LÀO CAI - The national action month for environmental protection kicked off at a ceremony in Lào Cai city on Saturday in response to World Environment Day which is marked today.

The event, held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the provincial People’s Committee, aims to inspire people to take action to lift the strain on Earth’s natural systems.

This year’s theme "Nature’s Call and Our Actions" fights against the illegal wildlife trade, which erodes biodiversity and threatens awe-inspiring species, such as elephants, rhinos and tigers, as well as other creatures that are less celebrated.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng emphasised that the Party, State and Government have always paid attention to environmental protection, conservation of biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change, and considered it a key task.

He asked ministries, sectors and localities to strengthen State management on environmental protection, enhance inspections on environmental issues, as well as to promote the role of political, social organisations and local communities in monitoring the implementation of regulations on the environment.

Việt Nam has responded to World Environment Day as an annual activity since 1982, said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Trần Hồng Hà, adding that this year, the ministry will hold a series of activities that encourage the involvement of the community in addressing urgent environmental issues.

Several localities held events to mark World Environment Day.

Lào Cai province planted trees and released wild animals to the forest at the Hoàng Liên National Park in Sa Pa District yesterday.

An additional 3,000 pine trees were also planted in Đà Lạt city, the Central Highlands province of Lâm Đồng.

As well as cleaning beaches, the People’s Committee of central Ninh Thuận province released 260,000 aquatic breeders to the sea. - VNS