Sustainably developing community livelihoods

The Xuan Loc Protection Forest Management Board (PFMB) is implementing an approved plan to convert selected areas of protection forest into production forest. The initiative aims to enhance the value of forest products, create sustainable livelihoods for local communities and strengthen long-term environmental conservation.

Viet Nam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper interviewed Mr. Nguyen Duy Cong (pictured), Deputy Director of the Xuan Loc Protection Forest Management Board, about the implementation of this initiative and the progress made in forest management, afforestation and forest protection.

Enhancing forest cover, protecting the environment, creating sustainable livelihoods

The Xuan Loc Protective Forest Management Board has recently launched the 2026 tree-planting campaign. Could you share the objectives and afforestation plan for this year?

As in previous years, the campaign is held at the beginning of the rainy season to encourage greater community participation in forest protection and development. Our key objective for 2026 is to replace unsuitable rubber forest areas with native large-timber species to strengthen the protective function of forests, increase forest cover, develop production forests in line with approved planning, and create sustainable livelihoods for local communities. At the same time, we are implementing comprehensive plans for forest management, maintenance, and protection across the entire area under our responsibility.

What tree species has the board selected to improve forest quality, and what technical measures are being applied during planting, maintenance, and management?

Our forest development activities follow the national three-forest classification planning. For production forests, we prioritize high-value commercial species such as Acacia hybrid AH7 and AH1 as the main plantation species. For protection forests, we plant long-lived native hardwood species including Dalbergia cochinchinensis (trac), Dipterocarpus spp. (dau), Hopea odorata (sao den), and Pterocarpus macrocarpus (giang huong). All seedlings are produced at the board's nursery, with verified origins and strict compliance with technical standards.

During planting, we rehabilitate degraded soils and apply intensive silvicultural techniques, including fertilization, planting densities of 625 trees per hectare for protection forests and 2,220 trees per hectare for production forests, regular maintenance, vegetation management, and pest control. Community forestry groups monitor implementation and provide technical guidance to local households to ensure high survival rates and healthy forest growth.

Forest planting and management under FSC standards aim not only to generate economic benefits but also to protect the environment. How do you assess this role?

Forests are the "green lungs" of Xuan Loc. Proper forest establishment and management help retain water, prevent soil erosion, reduce local temperatures, and minimize disaster risks. As climate change leads to longer and harsher dry seasons, expanding both protection and production forests is essential to maintaining ecological balance, protecting the environment, and providing sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Applying FSC standards enables forests to be managed and harvested sustainably while increasing the value of forest products. Households contracted to manage forests comply with regulations, properly maintain plantations, and harvest timber legally and responsibly. This improves economic returns while reducing pressure from illegal logging.

What challenges has the Management Board encountered in carrying out forest planting, management, and protection, and what solutions are needed to achieve the objectives of the forest reclassification plan?

The primary challenge relates to legacy forest protection contracts. Before the forest reclassification plan converting protection forests to production forests was officially approved, the Management Board had allocated forest land to local households under the Government's Decree No. 01/CP, dated January 4, 1995. Following the reclassification, these contracts must now be revised to align with the legal framework governing production forests.

In addition, some contracted households have refused to cooperate with the contract adjustment process, insisting instead on being granted land use right certificates for the forest land under the Management Board's jurisdiction. This has created significant obstacles to implementing the Management Board's responsibilities as well as the forest reclassification plan.

Most of the remaining protection forest areas outside the reclassification zone share similar natural conditions, socio-economic characteristics, and land-use patterns with those included in the conversion project. As a result, households managing protection forests outside the project area have expressed concerns about unequal treatment compared to those within the reclassified areas. Furthermore, increasingly prolonged and severe dry seasons have directly affected tree growth, requiring greater efforts in forest maintenance and wildfire prevention.

To address these challenges, the Management Board has intensified public awareness campaigns and provided technical guidance on forest planting and maintenance, strengthened its forest protection force, and enhanced coordination with local authorities and community forestry groups to conduct regular monitoring, patrols, and timely enforcement against forest violations. Agroforestry models have also been introduced to improve the incomes of contracted households while promoting sustainable forest management and generating broader socio-economic benefits for local communities. Through these integrated measures, the Management Board seeks to safeguard local livelihoods, protect the rights and interests of contracted households, and preserve the "green lungs" of the Xuan Loc region.

Legal basis and objectives of forest reclassification

Could you elaborate on the legal basis for the conversion of protection forests to production forests, and the area covered by the reclassification?

The forest reclassification is carried out in accordance with Article 7 of Decree No. 156/2018/ND-CP. The assessment is based on criteria including topography, rainfall, soil texture, and soil depth. Forest areas that no longer meet the criteria for protection forests are reclassified as production forests in order to optimize resource use, improve management efficiency, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for local communities.

The initial reclassification covers a total of 661 hectares, including 435 hectares in the Tran Tao Forest Subdivision, with the remaining area located in the Gia Phu Forest Subdivision. Public consultations have been conducted in these areas, and the majority of local residents have expressed their support for the initiative, expecting it to enable lawful timber harvesting, promote economic development, and generate more stable sources of income.

In your view, what advantages will the conversion to production forests bring, and will it affect the forests' environmental protection functions?

Reclassifying protection forests as production forests will facilitate more effective forest management, investment, sustainable harvesting, and regeneration. It will allow local people to legally harvest large-diameter timber in accordance with regulations while developing enrichment planting models featuring high-value tree species. Production forests are also more conducive to the application of technical management standards, including appropriate stand density, regular silvicultural treatments, and planned regeneration, thereby supporting their long-term sustainability.

Importantly, the forests' environmental functions will continue to be maintained. The reclassification will not reduce overall forest cover, and priority will continue to be given to planting tree species that enhance soil conservation, water retention, and ecological protection. As a result, the forests are expected to generate greater economic value while continuing to safeguard the environment.

What measures will the Management Board adopt to develop production forests while ensuring environmental protection?

We will implement the transition in accordance with forest management regulations while applying a range of technical measures, including restoring degraded land, enriching forests with large-timber tree species, promoting agroforestry models, and providing ongoing technical guidance and supervision for contracted households. Our objective is to improve economic returns while maintaining biodiversity, protecting the environment, and ensuring the sustainable development of forest resources.

What benefits will the forest reclassification bring to contracted households and the local community?

The reclassification will enable contracted households to legally harvest timber in compliance with regulations and adopt high-quality production forest models. It will also shorten production cycles, increase household incomes, create employment opportunities, and encourage long-term stewardship of forest resources.

At the same time, the initiative is expected to strengthen the local forestry economy, improve community livelihoods, and preserve the region's "green lungs" for future generations.

What message would you like to convey to contracted households and the wider community regarding the forest reclassification?

The conversion of protection forests to production forests is fully consistent with existing laws and forest management regulations. Accordingly, contracted households are responsible for complying with the terms of their contracts and all applicable legal provisions. They must not transfer, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of contracted forest land, nor engage in any activities that violate the law.

We hope that every contracted household and member of the community understands that every tree planted today is an investment in the future. Protecting and caring for forests is a shared responsibility that helps secure livelihoods, conserve soil and water resources, and create a healthy, sustainable environment for future generations.

Thank you very much for your time!