In October 2024, the Management Board of the Forest Protection and Development Fund of the province conducted a review of the management and use of FES funds for 2021-2023 by forest owners, specifically the community forest owners in Nậm Pồ and Mường Ảng districts. Through monitoring, the staff identified several issues, such as: Some communities had not yet established regulations or management plans for using FES funds; some records in the FES payment ledgers of several communities were incomplete or improperly recorded; and the management of the FES funds across multiple ledgers was not standardized, with some villages lacking receipts or complete documentation for their FES expenditure.

Pointing out these shortcomings in the management and use of FES funds, the province’s Forest Protection and Development Fund proposed solutions and promptly supported the forest owners in rectifying these issues.

Trần Xuân Tâm, Deputy Director of the Forest Protection and Development Fund of the province, said: “Each year, the Fund establishes plans and organizes inspection teams to monitor the management and use of FES funds by forest owners across the province. Based on the inspections, we identify areas for improvement and provide support to the forest owners to complete the necessary documentation, ensuring that the management and use of FES funds are in line with regulations and achieve the intended results.”

Over the past 13 years (2012-2025) of implementing FES, the Forest Protection and Development Fund of the province has carried out inspections and monitoring on the management and use of FES funds. The inspection focuses on areas such as the organization of the management and use of FES funds by community forest owners, the accuracy of FES payment records, patrol logs, and protection activities for the forest areas supplying FES.

The inspections have shown that the management and use of FES funds by forest owners generally comply with regulations. FES funds from the commune-level People’s Committees are allocated to the correct beneficiaries for forest protection and development, covering activities such as forest patrols, communication efforts, workshops, the purchase of equipment, and the installation of FES signage.

For community forests, the FES funds are used for collective purposes that enhance the livelihood of the people, with unanimous agreement from the community. Funds are mainly spent on forest patrols and protection, as well as on community welfare projects such as rural road construction, repairing and purchasing furniture for community centers, and other public works. The community organizes meetings to agree on how the funds are used, with meeting minutes and widespread agreement from families in the village. This expenditure is duly recorded in the FES payment ledger.

Trần Xuân Tâm further mentioned: “In addition to focusing on monitoring and supervising the management and use of FES funds by forest owners, the Fund also organizes annual inspections and monitoring in other areas. In 2024 alone, the Fund conducted two inspections of FES implementation in several communes in Mường Nhé and Mường Chà districts; seven inspections related to reforestation efforts; and assessments of the forest areas supplying FES in districts including Tủa Chùa, Mường Chà, Mường Nhé, Điện Biên Đông, and Điện Biên. These monitoring efforts have ensured that FES implementation in the province is effective, transparent, and compliant with regulations.”

FES payments to forest owners have become a relatively stable source of income, with the potential for growth year by year. Therefore, in the coming years, the Fund will continue regular inspections and strengthen training and guidance efforts to ensure the proper management and use of FES funds, maximizing their effectiveness. Proper management and use of FES funds will contribute significantly to improving the livelihoods of those involved in forest protection and supporting sustainable forest management.