Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by silviculture

Warming of the Earth's climate is the cause of rapid increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, including carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ), methane (CH ₄ ) and nitrogen dioxide (N ₂ O).

Therefore, in addition to intensifying the afforestation of barren hills, it is necessary to limit deforestation and forest degradation as plants absorb CO2 in the growth and development process significantly reducing the concentration of this gas.

Dr. Vu Tan Phuong, Director of the Center for Ecological and Environmental Research - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that reducing greenhouse gas emissions through efforts to limit deforestation and forest degradation in countries developing is an initiative proposed at the 11th Conference (COP11), the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2005. This initiative stems from the practice of deforestation and Forest degradation, accounting for 15-20% of the total greenhouse gas caused by human activities. Vietnam is the first country in the world to take part in this initiative.

According to the Center for Emission Reduction Analysis (MACC) report of the Center for Forestry Ecology Research, deforestation and forest degradation are the sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the forestry sector.

The Center has proposed re-planning land use for afforestation and forest restoration by 2020, to create the potential to absorb about 40.2 million tons of CO2 per year with 9 silviculture options. Options are to plant 500,000 hectares of 10 year rotation acacia forest; planting 500,000 ha of 15 year rotation acacia forest; planting 300,000 ha of 40 year indigenous indigenous trees; planting 150,000 ha of pine forest for 45-50 years; planting 100,000 ha of 12-year rotation Melaleuca forest; planting 200,000 ha of rubber forest on 30-year exhausted forest land; planting 2 million scattered trees for 15 years; enriching 2 million ha of natural production forest for 20 years and sustainably managing 400,000 ha of natural forest, 20-year rotation.

In addition to the benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the recovery and development of forest resources also bring benefits such as water regulation, erosion control, biodiversity conservation, ecotourism development, sustainable supply of forest products, especially timber, contributes to job creation and income generation for people.