“Tree planting and forest restoration”: Spreading impact and effectiveness

With the leadership and direction of provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee, Binh Duong province has basically achieved the set targets for planting green trees, significantly contributing to the successful implementation of the urban green tree project in the province and the nationwide “Planting 1 Billion Trees for the 2021-2025 Period” initiative.

Joining hands to plant trees

According to provincial Forest Management Department, in recent years, environmental pollution and natural disasters have occurred more frequently, with increasingly severe damage. Many provinces and cities nationwide have faced extreme heat, drought and water shortages. One of the main causes is deforestation, reduction of green coverage and ecological imbalance. Therefore, tree planting, forest restoration and forest protection have become urgent and long-term strategic tasks for Vietnam in general and Binh Duong province in particular.

Over the past five years, the province issued 56 directives and guidance documents such as the official dispatch implementing the “Planting 1 Billion Trees for the 2021-2025 Period” and the approval of the urban green tree project in the province to promote scattered tree planting...Notably, every year, provincial Party Committee launches the campaign “For a Green Binh Duong” to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday (May 19). This campaign calls on organizations, individuals and communities from provincial to grassroots levels to join in greening localities. Moreover, Party committees, authorities the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations raise awareness, responsibility and effectively implement the goals, tasks and solutions outlined in the urban green tree project.

Mass organizations such as provincial Youth Union actively promoted the purpose, significance and importance of tree planting to local branches and associations. Annually, they launch campaigns, namely “Green Sunday” and “Responding to the World Cleanup Campaign” which included practical activities like cleaning residential areas, collecting and handling waste, planting trees and launching environmental protection propaganda teams. They also carried out models such as “Giving a New Coat to Old Walls” and “Turning Waste Spots into Flower Gardens”…with the participation of over one million Youth Union members.

Contributing to sustainable development

Over the past five years, Binh Duong planted approximately 2,597,000 trees of various kinds, helping increase forest and perennial tree coverage in the province to 57.5%. Provincial Forest Management Department supplied nearly 72,000 forestry seedlings; districts, cities, units and residents planted around 754,000 trees; Becamex IDC planted and supported organizations and individuals to plant about 1,771,000 trees.

Ho Truc Thanh, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that based on issued decisions and plans, agencies, sectors, mass organizations, units, localities, armed forces, enterprises and people with high spirit and responsibility have successfully implemented the “Planting 1 Billion Trees for the 2021-2025 Period” and the urban green tree project in the province. This has contributed to building up a green, clean and beautiful ecological environment; mitigating climate change impacts; reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the living environment for people. It is also an important part of the plan to build Binh Duong into a smart city.

In the coming time, provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue implementing the urban green tree project in the province. It will also advise on organizing the annual tree-planting campaign of “Tet Planting Trees – Forever Remembering Uncle Ho” and scattered tree planting activities to promote education on the purpose and significance of tree planting and forest restoration. This aims at raising awareness among all-level authorities, sectors and communities about the role and benefits of trees and forests; the importance of forest protection linked with socio-economic development, environmental protection, disaster mitigation, climate change adaptation and improving people’s living environments to contribute to sustainable development. Additionally, the department will strengthen management, protection and care of previously planted scattered trees, advise on assigning organizations, associations, quarters and individuals responsible for managing, protecting and annually reporting on the trees.

 Reported by Thoai Phuong-Translated by Kim Tin