The season for "repairing" the forest.

Authorities and support forces are assisting people in Na Hy commune in receiving donated saplings.

Take advantage of the "golden time"

In late August, we had a business trip to the border district of Nậm Pồ. This was also the peak of the rainy season. The continuous rains over the past few weeks had created favorable conditions for the highlanders to begin their reforestation efforts. That's why everywhere we went, we saw people carrying seedlings and fertilizer up the mountain trails to their fields.

On the barren hillside adjacent to the community forest that the people of Huoi Hoi village, Na Hy commune, have leased, Mr. Sung Seo Xa and his wife are tilling the soil and tending to newly planted teak trees. The entire area was previously family farmland that had been exploited for many years and was now barren. Before, he and many other households in the village were only familiar with clearing forests for farming. However, in recent years, thanks to the efforts of local officials in raising awareness, the villagers have come to understand the value of forests to their lives. The local government has also created conditions to ensure a secure livelihood for the people. As a result, the awareness of reforestation has begun to grow, and the demand is steadily increasing.

Stopping his hoeing and wiping the sweat from his forehead, Mr. Xa confided, "When the commune encouraged us to plant trees in the barren fields to reclaim the forest, I registered. However, due to limited funds, I couldn't afford to buy seedlings. Recently, the officials allowed me to register to receive free seedlings, and I was very excited. I told my wife to dig the holes in advance. As soon as I received the seedlings, I planted them right away."

During this tree seedling support program, Mr. Xa's family received 485 saplings, including teak, cinnamon, mahogany, and ironwood. Since the trees were recently planted, he regularly inspected each one to monitor their condition and promptly address any leaning, fallen, or damaged by livestock. Because it was the rainy season and water was readily available, all of Mr. Xa's trees have now taken root and are thriving.

Not only in Huoi Hoi, but August is also the peak time for planting trees for people in all 9 villages of Na Hy commune. After each rain, households take advantage of the opportunity to transport fertilizer and seedlings up the hills. The atmosphere of reforestation here is bustling. In fact, to facilitate monitoring and caring for the newly planted trees and ensure their stable growth, many households sleep right in their huts in the fields during this time.

To ensure that the people are not left alone, the tree felling process receives technical support from professional staff. In some areas, the commune government mobilizes forces to "roll up their sleeves" and work alongside the households.

Mr. Nguyen Phu Thiet, Chairman of the People's Committee of Na Hy commune, said: "Since July, the area has experienced frequent rain, so we have directed specialized departments and local people to take advantage of this crucial time to accelerate the reforestation process, ensuring that the trees are strong and develop well before the dry season. Especially in August, the commune continuously received support in the form of seedlings. Everyone is enthusiastic, creating a bustling atmosphere of labor throughout the commune."

Residents of Nam Nhu commune receive fertilizer as part of their reforestation efforts. *Photo: Thanh Dat*

Community working together

Living amidst the surrounding mountains and forests, for a very long time, many people in Nam Po spent their lives silently exploiting forest resources to make a living. They felled trees to exchange for small plots of land barely enough to provide enough rice to survive. In fact, year after year, in many households, people were trapped in a cycle of two seasons: plenty and scarcity. As a result, the rich, old-growth forests on the border gradually thinned, replaced by jagged, barren hillsides.

Due to deforestation, the district experiences crop failures almost every year because of drought. Natural disasters, flash floods, and landslides threaten the lives of the local people every season. Along with the decisive policies of the Party and the State in forest protection and development, in recent years, Nam Po district has intensified its efforts to promote and encourage the planting of high-value forestry and medicinal plants.

According to statistics, from the end of 2021 to the present, Nam Po district has planted over 70 hectares of high-economic-value trees such as cinnamon, macadamia, and teak... This brings the total planted forest area to over 330 hectares.

And now, the people of Nam Po realize that to have a prosperous and stable life, they must preserve and develop the forest resources well. From destroying the forest, they have now become people who "repair the forest" and strive to protect it. Many households with the means buy seedlings themselves to plant. The specialized agencies of the district and communes direct officials to participate. Especially, there is a social mobilization effort, calling for the joint efforts of charitable organizations to support the people with seedlings. At the same time, there is a policy of prioritizing and encouraging people to plant forest trees in areas of abandoned fields that have been left fallow for many years.

For two consecutive months, July and August, through the coordination of the District People's Committee, residents of Na Hy and Cha To communes received 360,000 saplings from the support program of the Hanoi - Dien Bien Green Heart Group. The focus was primarily on high-economic-value tree species such as: Dipterocarpus, pine, ironwood, Dalbergia tonkinensis, cypress, red sandalwood, cinnamon, etc. According to local leaders, all the saplings were provided based on the review and recommendations of the district's specialized agencies, ensuring suitability, adherence to planning, and high economic value for the people.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Dai, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Po District, said: “After receiving the seedlings, the communes will guide and support the people in planting them in vacant land and barren, old fields. The total area is estimated at about 316 hectares. To ensure a high survival rate, technical staff will guide the people in planting and caring for the trees. Currently, the charity group has also committed to continuing to donate seedlings, with the goal of accompanying the locality in the journey to restore the greenness of the forest. Therefore, we will promote the models supported this year to continue to expand them throughout the district.”

Leaving Nam Po as dusk fell, a torrential downpour began. The slippery roads, like grease, added to the challenges and difficulties of this highland region. However, seeing the joyful faces of the locals gave us renewed hope; the rain would help the newly planted trees take root quickly. Looking towards the border, we secretly rejoiced at the thought that the once barren, rugged hills would soon be covered in lush green…

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