The Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VAF) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) jointly held a forum in response to the International Day of Forests on March 21 in Hanoi, with the theme of “Healthy Forests for Healthy People”.
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VAF) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and theUnited Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) jointly held a forum inresponse to the International Day of Forests on March 21 in Hanoi, with thetheme of “Healthy Forests for Healthy People”.
Pham Hong Luong, Chief of the VAF Office, said that “Healthy Forests for Healthy People” is a very meaningful message in the context that the COVID-19 pandemic has affectedpeople's health and all aspects of the social life.
According to the UN’s Global Forests Goals Report 2021, theimportance of forests for the well-being of people and the planet is clear.Some 1.6 billion people worldwide depend directly on forests for food, shelter,energy, medicines and income. Forests provide clean air and fresh water andhelp to avert desertification. They are home to 80% of all known terrestrial species, and they regulate the climate, absorbing one-thirdof global greenhouse gas emissions.
An overview of the forum (Photo: VNA)
Recognising the importance of forests, over the past years, Vietnam has activelyand responsibly made many commitments to and strongly supported global initiativeson climate change response, including the protection and sustainabledevelopment of forests, said Luong.
Nguyen Song Ha, Assistant to the FAO Representative inVietnam, said that the theme of the 2023 International Day of Forests stressesthat forest and environmental degradation, caused by unsustainableforestry activities, will result in climate change, loss of biodiversity and emergence of new diseases.
Ha said that there are currently three measures related toforests and vegetation that can support forest health and environmentalrestoration, including ending deforestation and maintaining existing forestareas; restoring degraded soil and developing agro-forestry; and boosting sustainableforest use and building green value chains.
Over the past years, the FAO has worked closely with the VietnameseGovernment to support activities promoting a healthy and sustainable forestrysector. Together with other UN organisations, the FAO is committed to being along-term partner of the Vietnamese Government, and maintaining its assistancefor healthy forests in Vietnam, he added./.
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Forest worshiping is a unique cultural activity relating to the longstanding practice of forest protection adopted by ethnic minority groups in Lao Cai province. The ritual is also a commitment by local people to protect the forests, which they consider a natural treasure.
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Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
An overview of the forum (Photo: VNA) 
