18,000 native trees to be planted between Hòa Bình, Sơn La as part of forest restoration efforts

This tree planting event is part of a greater effort to restore the forest ecosystems between the northern Hòa Bình and Sơn La provinces. — Photos courtesy of PanNature

HÒA BÌNH — A total of 18,000 trees of native species will be planted in Hang Kia-Pà Cò Nature Reserve and its extended area as part of a project to restore 50 hectares of forest connecting Hòa Bình and Sơn La provinces.

This is the initial stage of a forest restoration campaign Vì Một Việt Nam Xanh và Phát triển Bền Vững (For a Green and Sustainably Developing Việt Nam) initiated by the national carrier Vietnam Airlines and e-wallet service MoMo, in collaboration with the not-for-profit PanNature and Hang Kia-Pà Cò Nature Reserve.

Three months after the initiative was launched on World Environment Day (June 5) this year, the project achieved its goal of planting 25 of the total 50 hectares planned.

Customers buying Vietnam Airlines flight tickets on the MoMo app, or completing their seat purchase via the MoMo payment service, can contribute to the forest restoration campaign.

Local people and volunteers help plant the trees at Hang Kia-Pà Cò Nature Reserve on Tuesday.

A relatively small nature reserve, Hang Kia-Pà Cò used to be a highlight on National Route 6 leading to the northwestern region.

However, due to excessive agricultural activities, most of its forest area now only remains on the mountaintops, while those in the lower lands and slopes were replaced with rice paddies.

Nguyễn Thành Lương, head of Hang Kia-Pà Cò Nature Reserve’s management board said: “Restoring the local forest ecosystem has been a great challenge for the nature reserve.

“Our management board, local authorities and communities are continuing our efforts and determination to restore the forest, preserve its biodiversity and promote ecotourism and experiential tourism values of this area.”

Director Trịnh Lê Nguyên said: “PanNature recognised the practical and meaningful participation of Vietnam Airlines and MoMo in the efforts to restore the forest ecosystems in the northwestern region.

“We hope for the continuing and sustainable engagement of Vietnamese businesses to join hands with us as well as the local authorities and communities to restore and preserve biodiversity and natural values.”

Local people and Hang Kia-Pà Cò Nature Reserve representatives receive the tree seedlings at the ceremony on Tuesday.

In the long run, this initiative by Vietnam Airlines and MoMo contributes to Rừng Xanh Lên (Regreening Forest), a decade-long forest restoration programme carried out by PanNature across 500 hectares of forest land connecting Hòa Bình and Sơn La provinces since 2022.

In this programme, native tree species will be planted based on the forest canopy structure and growth rates to achieve the fastest possible coverage.

Locals will participate in the process of planting, nurturing, monitoring and, if necessary, additional planting in the future to ensure a completed forest restoration.

This process is expected to not only improve the local communities’ livelihoods but also protect water resources, enhance air quality and carbon absorption and help achieve the Net Zero goal by 2050. — VNS