On February 7, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, along with leaders of central ministries, agencies, and Quang Ninh province, as well as local residents, participated in the planting of 1,100 pine trees on a one-hectare area in the Ho Yen Trung – Cua Ngan area (Phuong Dong Ward, Uong Bi City) in response to the "Tree-Planting Festival in Eternal Gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh."
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and his delegation launched the Tree-Planting Festival at Phuong Dong Ward, Uong Bi City, Quang Ninh Province. (Photo: VNA)
Speaking with local authorities and residents of Uong Bi City, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that planting trees at the beginning of the new year is a way to honor President Ho Chi Minh, who initiated the Tree-Planting Festival in 1959. He also highlighted that the event reflects each citizen's responsibility in protecting the environment, addressing climate change, and building a greener, more sustainable Vietnam.
"The Tree-Planting Festival has become a significant national event and a cherished cultural tradition that our people have preserved and developed," the Deputy Prime Minister remarked.
Pham Xuan An, Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, noted that the province has been making great efforts to recover from the impact of Typhoon No. 3 (Yagi), which severely affected the forestry sector. Reforesting and restoring damaged forest areas is an essential initiative. The planting of 1,100 pine trees demonstrates the collective determination and unity of the province’s communities in overcoming difficulties, rebuilding, and restructuring the forestry sector for sustainable development, ensuring a swift recovery of the forest economy.
Quang Ninh has maintained a stable and expanding forested area over the years, with the quality of its forests gradually improving toward sustainability. The province's forest coverage rate has remained at 55%. However, in September 2024, Typhoon No. 3 (Yagi) caused significant destruction, with nearly 129,000 hectares of forest being damaged, reducing the coverage rate to around 42% and resulting in an estimated total loss of over VND5 trillion. This natural disaster inflicted substantial economic damage and had a direct impact on the local environment.
To gradually restore forests after the storm, Quang Ninh has set an ambitious target for 2025: replanting nearly 32,000 hectares of forest, including 2,724 hectares of protective forests and 29,123 hectares of production forests. This unprecedented goal is 2.4 times higher than the 2024 reforestation target, demonstrating the province’s strong commitment to forestry development and post-storm recovery./.
Compiled by BTA