【kèo 0】Local people grow indigenous forest under the rain

Thekèo 0 joy when participating in the afforestation activity in the sandy area of the hometown

This is an activity within the project "Restoration of indigenous forests on sand combined with sustainable livelihood development and climate change adaptation in Phong Chuong Commune, Phong Dien District, Thua Thien Hue Province", which is sponsored by the Solidarity Service International (SODI) (Germany) through the Union of Friendship Organizations of Thua Thien Hue Province and the Institute of Natural Resources and Environment (IREN), Hue University.

In spite of the rain and wind, thanks to the technical guidance from the project’s professional staff, local people transferred seeds, dug holes, and grew more than 11,000 trees, including Carallia brachiata, Doussie, and Camellia sasanqua Thunb, etc., on an area of nearly ten hectares in the sand fields of Luong Mai Village (Phong Chuong Commune); of which, a five-hectare area was grown with Melaleuca trees in the gardens of local households.

Through this activity, beside the goal of increasing the capacity and adaptability to climate change for the community living in the sandy area within Phong Chuong Commune, it is also an opportunity to raise the awareness in growing, restoring and protecting the eroded sandy land, as well as securing biodiversity, etc., by practical and effective actions.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuyen, a resident of Luong Mai Village, shared: "We are happy to participate in growing forest in the sand fields. In the coming time, green forest in the village will help prevent flying sand, so as to regulate the climate and prevent the effects of natural disasters on production and daily life of local people in the region".

The project “Restoration of indigenous forests on sand combined with sustainable livelihood development and climate change adaptation in Phong Chuong Commune” will be implemented from 2022 to 2025, including the activities of growing forest, raising the awareness on environmental protection, and developing sustainable and adaptive income-generating activities.

The project has a total capital of 178,417.17 euros (equivalent to 4,930,237,342 VND); of which, the SODI sponsors 147,477 euros (equivalent to 4,075,251,212 VND). The remaining capital is from the local budget.

The following are some photos of the growing forest activity in the early days of December:

The local people started growing forests from early in the morning

Transferring seeds into the sand fields

Being proficient in planting and taking care of trees under the guidance of experts

Despite the rain and wind, they implemented the activity as planned

Luong Mai sandy area (Phong Chuong District), which is close to desertification, is selected to restore and develop forest trees

Receiving seeds and planting tools before moving to the sand fields of Luong Mai Village

Gently carrying out the steps one by one, hoping that the seedlings will grow well

Locating and zoning so that the forest trees will cover the entire sand fields

Luong Mai sand fields as seen from above after a day of growing indigenous forest

BySONG MINH - NGOC TUAN