boost to processing sector and exports while enhancing economicefficiency of the forest land, he said, adding that relevant authorities shouldstudy to expand forest land and consumption market as well as draw measures torespond to abnormal weather.

In long term, the province is working out rational mechanisms and support policiesto encourage locals to plant FSC forest, he said.

The province already set up the Forest Owners Sustainable DevelopmentAssociation (FOSDA) to protect legitimate rights and benefits of small foresthousehold owners in sustainable forestry-related activities. Besides, the associationis responsible for promoting sustainable forest management in accordance withFSC standards.

Local farmers and organisations are encouraged to apply advanced technologiesto improve forest quality and productivity.

As seedling is a decisive factor to forest quality and productivity, tissueculture technique has been applied in the afforestation, said Director of theprovincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Ho Sy Nguyen.

Various kinds of seedlings have been effectively used to ensure high-qualitysupply for sustainable forest planting of organisations, households, andindividuals in the locality.

Thua Thien-Hue is now home to nearly 349,000 hectares of forest and forestryland, 212,172 hectares of which are natural forest, and 70,830 hectares areplanted forest.-VNA