The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre planned to grow an additional 171 ha of forest this year and expected a forest coverage of 2% by 2025, according to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Young people in the southern province of Ben Tre plant trees under a protected forest project. (Photo: VNA)
Ben Tre (VNA) – The Mekong Delta province of BenTre planned to grow an additional 171 ha of forest this year a💃nd expected aforest coverage of 2% by 2025, accord🏅ing to the provincial Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development.
Director of the department Doan Van Danh said that WorldBank’s funding will be used to grow 151 ha of forest, while that from theState budget and private sector will be for the rest. The province currently has more than 7,830 ha of forestand forest land stretching along the coast of 11 communes in three districts ofBa Tri, Binh Dai, and Thanh Phu. Now, the province's forested land area is more than 4,470ha, of that there is nearly 2,247 ha of protection, 1,868 ha ofspecial-use, and 355 ha of production forests. The local forests aremainly mangroves with common species with low economic value. However, theforests play a very important role in protecting production areas andresidential areas from wind and sea waves, contributing to creating landscapesand protecting coasts. With amodest area, the coastal mangrove forest in the province greatly helps thelocality to mitigate the impacts of climate change and sea level rise whilecreating biodiversity and livelihoods for the people. Bui Quoc Thong, director of Ben Tre protection forest andspecial-use forest Management Board, said that more than 2,800 ha of forest was allocated to households, individuals, and organisations for management andprotection. The forest land is allocated to poor households, thosewith little production land, or those who have to change their livelihood. The allocation brings benefits as the forests are managed and exploited more effectively. Moreover, the households can use thewater surface in the forests to raise aquaculture and have a stable livelihood. Since 2021, Ben Tre province has implemented a projectof planting 10 million trees by 2025. The province's afforestation activitieshave grown strongly thanks to the use of capital sources. In 2022, the provinceplanted and rehabilitated 395,000 forest trees, equivalent to 140 ha./.
Ben Tre Province is taking measures to effectively improve value chains for eight key agricultural products, including coconut, green skin and pink flesh grapefruit, rambutan, longan, ornamental plants and flowers, pigs, cows, and saltwater shrimp.
The southern province of Ben Tre has set a target to have 36,000 ha of brackish shrimp farming by 2025 and gain about 1.2 billion USD from shrimp exports.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh demanded Ben Tre further tap into its advantages and develop the sea-based economy, while addressing a working session with officials of the Mekong Delta province on February 16.
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.
Young people in the southern province of Ben Tre plant trees under a protected forest project. (Photo: VNA) 
