Govt sets to increase coverage of forest nationwide

VIENTIANE,01.26.2012 (KPL)- Government intends to increase coverage of forest nationwide by 65 per cent in 2015 and 70 per cent in 2020, by focusing on the allocation of existing natural forests to ensure the sustainable forests, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Tee Phommachack. The plan was highlighted at Nationwide Meeting on Forestry Management, Inspection and Business yesterday, under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad. Mr Somsavat who is also in-charge of national economic work said we should play all efforts to make the growth of agriculture sector to be achieved by 3.4 %, contributing to the economic growth increase by 8 % yearly. This is thanks to the forestry sector is a significance, the natural resources is identified as a element of structure of national economy, agriculture and forestry, industry and service sectors. Recently, protected trees have still illegally fallen widely, which was complained by society and foreigners. This was badly affected to the role of state on forestry management, Mr Somsavat continued. This meeting aimed at evaluating the real conditions of forestry management, inspection and business to be in correct and finding shortcoming in order to make forest changing to positive. Dr Tee said that government will resume degenerated forests on 5.85 million ha, of which 600,000 ha is producing forests, 3.5 million ha of protected forests, 1.1 million ha of conservation forests and other forest. The abundance of forest areas has continuously reduced 14 per cent per year on average, now it remains about 9.55 million ha or 40.34 per cent of forest coverage nationwide, according to survey coverage of forest in 2010.