VietNamNet Bridge – Forest protection efforts improved last year, with less violations reported than in 2012.

The Steering Committee's report said that 227,000ha of forest were generated in 2013, an increase of 15 per cent compared with 2012.— Photo baophutho

The assessment was made by the State Steering Committee on Forest Protection and Development at a meeting chaired by Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai in Ha Noi on January 13.

The Steering Committee's report said that 227,000ha of forest were generated in 2013, an increase of 15 per cent compared with 2012.

Total export turnover of wood and wood products last year was estimated at over US$5 billion.

The committee also reported a decrease of 7 per cent in cases involving illegal wood processing, transportation and trading with over 14,000 cases uncovered last year.

Despite significant improvements in forest management and protection, illegal logging and trafficking activities were still occurring in many provinces, especially in the north, the report said.

Addressing this year's forest protection plan, the committee proposed measures to exploit, manage, preserve and develop the forestry sector effectively, and to increase the forest area to 41.5 per cent.

"We are determined to protect and develop 13.8 million hectares of forest nationwide. The Prime Minister has recently approved a plan on natural forests, and I've asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the State Steering Committee on Forest Protection and Development to direct related agencies to implement the project," Hai stated.

Source: VNS