Hoa Binh advances sustainable forestry with FSC certification

5/7/2025 - 6:07:59 PM

Hoa Binh city has marked a significant step in sustainable forest management as nearly 1,450 hectares of its plantation forests have been granted Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, an international standard required to access major wood markets such as the EU, the US, and Japan.

Son Thuy Company Limited (Mong Hoa Commune) - a unit with a large FSC certified forest area in Hoa Binh City, contributing to the formation of a value chain from sustainable forests to wood processing for export.

This development follows the implementation of Resolution 27-NQ/TU by the provincial Party Committee's Standing Board in 2020, which promotes sustainable forest production until 2025 with a vision to 2030. The policy has guided local authorities and residents to shift from small-scale, quick-harvest plantations to long-cycle timber production aligned with international standards.

Key areas including Ky Son, Mong Hoa, Trung Minh, and Quang Tien were selected as FSC pilot zones. Local households received support in plant varieties, fertilisers, technical guidance, and business linkages. Farmers have moved from cutting young acacia trees after 4–5 years to cultivating larger timber over longer periods, increasing output quality and market value.

So far, Hoa Binh has converted over 1,300 hectares from short-cycle to large-timber plantations, with productivity rising from 65 to 76.3 cubic metres per ha. FSC certification also requires strict compliance such as no use of low-quality seedlings, banned chemicals, or exploitation of natural forests.

In 2024, the total income from forests and forestry land in the city reached 65.4 billion VND (2.5 million USD), an increase of nearly 5 billion USD from the previous year. Over 59,000 cubic metres of timber was harvested, alongside thousands of cubic metres of firewood and various forest by-products.

The municipal authorities view FSC not only as a "green passport” for wood exports but also as a catalyst for restructuring the forestry sector towards higher-value, traceable products. The city aims to reduce exports of raw woodchips and increase value-added FSC-certified products for demanding markets like Japan, the EU, and the US.

Hoa Binh’s FSC-certified forests are now positioned as both ecological shields and economic assets, laying the groundwork for a forestry-based green economy.

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