Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development cooperates with forest planting enterprises in Bac Kan, Nghe An, Ca Mau

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development cooperated with Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam to organize the Closing Ceremony of the program "Water Conservation - For a Green Vietnam" (WATER OF LIFE) - afforestation towards water conservation, carbon absorption and livelihood improvement.

The event was attended by Mr. Pham Hong Luong - Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, leaders of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Company, leaders of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee, Vietnam Forestry Science Institute (VAFS) and representatives of specialized institutes, forest owners and local people.

Climate change is having a serious impact on water resources in Vietnam. Deforestation, especially in watersheds, weakens the natural water storage capacity, leading to prolonged droughts, soil erosion and major impacts on agricultural production and people's lives.

According to the General Statistics Office, in 2023 alone, 1,722.3 hectares of forest were damaged, mainly due to forest fires and extreme weather conditions, which exacerbated the risk of water resource depletion. Public-private partnerships are key to promoting the joint efforts of the whole society to develop sustainable forests and respond to the impacts of climate change.

Mr. Pham Hong Luong (far left) - Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and representatives of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam presented a clean water project to a school in Ky Son district, Nghe An .

In July 2024, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam signed a public-private partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the program "Conserving Water Resources - For a Green Vietnam" aims at the multi-objective of conserving water resources, absorbing carbon and improving community livelihoods. Immediately after the signing ceremony, the program was quickly deployed in 3 regions across the country, focusing on upstream forest areas in provinces severely affected by climate change: Bac Kan, Nghe An, and Ca Mau.

Methodically designed, the program gradually implements survey activities, measures and evaluates water and carbon databases, selects and cultivates native tree varieties, and implements new planting and enrichment of 35 hectares of forest in 2024, increasing the total forest area planted by Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam from 2021 to nearly 200 hectares nationwide.

In addition to the positive impact on the environment, the model was built to connect with the community and improve people's livelihoods. More than 100 households have participated in the sustainable forest development model nationwide, both restoring the ecosystem and creating stable income, and changing awareness about the value of forests, thereby caring for, protecting and joining hands to promote the sustainability of the program.

Hundreds of local people and forest owners have been trained in forest management and care techniques, and awareness has been raised about the role of forests in climate change response, sustainable development and natural resource management. Forest protection commitments lasting 20 years have been signed between forest owners and local authorities, ensuring sustainable management and long-term conservation.

With the goal of increasing access to clean water for the community, at the closing ceremony, a representative of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam presented a water purifier to the Department of Education and Training of Ky Son district, Nghe An province.

The closing ceremony was held in Ky Son district, Nghe An province - one of three localities selected to implement the program "Water resource conservation - for a green Vietnam", a locality that has experienced serious deforestation and faced negative impacts of climate change with frequent flash floods and landslides.

The model creates meaningful changes not only for the environment, but also in people's awareness, fostering awareness of forest protection, and is the foundation for replicating the model nationwide, accompanying the Government in realizing its commitments on sustainable development.

Mr. Pham Hong Luong - Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry, emphasized : "The cooperative forest planting model between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam has brought about encouraging initial results in promoting the multi-use value of forests. The model has been quickly implemented, not only contributing to protecting water resources and absorbing carbon but also supporting the improvement of livelihoods for local communities. Today's closing ceremony not only recognizes the positive results from the initial stage but also emphasizes the importance of coordination between the public and private sectors in promoting and realizing sustainable forestry development goals".

Ms. Ngo Nu Huyen Trang - Director of External Relations, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, shared: "In 30 years of accompanying Vietnam, Suntory PepsiCo has always been a pioneer in promoting sustainable development to address environmental and social challenges in line with the core value of "Development for Good". With a sustainable development strategy focusing on 6 pillars, we are proud to be the first company to cooperate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in sustainable forest development, aiming at water resource conservation, carbon neutrality and livelihood improvement. The results achieved from this model not only mark an important initial step but also create a foundation for replication in the future, bringing long-term positive values ​​both in terms of the environment and positive impacts on the community and society".

Source: https://danviet.vn/bo-nnptnt-phoi-hop-voi-doanh-nghiep-trong-rung-o-bac-kan-nghe-an-ca-mau-2024121210210365.htm