Monday, 18/06/2018 22:40 (GMT+7)
The Vietnam Administration of Forests, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration of the Lao Cai provincial People’s Committee, on June 17th held a ceremony in Lao Cai province to mark the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (UNCCD) (June 17th) with participation from representatives from diverse provinces and cities.
Delegates plant trees for the prevention of desertification. (Photo: VNA)
According to Pham Van Dien, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Administration of Forests, this year's theme “Land has true value. Invest in it” aims to help 186 convention member countries mark the day.
The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification states that “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world”.
Therefore, the target has become a driving force for realizing the convention, contributing to fulfilling other SDGs, including minimization and mitigation of climate change consequences, preservation of biological diversification, restoration of ecology, ensuring of food and water security, and reduction of natural disasters and poverty. Land and soil degradation leading to desertification threatens residents’ livelihood and welfare, especially of ethnic minorities. Meanwhile, forests play an important role in restoring dry land and preventing land degradation.
Statistics show that in 2017, Vietnam planted 235,028 hectares of forests. However, weaknesses still remain in protecting and developing the area of forests. “Vietnam needs to continue to plant more trees for sustainable forest development, thus helping prevent land and soil degradation, satisfying the demand for socio-economic development and security and defence”.
After the ceremony, delegates planted trees at the Thai Nguyen University branch in Lao Cai province./.
Compiled by BTA