Vietnam draws roadmap for medicinal plants under FSC-certified forests

The Tay Kim Forest Certification Cooperative Union, located in Son Kim 1 commune, has been a pioneer in the "green revolution" to restore and reforest the natural border forests of Ha Tinh province. In 2017, after undergoing restructuring, the Cooperative Union organized numerous training sessions for local residents in the communes of Son Kim 1, Son Linh, and the former Son Hong to raise awareness about the importance of sustainable forest management. Just one year later, hundreds of hectares of acacia forests in the area were awarded FSC certification by the German organization Green Freight Asia.

Over time, the area of FSC-certified forest has steadily increased year by year, laying the foundation for carbon stockpiling and preparing for future market sales, in line with the Vietnamese Government's direction.

Mr. Vo Van Bien, Chairman of the Board and Director of the Tay Kim Forest Certification Cooperative Union, stated that to date, more than 978 hectares out of over 6,000 hectares of the Union’s natural forest area have been officially recognized as FSC carbon forests, with an annual carbon sequestration volume reaching approximately 7,500 tons.

In order to enhance the economic value generated from forest understorey areas, the Cooperative Union aims to expand the FSC-certified carbon forest area by an additional 2,000 hectares by 2026. This includes around 1,500 hectares of FSC-certified planted forests. Moreover, the Union is developing a high-carbon enhancement plan through an enrichment planting project that incorporates valuable native species such as Erythrophleum fordii, Calamus, and Homalomena occulta within natural forests. Specifically, the plan targets the cultivation of 10 hectares of Erythrophleum fordii, 5 hectares of Calamus, and 5 hectares of Homalomena occulta.

Ha Tinh province has actively encouraged the cultivation of medicinal plants under forest canopies in recent years. This strategy has proven to be sound and sustainable, increasing incomes for local communities while helping to prevent soil erosion, conserve water resources, and protect the ecological environment of the region.

“The total cultivated area of Homalomena occulta to date has exceeded 1,200 hectares, primarily concentrated in the communes of Son Kim 1, Son Kim 2, Son Hong, and the former Son Tay. These communes are also home to the largest expanse of FSC-certified natural forests in Ha Tinh province. The practice of cultivating medicinal plants beneath the forest canopy is regarded as a ‘double-benefit’ approach: it promotes healthier growth of forest trees, thereby enhancing forest canopy coverage and increasing carbon storage capacity, while simultaneously raising the income generated per hectare. On average, the revenue from such cultivation ranges between 45 and 50 million Vietnamese Dong per hectare,” shared Mr. Le Ngoc Danh, Head of the Huong Son Forest Protection Department.

Towards the end of 2024, Mr. Nguyen Cong Tuan and his family, residing in Khe Nam village, Son Kim 1 commune, received financial support amounting to 10 million VND per hectare as part of Resolution 51/2021 issued by the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Council, aimed at promoting the development of medicinal plants under natural forest canopies. Thanks to the provision of high-quality seedlings and technical assistance from Bao Lam Co., Ltd., the entire 9 hectares of their natural forest area has been successfully planted with Homalomena occulta.

Mr. Tuan remarked, “The medicinal plants have thrived under the shade of the forest canopy. We have also established a partnership with a private enterprise that has committed to purchasing our products in the coming year. From my initial experience, cultivating medicinal plants under the forest canopy offers multiple advantages, including the optimal use of land without damaging the existing forest ecosystem. In the longer term, this method will contribute to soil conservation, reduce erosion risks, and significantly increase the economic value generated per hectare for local farmers.”

Regarding future directions, Mr. Tran Quoc Hoang, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Son Kim 1 Commune, stated that the local authorities are continuing to encourage residents to expand the cultivation area because Homalomena occulta is easy to grow, requires low investment costs, and is especially well-suited to the natural conditions of the area.

This approach not only helps local people better protect the assigned natural forest areas but also serves as an important solution for conserving valuable genetic resources, developing the medicinal plant sector, preserving forest ecosystems, and enhancing the economic efficiency of forest land use.

$ 1 = VND 25.920 - Source: Vietcombank.