70 Days of Green: Vietnam Airlines’ Journey to Reforest 27 Hectares

On August 20, 2024, Vietnam Airlines, MoMo, the Center for People and Nature (PanNature), and the Hang Kia – Pà Cò Nature Reserve, in collaboration with local authorities, organized the “Contributing Leaves, Mending Forests” event in Hang Kia Commune, Mai Chau District, Hoa Binh Province, to kickstart the restoration of the nature reserve’s forests and celebrate the initial achievements of the program.

Representatives from Vietnam Airlines and the Secretary of the Youth Union of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment present trees to the People’s Committee of Hang Kia and Pà Cò communes

The event attracted the participation of over 100 delegates, including local government representatives, youth union members, women’s union members, residents of Hang Kia and Pà Cò communes, local businesses, and nature-loving volunteers from Hanoi and various other provinces.

The “Contributing Leaves, Mending Forests – For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam” program was officially launched in early June 2024. This initiative by Vietnam Airlines and MoMo aims to plant a total of 30,000 trees to restore 50 hectares of forest along the corridor connecting Mai Chau (Hoa Binh) and Van Ho (Son La). The campaign is expected to be completed by the end of December 2024, in just over six months.

“Contributing Leaves, Mending Forests – For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam” is a forest restoration initiative by Pan Nature in collaboration with MOMO and Vietnam Airlines

In the first phase, 16,000 trees were planted across an area of 24 hectares in the Hang Kia – Pà Cò Nature Reserve, Mai Chau District, Hoa Binh Province. Simultaneously, the community in Van Ho Commune, Van Ho District, Son La Province, continued to greenify 3 hectares in the corridor connecting to the Hang Kia – Pà Cò Nature Reserve. The total restored area in both locations is 27 hectares, with 18,000 native trees. The remaining area will be addressed in the next phase in the Hang Kia – Pà Cò and Van Ho regions.

Mr. Dang Anh Tuan, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, shared, “As the National Airline, Vietnam Airlines is committed to promoting sustainable development, nature conservation, environmental protection, and CO2 emission reduction. We are proud to contribute to the restoration of 50 hectares of forest in Hoa Binh and Son La in 2024 through the ‘Contributing Leaves, Mending Forests – For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam’ campaign. Environmental protection is the responsibility of every individual and organization, and Vietnam Airlines will continue to support nature conservation efforts to help reduce net emissions and curb the escalating global climate change.”

“Contributing Leaves, Mending Forests” is one of the programs implemented by Vietnam Airlines as part of its sustainable development strategy, underscoring the National Airline’s long-term commitment to the community’s development. For Vietnam Airlines, “Contributing Leaves, Mending Forests” is not just about planting thousands of trees but also about continuing to scale up and plant millions upon millions of trees.

The project affirms Vietnam Airlines’ long-term commitment to its sustainable development strategy

For many years, Vietnam Airlines has continuously joined hands with the community to address the “Million Green Trees – For a Green Vietnam” initiative. Previously, the Vietnam Airlines Youth Union signed an agreement with the Youth Union of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to implement the project “Planting Special-Use Forests to Protect the Ecological Environment in Bach Ma National Park, Thua Thien Hue Province.” This project aimed to respond to the Government’s proposal to plant one billion trees and achieve the target of planting 30 million new trees set by the 11th National Youth Union Congress and the “Million Green Trees – For a Green Vietnam” program.

By 2022, the project had planted 5 hectares of forest in Bach Ma. A year later, Vietnam Airlines and related units continued to implement activities to maintain and care for the 5 hectares of planted forest.