Enhancing responsibility in forest development

On June 5th, at Prey Chop B Hamlet, Lai Hoa Commune, Vinh Chau Town, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang, in collaboration with the Town People's Committee and the Vietnam Disaster Prevention Community Fund, launched a forest planting campaign in response to World Environment Day and the One Billion Trees Project for the period 2021-2025.

Mr. Tran Trong Khiem, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang, stated that Vietnam is one of the 12 biodiversity centres and one of the 16 countries with the highest biodiversity globally, possessing precious and rare genetic resources.

However, our country is facing biodiversity degradation along with major challenges such as environmental pollution, water resource degradation, soil erosion, ocean plastic waste, and the severe impacts of climate change.

Specifically, in Lai Hoa Commune, Vinh Chau Town, the effects of climate change have severely eroded many areas of protective forests, directly impacting the sea dyke system. This situation demands that each individual raise their awareness and responsibility towards forest development and tree planting, ensuring a harmonious relationship between humans and nature.

Mr. Khiem urged provincial departments and localities to propagate and create a strong shift in the mindset and awareness of all officials, civil servants, and the public towards a sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature. He called for a vigorous promotion of the nationwide movement to participate in the One Billion Trees Project. Planting trees and forests to protect and restore mangroves; increasing conservation rates, linked with developing ecological economy and sustainable livelihoods for people

With nearly 50 km of coastline, in addition to increasing the income for coastal residents through the exploitation of natural aquatic resources under the forest canopy, the protective forest belt in Vinh Chau Town is considered a crucial "barrier" supporting the locality in disaster prevention and control. It helps shield and mitigate the direct impacts of sea waves and storms on the dyke body, protecting the lives and production of thousands of coastal households.

To date, the Vietnam Disaster Prevention Community Fund has supported over VND 36 billion, accompanying Soc Trang province in implementing numerous practical projects that contribute to mitigating the impacts of natural disasters.

In response to the One Billion Trees Project for the 2021-2025 period, the Fund has mobilized sponsorship from the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) to support Soc Trang province in planting 32,500 white mangrove trees, equivalent to VND 2 billion.