Of thebeneficiaries, 98 percent are of minority ethnic groups in 45 villages in sevencommunes of the districts of Muong Khuong, Bao Thang, Bao Ha, Si Ma Cai, Sa Pa,Bat Xat, Van Ban and Bao Yen.
This wasreported by Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture andRural Development To Manh Tien during a conference reviewing the outcomes ofthe programme in Lao Cai on January 11.
Over thepast five years, product value of Bao Yen forestry company in Bao Yen districthas increased by 10-15 percent thanks to the UN-REDD’s support in ForestStewardship Council certification.
Bao Hapersimmon output in Bao Yen district also rose by 10-15 percent each year thanksto technical support in orchard upgrade and food safety and hygienecertification.
Togetherwith Bac Can, Ha Tinh, Binh Thuan, Lam Dong and Ca Mau, Lao Cai has createdjobs and raised income of hundreds of local households, as well as reduced therisk of forest loss and degradation via the pilot programme.
Firms wereconnected together in providing technical instruction on growing and marketingmedicinal herbs for local residents, thus helping meet the goal of biodiversitypreservation via livelihood development.
Nearly 200haof forests were grown along the Lao Cai – Hanoi highway in Bao Yen and Van Bandistricts.
Manyhouseholds in Bao Yen district’s Bao Ha, Cam Con and Kim Son communes, and VanBan district’s Tan An and Tan Thuong communes were encouraged to plant 1,800haof forest.
Besides,another 360ha of protective forests were planted in Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai, BaoThang and Sa Pa districts.
Funded bythe UN Environment Programme, the UN Development Programme and the UN Food andAgriculture Organisation, the programme also contributed to the forestryrestructuring scheme and the annual forest development plan of thelocality.-VNA