VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 57,000 hectares of alternative forests were planted across Vietnam as of June 30, equal to 84 percent of the total area needed to be grown after forest land had been shifted to other purposes.

Nearly 57,000 hectares of alternative forests have been planted in Vietnam (Source: VNA)

Specifically, for 324 projects using forest land to build hydropower plants, nearly 25,000 hectares of forests were planted, surpassing 11 percent of the total area. Several provinces planted more than the area they needed to grow, including the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau and central Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces.

For 1,058 projects serving production and business in 45 localities, over 16,700 hectares of forests were grown, equivalent to 70 percent of the area required. Meanwhile, for 1,005 projects using forest land to build public, security and defence works in 43 localities, more than 15,400 hectares of alternative forest were planted.

According to the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, several localities have yet to fulfil their assigned target, including Ha Nam (3,220 hectares), Yen Bai (1,445 hectares), Gia Lai (1,920 hectares), Ba Ria-Vung Tau (1,439 hectares) and Binh Phuoc (1,109 hectares). Among them, Ha Nam and Binh Phuoc provinces have no more land for afforestation.

Some project investors did not perform their obligations to grow alternative forests.

Most localities have not taken the initiative in allocating State capital or forest development and protection capital to plant alternative forests for forest land used to build public, defence and security works.

Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has urged localities to continue implementing the Prime Minister’s directive on planting forests to replace forest land used for other purposes.

Source: VNA