FSC certification helps Phu Luong forest products reach far

Phu Luong district (Thai Nguyen) is an area with a relatively mild tropical monsoon climate, suitable for the growth and development of many types of plants. Thereby, creating favorable conditions for forestry production.

In order for forests to become a sustainable source of livelihood for people, Thai Hung Forest Products Co., Ltd. has been approved by the Phu Luong District People's Committee for the policy of investment, sustainable forest management cooperation, and FSC certification (voluntary standards developed by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) with the aim of promoting responsible forest management globally) in Phu Luong district.

By the end of June 2024, the GFA Sustainable Forest Management Certification Organization officially granted FSC certification to a group of forest planting households in Phu Luong.

Phu Luong district currently has the first forest area granted FSC certification, which ensures sustainable development criteria. The first FSC-certified forest area is 5,163 hectares, with the participation of 3,653 households in four communes, including Yen Do, Yen Lac, Yen Ninh, and Yen Trach. This is also the locality with the largest forest-certified area in Thai Nguyen province.

According to Mr. Xuan Phuc, Deputy Director of Thai Hung Forest Products Company, in order to fully exploit the value of FSC-certified wood sources for households participating in the linkage and maintain sustainable forest management in certified areas, in the coming time, Thai Hung Company will support households for areas that have been exploited while waiting for certification.

The unit commits to purchasing wood and firewood from the forest area exploited in the plan at a price higher than the market price and notifying the purchasing points so that households participating in the linkage bring post-exploited raw materials to the purchasing point.

Thai Hung plans to continue expanding the area of certified planted forests through linkages with forest planting households in Phu Luong district, especially households in four communes (Yen Do, Yen Lac, Yen Ninh, and Yen Trach) that do not have FSC certification but meet the criteria.

Regarding the benefits of achieving FSC certification, Mr. Ly Ngoc Vinh, representative of the FSC household team, said that not using pesticides that increases production efficiency and not burning vegetation that limits forest fires and environmental pollution are the great values that planting forests according to FSC certification standards has been bringing to the people of Phu Luong district.

During the construction process, the FSC team determined that it was necessary to respect the traditional rights of local people. Along with that, develop a detailed plan, including protection, fire prevention, and fighting plan, and biodiversity protection and resource and ecosystem services development plan.

With the initial effects that FSC certification brings, Mr. Ly Ngoc Vinh hopes that Phu Luong district will continue to create conditions for household groups to expand the area of certified forests.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Huu, Secretary of the Phu Luong District Party Committee, said that Phu Luong has many strengths in forestry, but the lack of international certification prevents forest products from developing their full potential. Therefore, FSC sustainable forest management is a good development direction for the locality's forest economy, promoting economic development for people.

In the coming time, Thai Hung Forest Products Company needs to coordinate with the district Forest Protection Department, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and communes to promote dissemination work, creating trust and consensus among the people.

"Getting FSC certification is difficult; keeping it is even harder. There are cases where people set fires to collect wild honey and ant eggs, while the FSC certification for sustainable forest management prohibits the burning of forest vegetation. This activity made the forest not meet the criteria for certification. This is very unfortunate, so the district's functional agencies and businesses need to further promote communication about FSC forest certification to people," said Mr. Nguyen Quoc Huu, Secretary of the Phu Luong District Party Committee.