People join in the afforestation programme at the Đồng Nai Culture and Nature Reserve. Photo courtesy of Gaia Nature Conservation Center

HCM CITY — NGO Gaia Nature Conservation Center on Monday kicked off its annual afforestation programme at the Đồng Nai Culture and Nature Reserve to mark International Day for Biological Diversity.

The programme is aimed at protecting biodiversity, responding to climate change and raising public awareness on the importance of afforestation to restore ecosystems.

The Đồng Nai Culture and Nature Reserve in the southern province of Đồng Nai is an important watershed, regulating and protecting water sources for daily life and irrigation for people in HCM City and the Southeast provinces.

Gaia selects seedlings that are native large timber species to enrich the forest and works closely with the management board of the reserve to take care of and supervise the areas for four years to ensure the growth and development of trees.

Last year, the Đồng Nai reforestation programme drew the participation of more than 1,700 business leaders, employees and families, greening 17 hectares of forest.

Huyen Do, founder and director of Gaia Nature Conservation Center, said, “Participating in afforestation and restoration of watershed forests is one of the solutions to help us protect our own future. At the same time, participating in afforestation with Gaia, businesses are also responding to the National Strategy on Biodiversity to 2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Government at the end of 2022.”

May 22 every year is chosen by the United Nations as International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. —VNS