New forest restoration programme in Quang Nam started

(QNO) - The “Preservation Carbon Sinks and Biodiversity Conservation Programme” (CarBi) funded by the WWF has recently launched in Ta Lu Commune, Dong Giang District, Quang Nam province.

According to this 2 year-plan, in the forest planting season of 2013, indigenous tree species will be planted over 200 hectares and forest regeneration will be implemented over 430 hectares in priority areas in 20 communes of Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue provinces. Other 250 hectares of indigenous trees will be planted and nearly 3,000 hectares of forest will be regenerated next year.

The planting of indigenous trees is one of the many steps taken by WWF through (its) CarBi project to restore the integrity of unique biodiversity treasure in these two provinces.The Forest Restoration Component of CarBi is a community based forest protection strategy, implemented in partnership with local households who will take responsibility for regenerating the forest on which their livelihoods depend.

Participating in the CarBi programme, households are given quality seedlings and fertilizer, They also receive training in transporting, planting and tending to the seedlings, and earn payment for their work in planting and tending to the forest through savings accounts funded by CarBi, set up at district branches of the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

“The sustainable management, protection, development and use of natural resources is one of the key solutions for the socio-economic development strategy of Quang Nam Province. The Provincial Forest Development Plan of 2015 - 2020 contains a target to ensure 52% of Quang Nam is covered by forest. Therefore, as well as the province's efforts to reach this target, we highly appreciate the contribution of organizations such as WWF. This kind of activity helps to raise awareness among local people about protecting and developing forest in their own areas, as well as providing more income for them,” said Mr. Phan Tuan, Director of Quang Nam Provincial Forest Protection Department.

By NGUYEN KIM BAO