Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is to plant 2.4 million ha of new forest by 2005 and protect the current forested area of nearly 11 million ha.
The plans involve the planting of 300 million trees annually, supplying 700,000 tonnes of pulp and 300,000m3 of plywood.
The ministry estimates wood export turnover will reach US$500m by 2005, with 9.3 million m3 of timber sold. These figures are expected to increase to US$1bn and 17.5 million m3 by 2010.
Plans also call for more than two million households to become involved in forest-related industries, with six million jobs created.
