Despite many efforts in restructuring the forestry sector, management,efficiency and quality control have still been poor, requiring moredrastic measures to generate practical progress.
In 2013, Vietnam earned an estimated 5.4 billion USD fromexporting wood and wooden products, up 15.24 percent over the previousyear and exceeding the sector’s set target by 25.1 percent.
The surge was seen in major markets including the Republic of Korea(with 45.4 percent), China (30.7 percent), Japan (16.1 percent),and the US (8.6 percent).
However, except forwood, export of other forestry products reduced sharply to 227 millionUSD, equivalent to only 75.7 percent of the target.
Meanwhile, the total wood imports were 1.567 billion USD, a 14.6 percent rise year on year.
By the end of 2013, Vietnam had only 144,000 hectares of forest,including 50,800 hectares of natural areas, with Forest StewardshipCouncil (FSC) management certificates.
During thewhole year, 9,528 hectares of forest in 37 provinces was used for otherpurposes such as mining, hydropower, irrigation, road construction,tourism, industrial parks, agriculture and national security anddefence.
According to Nguyen Ba Ngai, Deputy Head ofthe Vietnam Administration of Forestry, there is a long way for thesector to go to fulfil all of its targets.
He saidthat currently the country has fulfilled only 88 percent of itsforestation goals and the results of some key areas such as theCentral Highlands and Northwestern regions have been particularlylow at 56 percent and 24 percent of the set targets.
Meanwhile, forest quality has been poor with low economic efficiencyand there has been an increase in the deforestation of some preservationareas, he added.
He said practical progress has notbeen seen in forestry restructuring and proposed that it is crucial toenhance forest’ quality and productivity by cultivating high-qualityplant varieties in at least 60 percent of total areas.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development HaCong Tuan said many drastic measures will be applied this year to takeforwards reform of the sector.
The ministry willcontinue reviewing 16.245 million hectares of forest and forestry areasto apply stricter management and make timely adjustments in planning, hesaid.
At the same time, more forests will beassigned to organisations, communities, families and individuals toencourage them engage in the forestry management and investment andreceive more benefits from local forest.
The ministry will also implement better policies for forest environmental service payment, he added.
The Prime Minister has instructed that the exploitation of wood innatural forests will be ceased in 2014, while reforms will be stepped upin the management of forestry products to ensure their origins arelegal. Meanwhile, comprehensive measures will be deployed to boost woodprocessing, generating high-value products.-VNA
In 2013, Vietnam earned an estimated 5.4 billion USD fromexporting wood and wooden products, up 15.24 percent over the previousyear and exceeding the sector’s set target by 25.1 percent.
The surge was seen in major markets including the Republic of Korea(with 45.4 percent), China (30.7 percent), Japan (16.1 percent),and the US (8.6 percent).
However, except forwood, export of other forestry products reduced sharply to 227 millionUSD, equivalent to only 75.7 percent of the target.
Meanwhile, the total wood imports were 1.567 billion USD, a 14.6 percent rise year on year.
By the end of 2013, Vietnam had only 144,000 hectares of forest,including 50,800 hectares of natural areas, with Forest StewardshipCouncil (FSC) management certificates.
During thewhole year, 9,528 hectares of forest in 37 provinces was used for otherpurposes such as mining, hydropower, irrigation, road construction,tourism, industrial parks, agriculture and national security anddefence.
According to Nguyen Ba Ngai, Deputy Head ofthe Vietnam Administration of Forestry, there is a long way for thesector to go to fulfil all of its targets.
He saidthat currently the country has fulfilled only 88 percent of itsforestation goals and the results of some key areas such as theCentral Highlands and Northwestern regions have been particularlylow at 56 percent and 24 percent of the set targets.
Meanwhile, forest quality has been poor with low economic efficiencyand there has been an increase in the deforestation of some preservationareas, he added.
He said practical progress has notbeen seen in forestry restructuring and proposed that it is crucial toenhance forest’ quality and productivity by cultivating high-qualityplant varieties in at least 60 percent of total areas.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development HaCong Tuan said many drastic measures will be applied this year to takeforwards reform of the sector.
The ministry willcontinue reviewing 16.245 million hectares of forest and forestry areasto apply stricter management and make timely adjustments in planning, hesaid.
At the same time, more forests will beassigned to organisations, communities, families and individuals toencourage them engage in the forestry management and investment andreceive more benefits from local forest.
The ministry will also implement better policies for forest environmental service payment, he added.
The Prime Minister has instructed that the exploitation of wood innatural forests will be ceased in 2014, while reforms will be stepped upin the management of forestry products to ensure their origins arelegal. Meanwhile, comprehensive measures will be deployed to boost woodprocessing, generating high-value products.-VNA
