With a large natural forest area and wide forest coverage, Hoa Binh province boasts considerable potential and advantages for developing forest-based economic activities. This is also an appropriate direction for building a sustainable and environmentally-friendly economy.
Lac Thuy district currently accommodates many "keo
lai” (Acacia hybrid) processing workshops which have helped raise the economic
value of planted forests. (Photo taken in An Binh commune).
Forest rangers of Hoa Binh province
and Cao Phong district on patrol in Thach Yen commune.
With the province’s forest coverage of more than
51%, forest not only serves as a "lung” but also plays a significant role in
protecting the environment, guaranteeing water and energy security, preventing
and controlling floods, and ensuring safety for the Red River Delta, including
Hanoi capital. It creates challenges as well as major advantages for the local
economy, culture, and society to develop fast and sustainably.
Over the past years, all-level Party committees
and administrations have identified protecting and sustainably developing
forest as one of the strategic tasks. To do that, Hoa Binh has worked to
fruitfully carry out the Government’s support policies.
The province has properly made payments for
forest environmental services, thus substantially contributing to
socio-economic development. Thanks to the payments, the persons in charge of
forest protection and development gain another source of income while forest
owners and managing units have more funding for forest and infrastructure
development.
At present, 116,037ha of local forest are
entitled to payments for forest environmental services which were valued at
over 21.5 billion VND (845,900 USD) in 2023.
In particular, to help improve the productivity
and quality of production forest, Hoa Binh is implementing a project on forest
protection and development at a total cost of 127.6 billion VND.
Nguyen Huu Tai, head of the province’s forest
protection division, said thanks to the effective implementation of support
mechanisms and policies, Hoa Binh has basically managed to maintain the natural
forest area and expand the cultivated one.
The area zoned for forestry now spans about
294,183ha, 236,919ha of which are under forest (comprising 141,614 ha of
natural forest and 95,305ha of planted forest).
Covering 51.61% of Hoa Binh’s area, forest is
present in 149 communes, wards, and townships of 10 district-level localities.
The protected area has contributed to effective forest-based economic growth.
Tai said there are about 16,000ha of planted
forest granted the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certificates.
In Resolution No. 27-NQ/TU, dated July 30, 2020,
of the provincial Party Committee’s Standing Board, Hoa Binh targets 50% and
over 80% of the cultivated production forest area granted the FSC certificates
by 2025 and 2030, respectively.
To that end, it is boosting the dissemination of
the State’s regulations on building and implementing sustainable forest
management plans, making assessment of and maintaining the eligibility for the
FSC certificates, and encouraging businesses holding economic and technical
strengths to coordinate with forest owners to apply for the certificates, he
added.
Over the years, Hoa Binh has shown strong performance in applying information technology (IT) in building an electronic government, ensuring information security and contributing to developing a smart and modern city.
Boasting high potential in both aquatic development and tourism, the Hoa Binh hydropower plant reservoir has a significant role in the fisheries and tourism sectors of Hoa Binh. Hoa Binh lake is home to 123 species belonging to 79 genera and 19 families, including many rare species, with high economic value and significance for scientific research.
A meeting to review the province’s socio-economic development in the first half of 2024 took place on July 3 under the chair of Standing Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Toan. Participants discussed and gave opinions on draft documents that will be submitted to the standing board of the provincial Party Committee, documents under the promulgation authority of the provincial People's Committee, and other matters serving the management, direction, and administration of the People's Committee.
Nhuan Trach commune, Luong Son district, recently earned recognition from the People's Committee of Hoa Binh province for achieving the advanced criteria of the national new rural development programme in 2023. This success stemmed from innovative approaches, unified support from local authorities and residents, and a continued push for excellence.
A project to build a road from Da Bac town (Da Bac) to Thanh Son district of Phu Tho province is invested by the People's Committee of Da Bac district with a total capital of 250 billion VND (9.8 million USD). When completed, it will be a vital traffic route connecting the two provinces, contributing to the development of the road traffic infrastructure system in Da Bac district, and adding motivation to promote local socio-economic development.
According to the report of the People's Committee of Lac Son district on the results of building the new and improved rural areas in the district, there are currently 4 communes reaching 10 - 14 criteria, including Nhan Nghia, Tan Lap, Yen Phu and Tan My; There are 6 communes that meet less than 10 criteria, including Vu Binh, Xuat Hoa, Thuong Coc, Yen Nghiep, Huong Nhuong, and An Nghia. The average number of the newly improved rural criteria has reached 9.6 criteria each commune so far.
