Minh Thanh Commune is home to more than 2,000 hectares of forests, including 750 hectares of protective and special-use species, while the rest are production forests. In 2020, Minh Thanh is the first commune in Son Duong District to realise its set forestation plan with 81 hectares of forests planted, reaching 107% of its set target.

Mr. Ma Xuan Ha taking care of his acacia forest in Cau Hamlet, Minh Thanh Commune, Son Duong District.

Among the 1,498 households in the commune, about 1,300 have planted forests, mostly concentrated in the hamlets of Co, Cau, Quang Thanh and Dong Don. By the end of 2019, the annual average income of the Minh Thanh people reached VND28.5 million per person. The rate of poor households now stands at 14%, with 215 households.

Minh Thanh Commune’s Cau Hamlet has 90 households, of which 60 among have gained annual income of over VND100 million from their forests. The hamlet is striving to meet forest development requirements under FSC standards to increase people’s incomes.

At present, the commune’s government is boosting communication and mobilising local people to make the most of the locale’s potential and advantages for economic forestry development and improving the quality of life for the locals.