Forest patching season

Authorities and forces support people of Na Hy commune to receive support seedlings.

Seize the "golden time"

In late August, we had a business trip to the border district of Nam Po. This is also the peak of the rainy season. The continuous rains over the past several weeks have created favorable conditions for the highland people to start planting forests. That is also the reason why, wherever we go, we see people carrying seedlings and fertilizers up the trails to the fields.

At the bare hill located next to the community forest that the people of Huoi Hoi village, Na Hy commune have contracted, Mr. Sung Seo Xa and his wife are hoeing and cultivating the newly planted lim trees. This entire area used to be the family's upland land that had been exploited for many years and was infertile. Previously, he and many households in the village were only familiar with clearing the forest for farming. However, in recent years, thanks to the propaganda from cadres, people have understood the value of forests for their lives. The local government has also created conditions for people to have a secure source of livelihood. Because of that, the awareness of planting forests has been kindled and the demand is increasing day by day.

Just stopping his hoe and wiping the sweat from his forehead, Mr. Xa confided: “When the commune encouraged me to plant trees in the degraded fields to reclaim the forest, I registered. However, due to limited funds, I could not buy seedlings to plant. The last time the cadres let me register to receive free seedlings, I was very excited and told my wife to dig a hole. As soon as I received the trees, I planted them right away.”

During this seedling support, Mr. Xa's family received 485 trees including: Lat, cinnamon, doi, and lim. During this time, because the trees were newly planted, he regularly checked each tree to grasp the situation and promptly handled any trees that were tilted, fell, or had their roots dug up by livestock. Because it was the rainy season, the water source was guaranteed, so all of Mr. Xa's family's plants have now taken root and grown well.

Not only in Huoi Hoi, August is also the peak time for tree planting for people in 9/9 villages of Na Hy commune. After each rain, households take advantage of the opportunity to transport fertilizers and seedlings up the hill. The atmosphere of forest planting here is bustling. Even, to conveniently monitor, care for, and ensure the stable growth of newly planted trees, many households sleep right in their huts during this time.

Not leaving people alone, the tree felling process received technical support from professional staff. In some areas, the commune government mobilized forces to "roll up their sleeves" with the households.

Mr. Nguyen Phu Thiet, Chairman of Na Hy Commune People's Committee said: "Since July, it has been raining frequently in the area, so we have directed the specialized departments and the people to take advantage of the golden time to speed up the forest planting progress, ensuring that the trees are strong and grow well before entering the dry season. In particular, in August, the commune continuously received support for seedlings. Everyone is excited, creating a bustling working atmosphere in the whole commune."

People of Nam Nhu commune receive fertilizer support for forest planting. *Photo: Thanh Dat*

Community together

Living in the middle of the surrounding mountains and forests, for a very long time, many people in Nam Po only knew how to silently go into the forest to exploit forest products to make a living. The trees fell down in exchange for fields with only enough rice to live on. Even each year, in many houses, people only had two seasons of fullness and hunger. The old forests rich in resources on the border were therefore gradually thinning out, replaced by patches of bare hills "rampant" overlapping each other.

Forests are destroyed, so almost every year in the district there is crop failure due to drought. Natural disasters, flash floods, landslides are always waiting, threatening the lives of people. Along with the drastic policies in forest protection and development of the Party and State, in recent years, Nam Po district has promoted propaganda and mobilization about the benefits of planting forestry trees and medicinal plants with high economic value.

According to statistics, from the end of 2021 to now, Nam Po district has newly planted over 70 hectares of trees with high economic value such as: Cinnamon, macadamia, doi... Thereby, increasing the total forest planting area to more than 330 hectares.

And now, the people of Nam Po also realize that if they want to have a prosperous and stable life, they must preserve and develop the forest capital well. From destroying the forest, they have now become the ones who "patch the forest" and make efforts to protect the forest. Many households with conditions buy seedlings to plant themselves. District and commune professional agencies direct cadres to join in. Especially, social activities, calling for the cooperation of charitable organizations to support seedlings for the people. At the same time, there is a policy of prioritizing and encouraging people to plant forest trees in the fields that have been abandoned for many years.

Consecutively in July and August, through the connection of the District People's Committee, people in Na Hy and Cha To communes received 360,000 seedlings from the support program of the Hanoi - Dien Bien Green Heart Group. Mainly focusing on trees with high economic value, such as: Doi, pine, lim, lat hoa, sa moc, sua do, cinnamon... According to local leaders, all the supported seedlings were based on the review and consultation of the district's professional agencies, to ensure suitability, compliance with planning and bring high economic value to the people.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Dai, Vice Chairman of Nam Po District People's Committee said: "After receiving the seedlings, the communes will guide and support people to plant them in vacant land and old, degraded fields. The total estimated area is about 316 hectares. To ensure the survival rate of the trees, technical staff will guide people to plant and care for them. Currently, the charity group also commits to continue to donate seedlings, with the goal of accompanying the locality in the journey to restore the green color to the forest. Therefore, we will promote the models supported this year to continue to expand throughout the district."

Leaving Nam Po in the late afternoon, the jungle rain poured down again. The slippery roads like grease added to the challenges and difficulties of the highland area. However, looking at the excited faces of the people, we had more faith that the rain would help the newly planted trees take root soon. Looking towards the border, we were secretly happy to think of the day when the once "rough" bare hills would soon be covered with a lush green color...

Source