Unlocking carbon credit potential: [2] Story of Pu Hu forest

Carbon credits enhance livelihoods and reinforce forest protection

Bài liên quan

Unlocking carbon credit potential: [1] Toward a green economy

In the 2023–2025 period, more than 26,000 ha of natural forest under the Pu Hu Nature Reserve Management Board have benefited from the emission reduction payment program, with total funding reaching nearly VND 12 billion.

According to Mr. Dam Huy Dong, Deputy Director of the Pu Hu Nature Reserve, the Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) in the North Central region has contributed to raising public awareness about the importance of forest protection and sustainable forest development. The program has also boosted cooperation among local governments, resident communities, and stakeholders, creating closer linkages in forest management and development.

Through training courses, workshops, and technology transfer, the Reserve’s staff have gained new knowledge and skills, helping improve work efficiency and adaptability. This human resource also supports the development of a modern, professional management model, contributing to an overall enhancement of forest protection and development capacity. Effective implementation of silvicultural measures has fostered forest growth and improved forest quality.

The ERPA implementation has also helped enhance local people’s livelihoods. Village communities receive funding to build and repair rural roads, cultural houses, and various infrastructure facilities for production and daily life, contributing to the development of modern and civilized new rural areas. Community awareness and responsibility in forest protection have been strengthened, helping to reduce violations and damage to the forest resources under their management.

Additionally, the ERPA policy has created a stable financial source, enabling the Reserve to carry out forest protection and development activities in a more synchronized and efficient manner. Thereby reducing pressure on the state budget and ensuring forest security in the area.

When local people benefit from the forest, pressure on natural forests is significantly reduced. Violations such as deforestation, encroachment on forest land, and forest fires are minimized. In recent times, forest management, protection, and development works have shown positive progress.

However, according to Mr. Dong, livelihood support activities carried out by forest-owning organizations are implemented in accordance with Point c, Clause 2, Section III, Appendix I of Decree 107/2022/ND-CP. As a result, the identification of essential support items for communities remains limited and does not fully meet actual needs.

A typical example is Sai village, Thien Phu commune. In 2023, a cultural house was constructed but only included the community house and perimeter wall. In 2024, using funds from carbon credit sales, the village paved 600 m² of yard. By 2025, 200 m² of corrugated iron roofing had been installed, and an outdoor stage was added. However, essential items such as tables, chairs, and equipment inside the cultural house are not covered under Decree 107, so despite multiple proposals from Sai village, these items were not approved.

Mr. Vi Van Toan, a prestigious person in Sai village, shared that for many years, residents have been self-conscious in forest protection according to the village’s customary regulations. Thanks to stable livelihoods from bamboo growing, the community has reduced pressure on natural forests and self-monitored, so the natural forest has remained unharmed for many years.

Long-term mechanisms needed for effective emission reduction

Mr. Dam Huy Dong suggested that, when summarizing the ERPA pilot in six North Central provinces, the program should be expanded to ensure stable funding for silvicultural measures, such as nurturing production forests and enriching special-use forests within ecological restoration zones. Without funding for care in subsequent years, enriched forests risk becoming wasted and ineffective. Therefore, long-term policies are needed to develop sustainable carbon-emission reduction models, alongside technical and technological support and the establishment of a national database on emissions and carbon credits.

Lo village in Thien Phu commune has 2,228 ha of natural forest, of which 1,600 ha have been eligible to sell carbon credits since 2023. Over the past three years, the village has received VND 50 million, which has been spent on community projects, including a welcome gate and concrete roads. A portion of the funds has also been used to support forest patrol teams and to purchase patrol equipment.

Lo village currently has four patrol teams with 22 members, operating under clear assignment regulations. With stable livelihoods and well-organized patrol forces, illegal logging has been prevented, natural forests are protected, and forest security remains stable.

Mr. Ngan Quang Hanh, Village Head and Party Secretary of Lo Village, shared, "The summit of Pha Buoc Mountain is nearly a three-hour walk from Lo village, with steep, rocky terrain. Patrol teams usually set out early in the morning and return by late afternoon, carrying packed rice, sticky rice, and field rations. The entire village is determined to protect the forest, so the forest has remained stable, with no illegal logging detected."

In 2025, Pho Moi village in Nam Tien commune received VND 50 million from carbon credit sales. This year, the entire town agreed to purchase chicken breeds to distribute equally among households, creating long-term livelihoods. The Pu Hu Nature Reserve Management Board provided 1,042 H'mong chickens to 80 families in the village. The chickens were 20 days old and vaccinated with all three required vaccines.

According to Ms. Le Thi Hien in Pho Moi village, although this is our first time raising H’Mong chickens, I have years of experience in chicken farming, so the flock is growing well without disease outbreaks. The coop is disinfected weekly with lime powder; any sick heads must be isolated, and flu is prevented with specialized medicines.

Mr. Le Quang Sau, Deputy Head of the Pu Hu Forest Protection Station, has been assigned to the Pu Hu Forest Protection Station since 1988. He shared that, after nearly 40 years, local residents now have greater awareness of forest protection and practice self-monitoring in their villages. In the past, when livelihoods were unstable, forest rangers frequently conducted raids to prevent deforestation. But once people had stable livelihoods and benefited from the forest, they voluntarily joined rangers to protect it.

Mr. Ha Minh Duc (71 years old), in zone 6 of Hoi Xuan commune, has been managing 20 ha of natural forest for 35 years. Before the forest protection contract and carbon credit sales policies were issued, he protected the forest purely out of love and because his life was intertwined with it. Since 2007, following receipt of a forest protection contract, he has conducted weekly patrols. More than 20 ha of virgin forest he safeguards still contain many Canarium, Excentrodendron hsienmu, and Dalbergia Oliveri trees with diameters of nearly 2 m.

Over the past three years, Mr. Duc has received more than VND 3 million/year from carbon credit sales. Although the amount is modest, it motivates forest guardians like him to continue living in harmony with the forest.

* $1 = VND 26,142 (Source: Vietcombank)