Students plant 1,000 trees in bid to turn Vietnam green
Thursday, May 30, 2024, 13:00 GMT+7
A group of students have planted 1,000 native trees in Quang Tri Province’s Dakrong Nature Reserve as part of a bid to inspire fellow Vietnamese to turn Vietnam green.
The four students, known as the Green Era Group, all attend Le Quy Don High School in Quang Tri’s Dong Ha City.
The Green Era initiative first began last August and has since raised over VND120 million (US$4,884), all of which was spent on purchasing the 1,000 saplings.
By mid-May, the trees had been planted for about six month and had grown to about 10 centimeters.
The planting of these trees is a sign that the revitalization of the barren hills and impoverished forests of the Dakrong Nature reserve is just around the corner.
The Green Era Group began fundraising in August 2023 by presenting their plan to green Dakrong to organizations around Quang Tri.
The response to these presentations far exceeded expectations, and the donations came flooding in, according to Green Era Group’s leader 11th-grader Lam Hong Phuc.
In just three months, the group was able to raise over VND120 million for their project and, by the end of 2023, had gathered a group of 50 student volunteers to cultivate 1,000 native trees in the reserve.
“Each additional tree mitigates the adverse impacts of climate change,” Phuc shared.
“Every new expanse of greenery inspires us to persist in our journey.”
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| One of the 1,000 trees planted by Green Era Group in Dakrong Nature Reserve in Quang Tri Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: H.P. / Tuoi Tre |
Inspiring reforestation
For several years, Quang Tri Province has been under a constant barrage of climate change-induced drought, flooding, and landslides.
Green Era Group hopes their work to reforest the area will help safeguard soil, curb erosion, and mitigate flash floods that trigger some of these natural disasters.
Over the next few years, through 2028, they plan to nurture their newly planted forest to maturity so that it can do its part in curbing the effects of climate change.
They also plan to continue raising money in order to plant more trees in new areas.
Aside from tree planting, the group works to raise awareness about forest conservation and uses social media and donations to advocate for reforestation and afforestation.
They have plans in the works to organize forums for environmental, educational, cultural, and tourism stakeholders to discuss sustainable living and climate change adaptation.
The end goal of these efforts is to provide young people with the skills they need to become ambassadors capable of promoting afforestation.
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| Green Era Group plants 1,000 trees at Dakrong Nature Reserve in Quang Tri Province, north-central Vietnam. Photo: H.P. / Tuoi Tre |
“When you plant a tree today, you’re not just sowing seeds, you’re also planting hope and aspiration,” said Phuc.
“When you return to that tree, it will welcome you by stretching its branches into the open sky and firmly rooting itself into the earth below."
Truong Quang Trung, director of the Dakrong Nature Reserve, lauds the project’s impact and hopes it continues to grow.
“The importance of the Green Era Group's idea far surpasses the age of its members,” Trung said.
“I hope that they continue with their passion for the forest so we can work toward a more environmentally sustainable future.”
To promote and instill a green, sustainable lifestyle within local communities, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, in collaboration with the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Organization (PRO Vietnam) and other affiliated units, is hosting the ‘Green Regeneration’ contest from May 15 to August 15, 2024.
As part of the Green Vietnam 2024 project, which launched on April 20, the contest serves as a platform for both domestic and international readers to showcase actions, initiatives, and innovative products aimed at recycling, reducing emissions, and safeguarding the environment, all in the pursuit of a greener Vietnam.
Individual participants are encouraged to share their practices and products for recycling, reusing, water and energy conservation.
Additionally, community teams and groups are invited to present their efforts to clean and enhance their communities.
Likewise, businesses are encouraged to showcase their experiences with sustainable production, circular production processes, and eco-friendly products crafted from recycled materials, all aimed at reducing emissions and promoting environmental stewardship.
The contest aims to promote the development of green urban areas, lifestyles, tourism, transportation, energy usage, workplaces, consumption patterns, and other aspects of sustainable development.
Evaluation criteria for submissions include feasibility, potential for growth, practicality in daily life, applicability for individuals and businesses, economic and social efficacy, and the degree of contribution to environmental preservation and national sustainable development.
Entries will be assessed by an expert panel comprised of leading professionals and businesses in the fields of environment and circular economy.
The panel’s evaluation will carry 80 percent of the total score, while reader votes will account for the remaining 20 percent.
Readers can cast their votes awarding stars, hearts, and likes to the entries, with stars worth 15 points, hearts worth three points, and likes worth two points.
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