Dak Lak (VNA) ⛦– The Central Highlands provinces plan to plant 71,101 hectares of forests besides protecting over 2.25 million hectares of natural forests by 2020, according to the Standing Board of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands Region.
The plantations include 5,500 hectares of special use forest, 7,350 hectares of protection forest and 47,500 hectares of production forest.
In addition to maintaining forest land without using it for other purposes, except projects related to national security and defence, the regional localities will revoke forest areas housing projects that break regulations on forest development and give strict punishments to any violations.
Regarding forest land swapped for other purposes, the provinces need to keep close watch on the reforesting progress.
Furthermore, afforestation has been made in over 73,000 hectares of land, increasing the forest coverage to 49.8 percent.
The Steering Committee noted the low progress of forest plantation in the localities, with 48,543 hectares of forest grown during 2011-2015, accounting for 4.4 percent of the nation’s forest areas.
Regional fertile soil is suitable for farmers to plant other high-value industrial trees, making forest plantation less competitive than other long-term trees like coffee and pepper. On the other hand, forest growing is also less attractive to farmers due to natural calamities, forest fires and pets and diseases.
The Central Highlands has a total land area of 54,261 square kilometres. The region holds a key strategic position in the national economy, politics, security and defence. Forest protection and development in the region is significant to water resources, ecological environment and socio-economic development of south central and southeastern coastal provinces.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that the total area of forest and land zoned for forestry in the region stood at nearly 3.4 million hectares. The area of forest land decreased 180,000 hectares compared to 2010.
From 2010 and 2014, regional forest reserves dropped from 327.5 million cubic metres in 2010 to 270.5 million cubic metres in 2015.
In 2015, competent agencies uncovered 6,034 cases of violations of regulations on forest protection and development, up 463 cases against the figure recorded in 2014.-VNA
The Prime Minister has approved a project to expand coastal forest coverage, to 19.5 percent by 2020 from the current rate of 16.9 percent, in an effort to respond to climate change.
The island district of Phu Quy in the central province of Binh Thuan has raised its forest coverage rate to 45 percent with a total area of 800 hectares.
Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) recently said it plans to plant 12,859 hectares of forest to compensate for losses in coverage from the building of 18 hydropower plants nationwide.
The central province of Thua Thien- Hue will spend 2 billion VND (91,000 USD) planting 4.6 hectares of mangrove forest with 10,000 varieties in Ru Xa forest in response to climate change.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
