Over 1,240 forest owners benefit

In Quang Tri province, ten hydropower plants have been put into operation, and 1 unit of clean water production and supply participating in payment for forest environmental services. All units have signed an entrustment contract to pay money through the Quang Tri Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund.

In 2021, the Quang Tri Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund paid for forest environment services to 41,898.71 hectares of 1,240 forest owners in the province (including five forest owners are organizations, 14 commune People's Committees are authorized by the provincial People's Committee). The State assigns responsibility for forest management, 44 residential communities, groups of households, and 1,177 households and individuals), concentrated in 2 mountainous districts of Huong Hoa and Dakrong.

Total payment for forest environment services reached more than VND 17.3 billion. The price in Rao Quan and Ha Rao Quan areas is VND 800,000 per hectare, in Khe Nghi area is VND 617,606 per hectare, and in the other regions have the price of VND 300,000 per hectare.

Through the payment policy for forest environmental services, forest owners and local authorities in the area have been trained and improved their knowledge on forest management and protection and some forestry development policies of the province's government. Since then, deforestation, forest land encroachment, forest fire, etc... has decreased significantly.

According to Mr. Ho Xuan Hoe, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quang Tri province, over the years, revenue from payment for forest environmental services has made a positive contribution to forest management, protection, and poverty alleviation for the local community. More than 15 communes in remote areas are located in the hydropower area, contributing to improving the living standards of more than 1,354 households and individuals in 12 village communities; and 62 groups contracted to protect forests are organizations and Commune People's Committees.

"Since the payment policy for forest environmental services was introduced, organizations, households, and communities have actively participated in forest protection, forest fires, encroachment on forest land, etc., in remote areas," said Mr. Hoe.

The rate of non-cash payment for forest environmental services reaches 99%

Over the years, the Management Board of the Fund for Forest Protection and Development of Quang Tri province has always focused on paying for forest environmental services by non-cash payment methods. The Fund's Executive Board coordinates with commercial banks to conduct training and open bank accounts for forest owners every year.

As a result, the Fund has paid for forest environment services through bank accounts to forest owners with VND 17,146,619,000/17,331,138,000 (accounting for 99%).

In which the forest owner is an organization, the Commune People's Committee has been paid through a bank account the amount of VND 12,836,106,000/12,836,106,000 (reaching the rate of 100%).

For forest owners being households, individuals, communities, groups of households: payment via bank account amount of VND 4,310,513,000/4,495,032,000 (accounting for 96%).

The remaining households, individuals, and communities that get cash have a small area to provide forest environmental services. The amount received is insignificant (average less than VND 550,000 per year). Most of them are ethnic minority people, their educational level is still not high, and they do not desire to open a bank account.

To achieve the goal of 100% non-cash payment for forest environmental services, in the coming time, the Quang Tri Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund will continue to coordinate with commercial banks to work directly with local authorities, forest owners, organizations, and contracted groups to protect forests, propagate and guide access to transactions through the banking system;

Also, find an appropriate solution to support recipients of forest protection money from forest environmental services most conveniently and simply without taking much time, ensuring publicity, transparency, and convenience for state agencies in checking and monitoring payments.

Translated by Ha Phuc