According to the Kon Tum Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund, in 2012, the Fund collected 163,797 million VND in forest environmental services and paid forest owners 68,635 million VND/285,278.65 hectares of forest providing forest environmental services (equivalent to 240,588 VND/ha). By 2021, the total forest environmental services revenue had increased to 329,105 million VND, paying forest owners 307,626 million VND/378,272.93 hectares of forest providing forest environmental services (equivalent to 813,238 VND/ha).
Thus, after more than 10 years of implementing the policy of payment for forest environmental services in Kon Tum province, the area of protected forests in the province has increased. People participating in forest management and protection are paid more forest environmental services each year than the previous year, creating a great motivation to continue protecting the forest. Up to now, the whole Kon Tum province has 3,333 forest owners who are households, individuals and 128 village communities participating in forest management and protection.
Contracted to manage and protect 134 hectares of forest from Dak To Forestry One Member Co., Ltd. for the period of 2021 - 2025, 43 households in Dak Tong village community, Ngoc Tu commune, Dak To district agreed to divide into groups to patrol and clear fire-break lines, and prevent forest fires for the contracted forest area.
Mr. A Doanh - Head of Dak Tong village said that the groups will go 2-3 times/month, the number of trips will be more in the dry season because of favorable weather and that is the time when forest fires or forest encroachment are likely to occur. People participating in forest management and protection receive corresponding forest environmental service fees according to the village's regulations, so they are very responsible in forest management and protection. In recent years, the village no longer has the situation of deforestation for farming like before.
“In 2022, Dak Tong village received 80 million VND in forest protection and development funds. From this money, the work of forest protection and development was improved, the village had funds to organize community activities, repair electricity in the village, pay electricity bills, and support poor households to borrow capital to do business. Thanks to that, the villagers are more connected to each other, and are united in protecting the forest better,” said Mr. A Doanh.
Similarly, the community of 260 households in Dak K.Long village, Dak H.ring commune was assigned by the State to manage and protect 162.63 hectares of forest providing forest environmental services. Mr. AY - Deputy Head of Dak K.Long village said that in 2022, Dak K.Long village received 152 million VND in forest environmental services. In addition to spending on forest patrol and inspection, Dak K.Long village has allocated a part to create a fund to support loans for people to develop livestock and agricultural models.
“Now people do not need to contribute money to the village fund but still have funds to organize festivals, ceremonies, and community activities, so everyone is excited. The village also propagates that people do not clear forests for farming or exploit wood. Anyone who has a farm near the forest must monitor and check regularly. If they discover or suspect that someone is destroying the forest, they must immediately report it to the village and commune for timely prevention,” Mr. AY shared.
Talking about the effectiveness of the policy on payment for forest environmental services, Mr. Phan Van Hoc - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Dak H,ring commune affirmed: "The policy on payment for forest environmental services has helped the management and protection of forests in the area to be better and better. The loan fund from the forest environmental services money is the premise for a number of livelihood development models to be implemented and initially brought about effectiveness such as the model of raising goats, cows, and striped pigs in Kon Proh Tu Ria village. The income and life of the people have clearly improved".
Obviously, thanks to the benefits from the forest, people's awareness of forest protection has been raised day by day, the protected forest area is increasing. Mr. Ho Thanh Hoang - Director of the Kon Tum Provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund said that to have good results in forest protection as today, a large part comes from the villages, communities, and people joining hands and wholeheartedly participating in forest protection; the source of money for forest environmental services has become a stable source of income, creating motivation for people to protect the forest.
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