Finding prosperity under the forest canopy

1/4/2022 - 10:59:02 AM

(HBO) - Hoa Binh’s land area allocated for forestry amounts to 298,013 hectares, covering 64,66 percent of the province’s natural land surface, creating huge potential and opportunities in developing and exploiting the forest ecological system’s values, such as timber, non-timber products, environmental services, ecological tourism and carbon dioxide storage.

The H20 Vietnam traditional medicinal herbs Cooperative (Hoa Binh City) affiliates with local residents in procuring materials for precious remedies.

Over the past years, the provincial authority attached great importance to the work of forest protection and development, improving the people’s awareness in safeguarding forest’s resources, and expanding forest planting areas. The annual average area of newly-planted forests or those replanted after exploitations is around 6,000 – 7,000 hectares. Many "under the forest canopy economic models” (UFCEMs) have proved feasibility like poultry and cattle farming, honey bees keeping.

The province is home to 225,468.4 hectares of forests (including natural and planted) available for non-timber products, medicinal herbs. The local people conduct extensive investments in planting some herbs like Wurfbainia longiligularis, Morinda officinalis, Reynoutria multiflora, Polyscias fruticosa or Ming aralia, Curcuma zedoaria, Millettia speciosa Champ, Ocimum tenuiflorum commonly known as holy basil, Phrynium placentarium. Some local cooperatives have affiliated with the villagers to procure herbal materials, investing in production equipment and standardized processes, creating a network of promotion and consumption for herbal medicine brand-names.

Some localities take advantage of the natural and magnificent sceneries of diversified forest ecologies along with the uniqueness of the Thai, Muong, Dao, Mong ethnic minorities’ cultural identities to develop tourism in the forms of community tours, spa resorts, ecological tours combined with historical and spiritual discoveries. Some local tourism businesses in Pa Co, Hang Kia (Mai Chau), Da Bia, Hien Luong, Sung hamlet (Da Bac) organize experiential tours for visitors to enjoy the pristine forests.

Future directions in improving the effectiveness of UFCEMs focus on selecting suitable plants and animals for expansion. Constant scientific surveys and reviews are planned to construct a complete distribution picture of the non-timber products, medicinal herbs of high values for intensive investment towards commercial production in compliance with market demands. Enterprises are encouraged to invest in promoting non-timber production, medicinal herbs farming under the forest canopy. Extra assistance will be provided in creating new cooperative and production groups for products of high economic values, emphasizing on the work of propaganda and mobilization for the people’s participation in actively developing UFCEMs./.

Mai Chau supports ethnic minority farmers to develop OCOP products

Over recent years, the Farmers' Union of Mai Chau district has implemented numerous specific programmes and activities to support its members in developing products under the One Commune One (OCOP) programme. These efforts have contributed to enhancing local agricultural branding, increasing goods value, and improving incomes and living standards for residents.

Education and Training sector advances in IT application, digital transformation

Since 2022, the Hoa Binh Department of Education and Training has provided advice for the provincial People's Committee to issue Plan No. 219/KH-UBND on November 17, 2022, which outlines the implementation of a project titled "Enhancing the application of Information Technology (IT) and Digital Transformation in Education and Training for the 2022–2025 period, with a vision to 2030.” As of now, the local education sector has made significant progress in IT adoption and digital transformation.

Hoa Binh allocates over 30 trillion VND for infrastructure development

Hoa Binh allocated over 30 trillion VND (nearly 1.18 billion USD) to develop infrastructure systems in ethnic minority and mountainous areas during 2019 - 2024. Priority was given to transport and irrigation infrastructure; markets; schools; medical stations; communal houses; and power grid, telecommunication, radio, and television systems.

Ceramic mural on Hoa Binh military-civilian ties inaugurated

The Hoa Binh provincial organising committee for anniversary activities on December 17 held a ceremony to unveil a ceramic mural on the local military-civilian ties and release a book on the Party and political work of the provincial armed forces during 1947 – 2024, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and 35th anniversary of the All-People Defence Festival.

Hoa Binh promotes cooperative economy development among ethnic minorities

In recent years, Hoa Binh has allocated significant resources to foster cooperative economy, helping ethnic minorities capitalise on their potential and advantages to escape poverty.

Administrative reform helps improve service quality

As a mountainous district still facing numerous challenges, Da Bac has made notable progress in advancing administrative reforms across various areas. The district has prioritised reorganising and streamlining its administrative apparatus, operating "one-stop-shop” units, and applying information technology (IT) in the handling of administrative procedures. Efforts have also been directed toward upgrading infrastructure and equipment to enhance service quality for residents and businesses.