During the two-day and one-night journey to participate in the “Afforestation Spring Camp”, Miss Universe Vietnam H'Hen Nie and juveniles from all over the country had the opportunity to practice afforestation at Xuan Lien Nature Reserve and Ben En National Park in Thanh Hoa. This experience also helps them discover the beautiful nature of spring in the North Central region and understand the importance of afforestation.

The afforestation area of Xuan Lien Nature Reserve was previously residential and swidden land of local people. When Xuan Lien Nature Reserve was established, people migrated out, leaving behind the land in need of restoration into forests. More than 40 species of trees have been planted to enrich the 17ha of land here, including multi-purpose tree species with many listed in the Vietnam Red Data Book such as afzelia xylocarpa (redwood), dalbergia oliveri (rosewood), pterocarpus macrocarpus (Burma padauk), madhuca pasquieri, and parashorea chinensis.

This activity has helped green the poor watershed special-use forests in Thanh Hoa province, improving forest ecological functions. The newly-planted trees contribute to responding to climate change and creating habitats for rare species. Afforestation activities also aim to create the largest collection of timber trees in Vietnam in the future.

The “Afforestation Spring Camp” at Xuan Lien Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa is one of the activities in response to the "World Tree Planting Day 2022" of Gaia Nature Conservation (Gaia) with the aim of restoring watershed special-use forests throughout Vietnam.

With the message "Donating 1 tree is contributing to the forest", each person can contribute trees to plant forests within their capability. Tree contributors can include a message of love on the respective forest's website. After that, the trees will be planted in watershed special-use forests. Gaia will take care and monitor the forest for 2 - 6 years and ensure the survival rate of the tree from 70 - 85%.

“Hen is very happy and proud to be accompanying Gaia and many young people this time to plant watershed special-use forests, restore ecosystems and shelters for rare wildlife species. Hen myself was born and raised in a village, but after coming here, Hen was really attracted by stories about nature, about the arduous process of planting and restoring special-use forests upstream. And the trip especially helped Hen understand the importance of afforestation and forest protection.

“Hen just wants to contribute a little effort in the afforestation process and spreading the message of forest protection to everyone. I hope that everyone joins hands to contribute to the forest and donate trees with Gaia, green the poor forests and bare hills for a better life for everyone and all species."

Ms. Do Thi Thanh Huyen, Founder and Director of Gaia Nature Conservation, said, “The participation of Miss Universe Vietnam H'Hen Nie and young people from all over the country is a source of great motivation, helping Gaia become more determined to restore more watershed special-use forests throughout Vietnam. Each of your contributions is joining us in making a change, for a better future for ourselves.”

According to Ms. Huyen, nearly 17,000 large trees were planted by H'Hen Nie, the young people and local people today will continue to be cared for and monitored for the next four years to achieve the highest possible survival rate. Gaia will sustain the efforts to plant more watershed special-use forests throughout Vietnam.

Since 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has chosen March 21 every year as "World Tree Planting Day" to call on localities and countries to make joint efforts in planting more trees and raising awareness about forest conservation and sustainable development in the future.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), forests are not only the green lungs of humans but also the habitat of all other species. The degradation of forest biodiversity and climate change are closely related to each other. The more forests are depleted and the area is reduced, the greater the impact of climate change and the more extreme the weather will be, threatening coastal countries in the world. And Vietnam is no exception.

Ảnh: Trung tam Bảo tồn Thien nhien Gaia

Translated by Samuel Pham