Participants join tree planting in Ba Vì National Park responding  to the World Day of Combat Desertification and Drought. — VNS  Photo Tố  Như

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has made strong efforts to combat land degradation and improve livelihoods for people contributing to sustainable forestry development, said deputy director of the General Department of Forestry Phạm Văn Điển.

On Thursday, the General Department of Forestry coordinated with Ba Vì National Park to launch a tree planting event and a dialogue titled “the current situation and solutions to control land degradation."

The event is one of the activities in response to the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought and the 28th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Speaking at the dialogue, Điển said, “Land degradation and drought are not only environmental problems but also local and global economic issues.

“The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification aims to bring together international efforts to tackle this problem.”

“With very early forward-thinking and a strategy of socio-economic development and environmental protection reflecting a long-term vision along with strong commitments and actions, Việt Nam is considered a bright spot on solving this issue.” 

The dialogue was a good opportunity to share information and continue to seek ideas, initiatives and solutions to prevent land degradation and drought, he added.

In the dialogue, scientists, managers from central and local state management agencies, experts of research agencies and international organisations shared, exchanged, discussed, assessed the current situation and proposed solutions to limit land degradation and combat desertification in Việt Nam in association with the implementation of a sustainable forestry development programme, the projects on planting one billion trees, and restructuring the forestry sector.

The participants agreed with land degradation and desertification control solutions in combination with improving livelihoods for upland people contributing to sustainable forestry development.

The UNCCD was adopted in Paris in 1994 with 197 members. Việt Nam joined the convention in 1998.

The convention’s objective is to combat desertification and land degradation, reduce the harmful effects of drought in areas with severe desertification and land degradation, and adopt effective measures and international assistance to help countries affected by degradation/deserts and droughts develop sustainably.

The convention takes place on June 17, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.

This is an important annual international event that Việt Nam actively responds to in order to raise awareness and action on land degradation/desertification, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

This year’s theme is “Rising from drought together.” — VNS