World Wide Fund for Nature in Viet Nam
Ha Noi, Vietnam
Ha Noi Capital, 7th January 2022
Media Release
WWF Vietnam contributes to promoting the government’s program of planting 1 billion trees for a green Vietnam.
In response to the Prime Minister's "For a green Vietnam" program to plant 1 billion trees, The International Organization for the Conservation of Nature in Vietnam (WWF Vietnam) has taken a number of initiatives and initially put into practice high-value afforestation projects to restore natural ecosystems, bare land, etc.
In January 2021, Vietnam and more than 80 countries around the world adopted the Commitment of Leaders on Nature and the One Billion Tree Program is one of the first plans of Vietnam immediately after signing the Commitment. WWF-Vietnam has been selected as a strategic partner to support the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to implement this program.
According to Dr. Van Ngoc Thinh, WWF-Vietnam Country Director, the implementation of this initiative will not only contribute to the reduction of degradation but also the restoration of Vietnam's biodiversity, moreover value in mobilising and connecting all sectors of society, including individuals, businesses, organisations and communities in this social movement.
“For us, this is a program of afforestation for every Vietnamese person, in which sustainable thinking and living habits will be formed, maintained and become the foundation for Vietnam’s sustainable development,” said Dr. Van Ngoc Thinh.
Each citizen join hands to implement the project of planting 1 billion trees in the period of 2021-2025.
(Illustration image: MC)
In the strategy of connecting and expanding biodiversity corridors, buffer zones and protected areas, it is expected that by 2025, WWF Vietnam will directly support the implementation of planting, restoration activities and management of 280,000 ha of forests in priority areas of WWF Vietnam. This area includes 250,000 ha of natural forests in biodiversity corridors, buffer zones of protected places, watershed forests and 30,000 ha of large timber plantations towards sustainable forest management. These will be WWF Vietnam's direct contributions to the One Billion Trees Program, in addition to fundraising initiatives, environmental education communication and networking of social organisations. WWF Vietnam's afforestation program will prioritise the central provinces and the Mekong Delta.
In the Central region, the afforestation program is concentrated in 3 provinces: Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, and Quang Nam,, with the total number of trees expected to be planted by 2025 is more than 30 million trees, of which focus on new forest plantation to trade big timbers and plant native trees in poor forest areas. For large business acacia timber forests, WWF focuses on supporting people in sustainable forest management towards FSC Forest Certification.
WWF-Vietnam and Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee shake hands to sign a commitment to bring Hue becomes a Plastic Reduction City, 2021. (Photo: Trung Phan)
This activity not only helps the community in reducing disaster risks, reducing erosion and landslides, and preserving water but also increases income for the community, especially those living near natural forests, in order to reduce pressure on natural forests. For activities of afforestation and forest restoration by planting native trees, it not only means to increase biodiversity, but forest restoration also connects the landscape, creating conditions for wild animals to move to safe areas, as well as increasing the food source for these wildlife species if the crops are a food source.
In the Mekong Delta, WWF planted over 500,000 mangrove trees in Lang Sen Nature Reserve and Ca Mau Cape National Park. The planting and restoration of mangroves across the country in general and the Mekong Delta, in particular, are very important in maintaining ecological balance, conserving biodiversity, limiting coastal erosion, and protecting livelihoods of local people; reducing infrastructure maintenance costs due to coastal protection, enhanced regulation of water flows, water contaminants and sediments.
WWF-Vietnam and Intel VietnamVolunteers planting tree in Lang Sen Wetland Reserve, 2017.
(Photo: WWF-Viet Nam)
WWF-Vietnam and Innisfree volunteers dedicated their efforts to restore the invaluable ecosystem of the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve, 2020. (Photo: WWF-Viet Nam)
“In addition to the available resources to implement the above-mentioned afforestation and reforestation activities, WWF is also developing a plan to coordinate with ministries, sectors and businesses across the country to establish the Coalition for Mangroves Forest Plantation in Vietnam to mobilise the planting of mangroves nationwide with the goal of restoring and developing the system of mangroves, as well as coastal forests, one of the important ecosystems of Vietnam.” - Mr. Duong Duy Khanh, WWF Vietnam Forest Restoration Program Coordinator
WWF with the strength of having a large network of members across the world, WWF-Vietnam has connected with potential donors to find short-term or long-term funding in the implementation of the One Billion Trees Program nationwide. WWF is conducting fundraising to establish a network of international and local NGOs participating in this Program. It is envisioned that there will be many organizations like WWF Vietnam participating in many activities, from directly implementing afforestation projects to providing technology, monitoring and evaluation, communication, education, awareness-raising and fundraising, including personal fundraising.
About WWF Vietnam
The World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam) is one of the leading conservation organisations in Vietnam, advising on solutions and supporting governments and partners to address the national development process challenges.
For further information, please visit our website https://vietnam.panda.org/.
Communications and Advocacy Director
Ms. Nguyen Thuy Quynh
Tel: (+84) 2 437 193 049
Email: quynh.nguyenthuy@wwf.org.vn