Nghe An residents to receive payments for forest-based greenhouse gas emission reductions

According to Decision No. 1366/QD-UBND dated May 14, the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has approved the list of beneficiaries eligible for revenue from the Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) in the North Central region for the year 2025.

Specifically, the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has approved 38,008 beneficiaries who are forest owners, including households, individuals, and local communities residing in 15 communes of Anh Son district; 12 communes of Con Cuong district; 2 communes of Dien Chau district; 1 commune of Do Luong district; 18 communes of Ky Son district; 15 communes of Nghia Dan district; 12 communes of Que Phong district; 12 communes of Quy Chau district; 19 communes of Quy Hop district; 4 communes of Quynh Luu district; 18 communes of Tan Ky district; 1 commune in Hoang Mai town; 9 communes of Thanh Chuong district; 17 communes of Tuong Duong district; 10 communes of Yen Thanh district; and 7 communes and wards in Thai Hoa town.

In addition, the decision recognizes 40 forest-owning organizations as ERPA beneficiaries. These organizations are responsible for managing more than 500,000 hectares of forest area. Moreover, 178 communes that the State has assigned to manage over 73,000 hectares of natural forest are also included in the beneficiary list.

The Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to direct the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund to formulate a financial plan for 2025 based on the approved list of beneficiaries and regulations.

The Nghe An Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund will coordinate with relevant agencies and units to inspect the management, utilization, and implementation of activities carried out by ERPA beneficiaries in compliance with regulations.

Furthermore, within their assigned functions and responsibilities, the Department of Agriculture and Environment, Department of Finance, the Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund, and relevant units and local governments shall inspect and guide forest owners that are organizations, commune-level People's Committees, and other State-assigned organizations responsible for forest management, for whom the ERPA fund utilization plan for 2024 has been approved by competent authorities. Subsequently, the final financial settlement for 2024 shall be submitted to the competent authorities for approval, based on the verified list of beneficiaries and the corresponding forest areas eligible for payment.