A ceremony was held in Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District, Da Nang, on Tuesday morning to launch the ‘Lunar New Year Tree-planting festival: Forever grateful to Uncle Ho’ in 2023.

Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang (left) participated in planting trees on the Son Tra Peninsula on Tuesday morning. Photo: VAN HOANG

In his remarks at the launching ceremony, municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Ho Ky Minh highlighted the significance of the tree planting and afforestation movement in proactively preventing and combating natural disasters, regulating the climate, improving the ecology environment, beautifying the natural landscape, promoting the socio-economic development, and improving the spiritual and material life of residents.

He said that Da Nang has always determined that tree planting is an important task associated with the city’s comprehensive development. He also highlighted the benefits of tree planting in fighting forest destruction and indiscriminate exploitation of forest resources, preventing erosion, limiting floods, and keeping air fresh.

Da Nang People's Committee Chairman Le Trung Chinh (third, left) planted trees on Hoang Sa Street. Photo: VAN HOANG

Vice Chairman Minh took the opportunity to call on local organisations and people to actively participate in tree planting and afforestation, as well as take more effective measures to protect and prevent deforestation, forest burning, and illegal exploitation.

Importance should be attached to widely publicising the purpose and meaning of the tree planting festival, and comprehensive; and long-term and humane roles, effects and benefits of tree planting and afforestation, among local residents, he added.

Mr. Minh, on the other hand, emphasised the launching of tree planting festivals must be done in accordance with local conditions, avoiding ostentatious appearance, and contributing to the effective implementation of the national government’s programme of planting one billion green trees in the 2021 - 2025 period.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Ho Ky Minh (2nd, right) planted trees at the launching ceremony. Photo: VAN HOANG

He hoped that the movement of tree planting and afforestation will spread throughout the city, thereby contributing to ensuring the success of the city’s project on socialisation of planting trees, and building Da Nang into an environmentally friendly city.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Council Tran Phuoc Son (right) at the launching ceremony of the tree planting festival. Photo: VAN HOANG

At the ceremony, nearly 900 ‘than mat’ trees (scientifically known as Millettia ichthyochtona) were prepared by the city to plant along the more than 5km-long route from ‘Ho Xanh’ (Green Lake) to Bai Bac tourist site in a bid to create a unique identity and highlight for the Son Tra Peninsula in particular and Da Nang in general.

It is known that this is a typical tree of the Son Tra Peninsula, which is nursed by the Son Tra District People's Committee and the Center for Biotechnology from indigenous trees.

Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Phu Ban (first left) and leaders of the Forest Protection Department planted trees at the launching ceremony. Photo: VAN HOANG

Reporting by VAN HOANG - Translating by M.DUNG