After one year of implementing the reforestation model, 6,700 melaleuca trees have been planted by veterans.

One weekend, I had the opportunity to accompany veteran Le Van Nam, Vice Chairman of the Veterans Association of An Tay Ward, as he weeded and trimmed trees in the melaleuca forest area that the ward's Veterans' Self-Managed Environmental Protection Club had planted and cared for over the past year. "Even though we are elderly, we still want to contribute to environmental protection, create more green spaces in the locality, and perhaps even earn some extra income, so we remind each other to try our best to implement this model," Mr. Nam confided.

According to Mr. Nam, An Tay ward is a semi-mountainous area with many hilly and hilly lands whose potential has not been fully exploited. The majority of local residents live by farming , cultivating crops, planting forests, gardening, and raising livestock. Through the farming process, the amount of agricultural supplies, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal feed has had a significant impact on the environment. Based on this reality, the Executive Committee of the Veterans Association of the ward established a self-managed Veterans Club for Environmental Protection with a reforestation model in May 2024. The club has 13 members, all veterans and former soldiers.

After its establishment, the Veterans' Self-Managed Environmental Protection Club proposed to the People's Committee of An Tay Ward to take over 2.5 hectares of abandoned hilly land to implement a reforestation model. With 10 million VND to buy seedlings, taken from the An Tay Ward Veterans' Association fund, the veterans, with their unwavering spirit, diligently and unitedly worked to transform the land into a lush green forest. After one year of implementing the model, the club has planted 6,700 melaleuca trees with the aim of both developing the economy and protecting the environment. It is estimated that when this 2.5 hectares of forest are ready for harvest, after deducting all expenses, it will yield approximately 150 million VND. This money is expected to be a source of income for the members participating in planting and caring for the forest, and a portion will be allocated to the operating fund of the Ward Veterans' Association to continue maintaining and developing the reforestation model and other models.

Alongside reforestation activities, the An Tay Ward Veterans' Self-Managed Environmental Protection Club also focuses on raising awareness about environmental protection within the community. Mr. Le Quang Thanh, Chairman of the An Tay Ward Veterans' Association, shared that since its establishment, the club has actively promoted and encouraged residents to limit the use of harmful chemicals, avoid using pesticides of unknown origin, and collect and dispose of waste properly. At the same time, members and veteran families proactively renovate their homes, build bathrooms, toilets, livestock pens, and water storage tanks to ensure hygiene; and maintain public hygiene and the surrounding landscape.

"This model has been truly meaningful and effective, creating a major shift in the awareness and sense of responsibility of war veterans, former soldiers, and the people in protecting a bright, green, clean, and beautiful environment and developing the economy, contributing to improving the lives of war veterans," Mr. Le Quang Thanh affirmed.

The An Tay Ward Veterans' Self-Managed Environmental Protection Club continues to promote and encourage its members and residents to develop green living habits, use environmentally friendly products, minimize waste, and conserve resources. Maintaining environmental hygiene is expected to become a cultural norm for each family and residential area. The club also maintains a monthly ward-wide general cleanup and mobilizes the participation of all segments of the population, organizations, and especially young people, to create widespread impact and contribute to building a green, clean, beautiful, and civilized Hue city.

Text and photos: DANG TRINH

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/kinh-te/tu-dat-nau-den-giac-mo-xanh-154015.html