LaiChau (VNS/VNA) - Thousands of hectares of forests in northernmountainous regions are being better managed and protected thanks toa new environmental services policy.

Pham Danh Tuyen, deputy head of Tam Duong district's Forest ProtectionManagement Board in Lai Chau province, said payments for forest environmentservices had made positive impacts on people's lives, both economically andenvironmentally.

It had helped improve people's lives and raise awarenessabout protecting the forests, he said.

Lai Chau province has more than 470,000ha of forests that were allocatedto State agencies, local individuals and households to look after in 2012.

From 2012 to the end of 2019, the provincial forest protection and developmentfund has paid 2.19 trillion VND (94.7 million USD) to subsidise efforts toprotect the forests.

In 2019 alone, 542 billion VND was paid to 78,754 households assigned totake care of the forests.

The average income of households that took part in the project increased from 2million VND in 2012 to 6.5 million VND in 2019.

Tam Duong district has more than 68,400ha of forest.

Last year, households and individuals earned 52.5 billion VND from theProtection Forest Management Board for protecting nearly 40,000ha of forest.

The forest environmental services policy had attracted a large number ofworkers to protect the forest, said Sung A Cua, a forest ranger from theMong ethnic minority group.

Working as an administrator in Ta Leng commune, Cua often visits localresidents to raise awareness about forest prevention and the need to cutvegetation to avoid forest fires.

He also shows people how to register to plant trees in order to improvetheir incomes.

In the past, forest protection and fire prevention faced many difficulties dueto limited public awareness.

Deforestation for cultivation and illegal logging were still a problem, Cuasaid.

People in Ta Leng commune are observing regulations on forestprotection now thanks to the forest protection fund, he said.

"This could be the driving force for locals to protect the forests andprevent forest fires," said Cua.

Over the past three years, Ta Leng commune has not recorded any forest firesor illegal deforestation, increasing the coverage ratio by more than66 percent.

In addition to helping people change their habits, the policy has alsocontributed to improving the lives of ethnic minority groups, creatingjobs and higher incomes.

Afforestation also helps people earn more money and raises a senseof responsibility about forest protection.

Giàng A Tung from the Mong ethnic minority group is from one of thefamilies in Phin Ngan Xin Chai village that have been plantingtrees to cover bare land and hills.

In 2015, he was offered 1,600 tao meo seedlings (alsoknown as son tra (Docynia indica), a kind of apple).

After five years of cultivating 1,4ha, he is hoping to harvest 300kgof tao meo this season, which he will be able to sellfor 6,000-10,000 VND per kg.

“In the past I mainly planted maize but was economically efficient. Now táomèo provides an income for my family. It's not a lot butit helps to reduce the economic burden,” said Tung.

Deforestation, forest fires and violations of the forest protection law haddecreased since the forest environmental services policy was implemented in LaiChau province in 2012, according to a provincial report.

In 2011, the number of violations hit 257 cases. In 2019, 172 cases weredetected.

Thishad contributed to increasing the forest coverage ratio in theprovince from 41.6 percent in 2011 to 50.16 percent in 2019, improving theecological environment, the report said.

According to Nguyen Ba Viet, deputy director of Lai Chau province's ForestProtection and Development Fund, the policy had helped local agencies atall levels and residents raise awareness about the significance and importanceof forest protection and development.

Villages that were assigned to protect the forests had set up teams toregularly inspect them and issue protection regulations.

Themanagement of fund for forest environmental services was being strictlyimplemented and transparent, Viet said./.