More than 1.4 billion trees have been planted under the One Billion Trees Project.

After 5 years of implementing the One Billion Tree Planting Project, the whole country has planted 1.4 billion trees, making an important contribution to global climate change response efforts.

On December 5, in Da Nang City, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held a conference to review the implementation of the Project to plant one billion trees in the period 2021 - 2025.

The conference was attended by representatives of the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; Ministry of Construction , Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; Department of Agriculture and Environment, Forest Protection Departments of provinces and cities; international organizations, non-governmental organizations, national parks, experts and scientists.

Far beyond the Project's objectives

Implementing Decision 524/QD-TTg dated April 1, 2021 of the Prime Minister on the Project "Planting one billion trees in the period of 2021-2025", ministries, localities and the whole society have proactively and actively implemented it over the past 5 years. Immediately after the Project was approved, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) held a conference to deploy, issue an implementation plan and guide localities to review land funds for planting protective forests, special-use forests, production forests and urban-rural trees. This is the foundation for building annual forest planting programs and projects and for the entire period of 2021-2025.

Mr. Trieu Van Luc, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) spoke at the Conference. Photo: Tam Anh.

Every year, the movement “Tet tree planting to forever remember Uncle Ho” is maintained and promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment through many directives, and at the same time advises the Prime Minister to issue documents to strengthen forest protection and development. Based on the Ministry’s direction, localities issue specific plans and widely deploy them to the entire population.

Many provinces, cities and ministries have good models and creative ways of doing things; socio-political organizations, businesses, international organizations and people actively participate, creating a vibrant and widespread tree planting movement. Thanks to that, after 5 years, the whole country has planted more than 1.439 billion trees, exceeding the Project's target by 43.9%. Of which, there are 573.9 million scattered trees (87.5 million urban trees; 486.4 million rural trees) and 865.2 million trees in concentrated forests, equivalent to 429,125 hectares of forest (36,745 hectares of protective and special-use forests; 392,380 hectares of production forests).

Conference to review the implementation of the Project to plant one billion trees in the period 2021 - 2025. Photo: Tam Anh.

Many localities achieved outstanding results such as Phu Tho (177.9 million trees), Lao Cai (108.8 million trees), An Giang (98.5 million trees), Lang Son (96.3 million trees), Lam Dong (80.6 million trees), Tay Ninh (67.8 million trees), Quang Ngai (67.2 million trees), Gia Lai (65.7 million trees), Nghe An (54.2 million trees) and Da Nang (53.5 million trees).

In addition to native and rare trees in special-use forests, many localities choose to plant woody and perennial trees to increase the ability to protect watersheds, prevent erosion, prevent desertification and protect the ecological environment. Urban trees are added to streets, parks, flower gardens, office premises, schools, hospitals, factories, industrial parks, religious establishments and residential areas, contributing to improving the landscape, improving the quality of life and building new rural areas.

Contribute to the implementation of international commitments on climate

International organizations have recognized Vietnam's tree planting achievements as an important contribution to climate change response and nature restoration. Mr. Hoang Xuan Huy, Director of External Relations of WWF Vietnam, said that WWF has recorded many inspirational stories in the process of accompanying Vietnam. From mountainous localities overcoming difficulties to expand protective forests to coastal areas persistently planting mangrove forests to prevent erosion; from schools and businesses greening their campuses to people voluntarily participating in the tree planting movement. According to Mr. Hoang Xuan Huy, the One Billion Tree Planting Program is not only a government policy but has become a widespread social movement, demonstrating the consensus of many classes at home and abroad.

Planting large timber forests in Hoa Vang commune, Da Nang city. Photo: Lan Anh.

“WWF considers Vietnam’s One Billion Trees Program to be a very important contribution to global efforts on climate and environment. In the world, very few countries can implement a large-scale tree planting program and achieve outstanding results like Vietnam,” Mr. Huy emphasized.

At the conference, Mr. Trieu Van Luc, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, affirmed that the tree planting movement has become a traditional cultural beauty, contributing to maintaining a stable forest coverage rate of about 42%. The forestry sector plays an increasingly important role in socio-economic development and environmental protection, especially in the context of complex climate change and increasing extreme natural disasters.

Over the past 5 years, the whole country has actively implemented tree planting and afforestation programs. Photo: Lan Anh.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection suggested that localities continue to promote propaganda, maintain the tree planting movement following Uncle Ho's teachings, and encourage the community to participate in forest protection and development. The focus in the coming time is to plant large timber forests and high-value native trees to improve the quality of planted forests, increase carbon absorption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

According to reports from ministries, branches and localities, the total capital to implement the Project in the 2021-2025 period is 15,291 billion VND, of which: state budget capital is 3,174.5 billion VND (accounting for 20.8%), ODA capital is 350.3 billion VND (accounting for 2.3%), other capital sources are 4,755.1 billion VND (accounting for 31.1%). Particularly, capital mobilized from socialization is more than 7,011.1 billion VND (accounting for 45.9%). This is a very positive result, demonstrating the interest and response of the whole society to tree planting and afforestation.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/hon-14-ty-cay-da-duoc-trong-trong-de-an-trong-mot-ty-cay-xanh-d787965.html