22,880 Trees Planted in Vietnam to Create A Green Belt

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October 30, 2019 2 min read

22,880 Trees Planted in Vietnam to Create A Green Belt

We have a reforestation recap from our project in Vietnam! This project was part of a larger effort where over 72,000 trees were planted. The objective is to create a green belt in the city of Pleiku, Gia Lai province in the country's central highlands.

Along with helping to regulate the local climate, these trees will play an important role in retaining groundwater, reducing erosion, and improving overall soil health in the area they are planted. This will help give farmers and communities greater access to water for irrigating crops as well as drinking water.

A Little Information About Where Your Trees Were Planted

Despite being well known for its vibrant green pastures and thick tropical jungles, Vietnam has suffered from deforestation, in part caused by the defoliants used by the U.S. during the Vietnam War, and by a rapidly growing population.

Before the war, Vietnam had about 40% tree coverage. By the end that number was a mere 14%, but thanks to renewed efforts by the Vietnamese government the country's tree coverage is returning to pre-war levels.

Tree Species

The tree species planted were Dipterocarpus Alatus and Hopea Adorata, each of which have pretty unique and interesting stories. Dipterocarpus Alatus is commonly known as a "resin tree" because it can be tapped for resin and used as a lacquer for wood products. Its' bark is also used in traditional medicine, and it can be combined with beeswax to treat wounds. This is also a good pioneer species for restoring deforested landscapes.

Hopea Adorata is a good hearty tree that is native to parts of Asia, and the cool thing about this tree is the folklore around it. In Thailand it is believe to be inhabited by a tree spirit known as Lady Ta-khian, belonging to a type of ghost related to trees known generically as Nang Mai. In Cambodia it is known as the koki, and the legend of the founding of Wat Phnom in Cambodia refers to the finding of Buddha statues in a koki tree floating in the river. Now that's something you don't learn about every day!

Green field leading up to trees in Vietnam

Green field next to a building in Vietnam

Green pasture with a fence near trees in Vietnam

The Many Benefits for Community and Biodiversity

The project's planting, maintenance, and protection of these trees is giving new and economic opportunities for ethnic minority groups in the villages of Cham Nam and Ngo Tar. Furthermore, it will impact the local communities by protecting the underground water levels for irrigation and agricultural cultivation, provide climate regulation for the people of Pleiku City, and protect agricultural ecosystems and industrial plants such as tea, coffee, and pepper.

The direct benefits to biodiversity will also help the conservation of native species in the forest ecosystem by creating habitats for birds, squirrels, and forest chickens (you read that right!).