Vinamilk responds to World Environment Day 2017

(Baonghean) - Responding to World Environment Day in Vietnam, on the morning of June 5, in Vung Tau city, Ba Ria Vung Tau province, Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) accompanied the General Department of Environment (VEA) to launch a tree planting ceremony within the framework of the program "1 million trees fund for Vietnam".

The event attracted a large number of delegates.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Nguyen Linh Ngoc - Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment. Ms. Marianne Oehlers, UNEP representative in Vietnam, and leaders of Ba Ria Vung Tau province, leaders of Vinamilk Company. The program also had the participation of Miss Sea Vietnam 2016 - Pham Thuy Trang.

The program “1 Million Trees Fund for Vietnam” is a community activity initiated by Vinamilk, supported and coordinated by the General Department of Environment (VEA) since 2012, with the aim of planting more trees in localities across the country.

Aiming to improve the living environment for Vietnamese people. The program focuses on areas where trees bring practical benefits to the community such as: residential areas, memorial areas, relic sites, public areas, schools, areas affected by climate change in provinces and cities nationwide.

Mr. Le Tuan Quoc - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Ria Vung Tau Province received the symbolic tree donation board presented by Mr. Tran Minh Van - Executive Director of Vinamilk Company.

This year, to mark the 5-year milestone of the Fund's journey of planting more trees for Vietnam and especially, responding to World Environment Day June 5, 2017 with the theme "Living in harmony with nature", the General Department of Environment and Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company - Vinamilk have chosen Ba Ria Vung Tau province as the next destination of the program "1 million trees fund for Vietnam" and the first destination of the journey "1 million trees fund for Vietnam" in 2017.

Ba Ria Vung Tau province and its affiliated city - Vung Tau is an important economic, cultural, traffic and transportation center of the region. This is both a place where fishing activities take place regularly and a logistics area of ​​the Vietnamese oil and gas industry. In particular, Vung Tau is also known as a famous tourist destination in Vietnam, attracting many domestic and international tourists with beautiful beaches and fully invested infrastructure. Therefore, in addition to socio-economic development goals, the issue of environmental protection - nature is always of special concern to Ba Ria Vung Tau province.

Delegates performed the tree planting ceremony with the meaning of joining hands to contribute to improving the living environment.

In this program, Vinamilk supports the entire cost to plant 110,020 new trees worth more than 800 million VND at the Traditional Revolutionary House of Vung Tau city and the Cha Va riverside area, Tan Hai commune, Tan Thanh district, Ba Ria Vung Tau province - where there is a serious saltwater intrusion and pollution due to seafood processing activities. The most suitable tree species for planting is mangrove. Vinamilk and the 1 million trees fund hope to form a mangrove forest here to protect the coast from the sea encroaching on the mainland, expand the coast, restore coastal forests, contribute to improving and protecting the environment and adapting to climate change.

Thus, from 2012 to present, the 1 Million Trees for Vietnam Fund program has organized tree planting in more than 20 provinces and cities nationwide with a total of nearly 400,000 trees of all kinds worth nearly 6 billion VND.

In the near future, the 1 Million Trees for Vietnam Fund will continue to bring more trees to more provinces and cities across the country to bring green space and a clean living environment to all Vietnamese people across the country.

Delegates performed the ceremony of launching the memorial stone plaque at the Traditional Revolutionary House of Vung Tau city.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Marianne Oehlers - Representative of the United Nations in Vietnam emphasized: “Although Vietnam’s comprehensive economic transformation is impressive, its economic achievements have also impacted the environment. We often have a disharmonious relationship with nature - and we pay a high price.

In many countries around the world, including Vietnam, there is still overexploitation of natural resources, habitat and ecosystem destruction, and environmental pollution. Environmental crime – including illegal logging and wildlife trafficking, and destructive fishing practices – has unfortunately become a global phenomenon but is particularly acute in Southeast Asia and in Vietnam. Vietnam is rich in biodiversity but environmental crime and degradation are undermining the development and livelihoods of local communities. This also threatens the ability to meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development…

“Connecting People to Nature”, the theme for World Environment Day 2017, encourages us to get outdoors and connect with nature, appreciate its beauty and importance, and continue the call to protect the earth we share. Getting outdoors, especially with the children in your life, is one of the best things you can do for yourself, your family and friends, and the planet. World Environment Day reminds us of the importance of connecting with nature every day! - shared Ms. Marianne Oehlers before concluding her speech.

PV