Restoring Native Forests: Replacing Acacia with Michelia, Cinnamon Trees in Thuong Xuan, Thanh Hoa Province

Over the past 20 years, not only in Thanh Hoa Province but also in most forested provinces across Vietnam, short-rotation acacia plantations have been widely promoted as a livelihood solution for forest-dependent communities. Acacia trees can be harvested after just five years. Although timber prices are relatively low, farmers can earn approximately VND 60–80 million per hectare of forest land, providing a relatively quick source of income.

However, a field survey conducted by the project team of the “Strengthening Community Resilience to Disaster Risks and Climate Change in Thuong Xuan District, Thanh Hoa Province” project, supported by Bread for the World (BftW), revealed several concerns.

The survey was conducted in three project communes: Xuan Thang, Xuan Loc, and Luan Thanh (now reorganized into Thang Loc and Luan Thanh Communes).

The findings indicate that although acacia provides relatively quick economic returns, its cultivation and short harvesting cycles have contributed to the loss of natural forest cover, leaving land exposed and increasing the risk of soil erosion and landslides during the rainy and flood seasons.

In recent years, natural disasters have become increasingly severe, with floods and droughts occurring with greater intensity and frequency.

Local farmers have also observed that acacia monoculture plantations are increasingly affected by pests and diseases, resulting in higher tree mortality and lower productivity. Consequently, the income generated after a five-year growing cycle is often modest, with farmers earning little beyond the value of their own labor.

The BftW project team has worked closely with the local authorities of Thang Loc and Luan Thanh Communes, village leaders, and local communities, predominantly ethnic Thai and Muong people. Together, they have agreed on the need to gradually replace acacia plantations with native tree species.

To date, the project has supported the distribution of nearly 100,000 native tree seedlings, mainly Michelia trees and cinnamon trees, which have been planted across 121 hectares through interplanting in existing acacia plantations and planting on barren land.

Several households in Thang Loc Commune have successfully adopted this approach. For example, Ms. Luc Thi Hoa’s household in Chieng Village has interplanted native trees on two hectares of acacia plantation, while Ms. Vi Thi Chien’s household in Xem Dot Village has planted one hectare of native Michelia trees.

Although native tree species require a longer growing period, they offer substantially higher potential economic returns.

For example, one hectare of Doi trees, managed and harvested sustainably after 15–20 years, is estimated to produce approximately 250–300 cubic meters of timber. At an estimated price of VND 4 million per cubic meter, farmers could generate gross revenue of approximately VND 1–1.2 billion per hectare.

In comparison, four consecutive acacia growing cycles over 20 years would generate approximately VND 240–320 million per hectare.

The project will provide technical guidance to local communities on sustainable harvesting and management of native tree plantations. This includes harvesting Doi fruits for their valuable seeds, selectively harvesting trees from 20–30% of the total plantation area at a time, and replanting harvested areas to maintain continuous forest cover.

Through this approach, forest land will remain covered with native tree species, contributing to long-term ecological sustainability while providing a continuous source of income for local households.

Beyond the economic value of timber, native forests can provide additional long-term benefits through carbon sequestration. Their capacity to absorb and store atmospheric carbon dioxide may create opportunities for generating forest carbon credits, potentially providing an additional source of income for forest-dependent households.

Forests are not only a source of livelihood for today’s communities; they are also a green legacy for future generations, ensuring a more sustainable future for both people and nature.

Nguyen Viet Nghi