Nowadays, forest protection is no longer solely the responsibility of forest rangers or local authorities but has become a shared duty of the entire community. In Mường Mươn commune (Mường Chà district), local residents have proactively participated in forest patrols and protection activities. Particularly, when PFES payments are made accurately, transparently, and timely, the awareness of forest protection among the people has markedly improved, contributing to an annual increase in forest coverage. Thanks to the effective and innovative approaches by policy implementers and local communities, PFES has proven to be a highly effective policy, fostering stronger bonds between the people and the forests.

Lò Văn Minh, the Head of Mường Mươn 2 hamlet, shared the community’s approach to forest management and protection: “To protect and manage the forests well, we conduct weekly patrols. In some weeks, we organize 2-3 patrols. Our village has established a Forest Management and Protection Team with 11 members. In addition to the responsibility of each member, whenever we need to check the forest, the villagers gather without needing many reminders. We also promote the idea of not cutting down the forest. Thanks to these efforts, we have had no illegal forest encroachment so far.”

When the PFES policy became effective, the community gained additional income from protecting the forest. In some areas, while the payments were not large, they still played an important role in motivating and encouraging the villagers’ commitment to forest protection. A portion of these payments is used to fund the activities of the forest protection teams in the villages, which has further driven the members to take on their duties with greater responsibility.

Giàng Mùa Dếnh, from Huổi Khương hamlet, Vàng Đán commune (Nậm Pồ district), emphasized the effectiveness of the PFES policy: “When we receive PFES payments, the community shares part of the money with the forest protection team, and the rest is distributed among the households in the village. Each year, my family receives about VND 1 million. Although it is not a large amount, it helps cover some of the household expenses. More importantly, we feel that forest protection is meaningful as it not only preserves the ecological environment but also brings additional income.”

The PFES policy has become a strong foundation for forest management and development in the province. Local communities are both the primary protectors and the beneficiaries of this system. As a result, most of the province’s forests are now managed and cared for by local communities. Granting this authority and responsibility has led to greater involvement and deeper connections between the people and forest resources.

According to Đào Công Tiến, Deputy Director of the Mường Nhé Nature Reserve Management Board, the most noticeable effect of the PFES policy is the change in the people’s awareness. “In the past, there were many cases of people entering protected forests to exploit forest products or plant crops. However, since they were given the right to manage and benefit from the forest, this behavior has almost disappeared. Now, people see the forest as an essential part of their lives - a sustainable source of livelihood, not just a place to exploit resources,” said Tiến.

The implementation of PFES has not only helped increase income for local communities but also reinforced their role and responsibility in forest management. As a result, forest coverage in the province has been steadily increasing. Currently, the province has over 429,820 hectares of forest land, with natural forests accounting for about 97.6%, or over 419,539 hectares. The forest coverage rate is 43.54%, reflecting the significant efforts from both the political system and the local population.

Mai Hương, Director of the provincial Forest Protection and Development Fund, stated that since the PFES policy was implemented, the people’s awareness and actions regarding forest management and protection have dramatically improved. The bond between the people and the forest is demonstrated through tangible actions. In addition to protecting the ecological environment, this policy has also helped people improve their incomes and stabilize their lives. This proves the sustainability, effectiveness, and humanity of the PFES policy. Therefore, we can affirm that this is not only an effective natural resource management solution but also a model that links economic development with environmental protection in a sustainable and long-term manner."

Now, every tree and every forest are a worthy result of the collective efforts of local people and authorities in forest management and protection. The consensus, responsibility, and engagement from everyone or community continue to be crucial factors in maximizing the effectiveness of the PFES policy. This also affirms the correctness of implementing the policy in forest management, protection, and improving forest coverage in the province.