Raising awareness of tree planting after '1 billion trees in Vietnam'

(Chinhphu.vn) - Vietnam's 1 billion trees program is a very important contribution to global efforts to respond to climate change and restore nature.

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

Today (December 5), the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held a conference to summarize the implementation of the Project to plant one billion trees in the period of 2021-2025. Implementing Decision 524/QD-TTg dated April 1, 2021 of the Prime Minister, over the past 5 years, ministries, localities, organizations and individuals across the country have actively implemented tree planting and afforestation programs, creating a widespread movement.

Immediately after the Project was approved, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) organized a conference to deploy, issue plans and guiding documents as a basis for localities to develop and implement annual and periodical tree planting plans. Many provinces, cities and ministries have developed innovative approaches, strongly mobilizing the participation of socio-political organizations, businesses, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and people.

After 5 years of implementation, the whole country has planted over 1.439 billion trees, exceeding the set target by 43.9%. Of which, scattered trees reached 573.9 million (including 87.5 million urban trees and 486.4 million rural trees). Trees planted in concentrated forests reached 865.2 million trees, equivalent to 429,125 hectares of forest, of which 36,745 hectares are protective and special-use forests and 392,380 hectares are production forests.

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 planting native and rare trees in special-use forests, many localities have chosen to plant woody and perennial trees in protective forests to effectively protect the soil, retain water, prevent desertification and improve the ecological environment. Production forests are covered with large trees, fruit trees and multi-purpose forest products. The urban green tree system continues to be expanded in streets, parks, flower gardens and many public works, schools, industrial parks, etc., contributing to creating landscapes, improving the environment and serving people's lives.

Mr. Hoang Xuan Huy, Director of External Relations of WWF in Vietnam, highly appreciated Vietnam's contributions - Photo: VGP/Do Huong

Assessing Vietnam's results, Mr. Hoang Xuan Huy, Director of External Relations of WWF in Vietnam, affirmed: "From the perspective of a global conservation organization, WWF considers Vietnam's 1 Billion Trees Program to be a very important contribution to global efforts to respond to climate change and restore nature... In the world, not many countries can implement a large-scale tree planting program and achieve outstanding results like Vietnam."

Mr. Huy also shared: "Throughout the process of accompanying Vietnam, WWF has had the opportunity to witness many inspirational stories... this is no longer simply a Government Program, but a movement with great consensus from all subjects, components, and classes, both at home and abroad, towards the future and for the future."

At the conference, Mr. Trieu Van Luc, Deputy Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, commented that the tree planting movement has become a traditional cultural beauty, contributing to maintaining a stable forest cover rate of about 42% and affirming the increasingly important role of the forestry sector in socio-economic development, especially in the context of complex climate change.

To continue developing sustainable forests, Mr. Luc suggested that localities strengthen propaganda and maintain the movement "Tet tree planting to forever remember Uncle Ho"; call on organizations and individuals to join hands in planting forests and trees, prioritizing native trees and large timber trees to increase the value of planted forests, protect the ecological environment and contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Do Huong

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/nang-cao-y-thuc-trong-cay-xanh-sau-1-ty-cay-xanh-viet-nam-102251205091343236.htm