The forest coverage rate of Thai Nguyen province currently reaches 61.6%

Forest economy - A green pillar in the new development space

After the merger, Thai Nguyen province possesses a large forest area, with over 557,500 hectares of natural and planted forests, creating a vast ecological space rich in potential. In socio-economic development, the province identifies the forest economy as one of the important pillars of green growth, while strongly shifting from resource exploitation to sustainable resource development. Forests not only provide timber, forest products and medicinal herbs but also bring values regarding the environment, landscape, biodiversity and eco-tourism.

Developing the forest economy associated with the forestry value chain, wood processing industry, building forest product brands and participating in the carbon credit market is opening up a new direction for the rural economy, contributing to increasing income for people in mountainous areas, sustainable poverty reduction and promoting circular economy development.

The afforestation movement develops strongly throughout the province

In recent years, many forest economic development models have been proving effective and are being replicated. One of the typical models is forest development achieving FSC sustainable forest management certification. By 2025, Thai Nguyen province had over 22,600 hectares of forest achieving FSC certification, with thousands of households participating in sustainable forest management. This is an important result, helping to increase the value of plantation timber, expand export markets and create a foundation for participating in the carbon credit market in the future.

In Don Lien hamlet, Nghia Ta commune, 100% of households have planted forests. Previously, people mainly sold acacia and pine wood to traders, but prices were unstable. When the FSC project was implemented, households were systematically trained in forestry techniques, biodiversity protection, forest fire prevention, labor safety, not using toxic pesticides and not burning vegetation, raising awareness of forest management and protection among the people.

To achieve that result, the Branch of Ke Go Co., Ltd. is one of the typical enterprises implementing the strategy of linking production with forest resource protection. The Company specializes in producing disposable wooden products such as spoons, forks, knives and napkins at Thanh Binh Industrial Park for export to Europe, Australia and North America. From 2024, the Company cooperated with local authorities and the Forestry Research Institute to implement the Project on Establishing FSC-certified forests in northern communes of the province (now Nghia Ta and Yen Phong communes). By October 2025, more than 4,200 hectares of forests with nearly 1,750 forest owners in Nghia Ta and Yen Phong communes were granted FSC Sustainable Forest Management Certificates with a validity of 5 years. Mr. Ha Van Tim, Head of Um Don hamlet, a long-time forest planter in Yen Phong, shared: "Participating in the FSC Project, besides selling products at higher prices, we also learned how to manage forests methodically, trees grow better, soil is not degraded and the environment will become better and better".

Along with that, the multi-value forestry model is being implemented in many localities. Instead of just exploiting timber, forest owners have combined planting large timber trees, developing non-timber forest products such as medicinal herbs, wild honey and mushrooms; simultaneously exploiting landscape values to develop eco-tourism. This model not only increases income but also contributes to conserving biodiversity and preserving natural landscapes.

In addition, the province also encourages developing the forest economy associated with deep processing, forming a value chain from afforestation - exploitation - processing - consumption. This is an important direction to increase the added value of forestry products, create jobs and promote rural industry.

Enterprises also actively respond to the forest development movement, creating a green environment. (In the photo: Nui Phao Mining Co., Ltd participating in planting and caring for trees)

Protecting forests, maintaining "Green Lungs"

Along with forest economy development, forest management and protection are always identified by Thai Nguyen province as a key task. Special-use forests, protection forests and production forests have sustainable forest management plans developed, strengthening control over forest product exploitation, forest fire prevention and fighting and biodiversity conservation. In addition, the province promotes the application of science, technology and digital transformation in forestry, from monitoring forest developments and forest fire warnings to building forest resource databases, aiming for modern and effective natural resource governance.

Along with that, propaganda and mobilization of the people to participate in forest protection are also focused on. Grassroots mass groups for forest protection, forest ranger forces, grassroots authorities and people coordinate to patrol, monitor and handle violations, contributing to maintaining the "green lungs".

According to statistics, by the end of 2025, the forest coverage rate of Thai Nguyen province reached 61.6%, ranking among the highest in the country; this is the result of persistent efforts in afforestation and natural resource protection work.

Officials and Party members of Phu Luong commune participate in responding to the New Year Tree Planting Festival in 2026

In the spring atmosphere spreading over every mountain slope, forests in Thai Nguyen seem to put on a new coat. Each green tree planted is a seed of hope "sown", each forest preserved is an ecological shield contributing to environmental protection for today and tomorrow.

From the New Year Tree Planting Festival movement at the beginning of Spring following Uncle Ho's teachings to the forest economy development strategy, it is increasingly becoming a key content in the province's development orientation. Spring returns to the forests carrying the fragrance of heaven and earth and belief in a green future. In the new development journey, Thai Nguyen is step by step realizing the green growth goal, in which forests are not only "green lungs" but also an ecological pillar aiming for sustainable economic development.