Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment launched "Tree Planting Festival to forever remember Uncle Ho" in Thai Binh province

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Do Duc Duy said that a year begins with spring with many good things, the season when trees sprout, bloom, bear fruit, the season of growth and development. During his lifetime, beloved President Ho Chi Minh taught everyone to plant at least one tree on Tet holiday to contribute to making the homeland and country more and more springy. Since then, "Tet tree planting to forever remember Uncle Ho" has become a festival for the entire Party, people and army every time Tet comes and spring comes.

According to Minister Do Duc Duy, tree planting, forest protection and development are becoming increasingly important in the context of environmental pollution and global climate change, which are challenges that greatly affect socio-economic development as well as people's quality of life. Tree development plays an important role in nature conservation, biodiversity protection and environmental improvement; contributing to minimizing the impact of natural disasters, limiting greenhouse gas emissions and responding more effectively to climate change; at the same time, promoting sustainable development of the country.

This year's Tree Planting Festival, the Ministry and Thai Binh province chose Thai Thuy Wetland Nature Reserve, which has an important and typical position in the conservation of biodiversity values ​​in coastal wetlands, to organize the Launching Ceremony and respond to World Wetlands Day 2025.

On behalf of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Minister Do Duc Duy hopes that agencies, units, businesses, international organizations in Vietnam and each family and individual will join hands, contribute and actively participate in tree planting and afforestation activities.

Strengthen tree planting activities across the country, not only during Tet and spring, but also in spring and other seasons of the year when the weather conditions are suitable. Thoroughly grasp and widely spread President Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on the significance of tree planting as an activity that "costs little but brings great benefits", contributing significantly to environmental protection, biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem restoration.

Chairman of Thai Binh Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Manh Hung said that Thai Binh province has established two wetland nature reserves (Thai Thuy Wetland Nature Reserve and Tien Hai Wetland Nature Reserve), which are home to many species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world... Therefore, protecting and developing these areas is a particularly important task.

Adding to the momentum, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Viet Nam Ramla Khalidi said that in 2019, UNDP was honored to accompany and support Thai Binh province in establishing Thai Thuy Wetland Reserve. The care and preservation of this reserve is proof that Vietnam can pursue economic growth and development without sacrificing or trading off the environment.

Ms. Ramla Khalidi highlighted the UNDP’s long-term partnership with MONRE, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and local authorities. Together, they have already planted and restored over 4,000 ha of mangrove forests, with plans to expand by another 1,000 ha. She also announced the ongoing building of a coastal mangrove carbon database, a key tool that will shape Viet Nam's future conservation and climate adaptation policies.

The UNDP stands firmly by Viet Nam’s side as a trusted partner in its mission to protect wetlands, conserve nature, and combat climate change, she added.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and accompanying units presented Thai Thuy Wetland Nature Reserve and the people of the district with 10,000 trees, including Trang and Ban trees, which are native trees suitable for the natural conditions, soil and climate of Thai Thuy wetland.