Gia Lai sees ineffective afforestation

ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

27 August 2022 | 08:05:00 AM

The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai grew around 31,000 hectares of forests between 2017 and 2021, but the success rate has remained quite low.

Krong Pa District tops Gia Lai in terms of forested area with around 7,400 hectares of natural forests. During the 2018 and 2021 period, the district planted 470 hectares of forests based on support from the government and some other sources. However, of the figure, only 65 hectares, or 20 percent have survived.

Gia Lai grew around 31,000 hectares of forests between 2017 and 2021, but the success rate has remained quite low.

In 2018, the district spent VND330 million (USD14,224) to plant nearly 145 hectares of Acacia. But, 92 hectares died.

In 2019, the district continued investing VND400 million in growing 105 hectares of Acacia and Eucalyptus, however, 76 hectares have died already.

The same situation has been reported in Chu Puh District where the success rate of growing 327 hectares of forest from 2017 to 2021 is less than 50 percent.

Phu Thien District and Ayun Pa Town face the same problem.

Vu Duc Dan, head of Ia Rsai Protective Forest’s management board, said that trees are planted alternatively with crops, so during the crop harvesting, they were also damaged.

Local authorities still lack attractive enough policies to encourage afforestation. The hot weather and the arid soil in Krong Pa District is also not suitable for Acacia.