After one year of implementing the forest planting model, 6,700 cajuput trees have been planted by veterans.

One weekend, I had the opportunity to follow veteran Le Van Nam, Vice Chairman of the Veterans Association of An Tay Ward, to cut grass and trim tree branches in the cajuput forest area that the ward's self-managed Veterans Environmental Protection Club (CWC) has planted and cared for over the past year. "Although we are old, we still want to contribute to environmental protection, create more green areas in the locality and have some additional income, so we remind each other to try to implement this model," Mr. Nam confided.

According to Mr. Nam, An Tay ward is a semi-mountainous area, where there are many areas of hilly land that have not been fully exploited. Most of the local people live on agriculture , growing crops, planting forests, gardening, and raising livestock. Through the cultivation process of the people, the amount of agricultural materials, fertilizers in cultivation, medicine, animal feed, etc. has had a significant impact on the environment. From that reality, the Executive Committee of the Ward Veterans Association established a Self-Managed Veterans Environmental Protection Club with a forestation model in May 2024. The club has 13 members who are veterans and former soldiers.

After its establishment, the Self-Managed Veterans' Club for Environmental Protection proposed to the Ward People's Committee to allow it to take over 2.5 hectares of abandoned hilly land to implement a forest planting model. With a capital of 10 million VND to buy seedlings taken from the fund of the An Tay Ward Veterans' Association, Uncle Ho's soldiers with the spirit of not being afraid of difficulties and hardships worked diligently and unitedly, gradually turning the land into a lush green forest. After a year of implementing the model, the Club has planted 6,700 cajuput trees with the aim of both developing the economy and protecting the environment. It is estimated that when this 2.5 hectares of forest is harvested, after deducting all expenses, it will earn about 150 million VND. This amount is expected to be the source of income for members participating in planting and caring for the forest, and at the same time, a part will be taken into the operating fund of the Ward Veterans' Association to continue maintaining and developing the forest planting model and other models.

Along with forest planting activities, the propaganda work on environmental protection in the community is also focused on by the An Tay Ward Self-Managed Environmental Protection Veterans Club. Mr. Le Quang Thanh, Chairman of the An Tay Ward Self-Managed Environmental Protection Veterans Club, shared that since its establishment, the Self-Managed Environmental Protection Veterans Club has actively promoted and mobilized people to limit the use of toxic chemicals, not to use pesticides of unknown origin, and to collect and dispose of garbage in the right place. At the same time, members and families of veterans have proactively renovated their houses, built bathrooms, toilets, barns, and water tanks to ensure hygiene; maintained public hygiene and the surrounding landscape.

“This model has been truly meaningful and effective, creating a great change in awareness and sense of responsibility among CCB members, former soldiers and people in protecting a bright - green - clean - beautiful environment and developing the economy, contributing to improving the lives of CCB members,” Mr. Le Quang Thanh affirmed.

The An Tay Ward Self-Managed Veterans' Club for Environmental Protection continues to promote and mobilize members and residents to form green living habits, use environmentally friendly products, reduce waste, and save resources. Environmental sanitation is expected to become a cultural lifestyle of each family and residential group. The club also maintains a general cleaning of the entire ward once a month and mobilizes the participation of all classes of people, organizations, especially young people, to create a widespread influence and join hands to build a green, clean, beautiful, and civilized Hue city.

Article and photos: DANG TRINH

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