'Greening' thousands of kilometers of road to develop tourism

Kapok trees in full bloom, planted along the Red River (Lao Cai). Photo: Hai Dang.

There will be a road of cotton flowers along the Red River.

According to statistics, Lao Cai province has nearly 8,500km of roads of all kinds, specifically: 72km of Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway; 5 national highways with a length of over 456km; 16 provincial routes with a length of over 969km and more than 7,000km of district roads, inter-commune and inter-village roads...

Previously, some routes had been planted with trees scattered on both sides of the road, but on a small scale, intermittently and locally. On the same national highway, provincial road passing through each locality, there were different planting methods and tree species. Not to mention, the terrain, soil conditions and harsh climate made planting, care and protection very difficult.

Therefore, from 2024, Lao Cai Provincial Forest Protection Department has proposed to plant scattered trees on national highways, provincial roads, district roads, inter-village roads, communes and relic sites with tourism potential in Lao Cai province. "Planting trees protects traffic works, creates a green, clean and beautiful landscape. We propose that the trees planted must be of good quality, green all year round and be old trees... 1 to 2 types of trees will be selected to plant, creating a highlight for that route, for example, the route of royal poinciana flowers, lagerstroemia flowers... As for spiritual areas, we propose to plant old trees and trees of high economic value, precious timber trees to create sustainability", said Mr. Vu Hong Diep, Deputy Head of Lao Cai Provincial Forest Protection Department.

The newly opened road from Lao Cai city to Bao Thang district runs along the Red River. The Forestry Department has also proposed that the district plant kapok trees - often associated with rural and mountainous areas. Depending on each specific condition, the locality will conduct research and select suitable trees that are typical of that area.

However, the implementation still faces one of the difficulties in that after planting, the trees must be cared for, protected, and protected from damage by cattle... In response to this, the Forest Protection Department advised the districts to assign each road, village, commune, and people to plant, care for, and protect to ensure the proposed quality.

Lao Cai will green national and inter-provincial highways. Photo: Hai Dang.

Removing difficulties to soon receive tree planting boundaries

The implementation of green trees on both sides of the roads on national highways, provincial roads, district roads, inter-village roads and relic sites in Lao Cai has now reached over 82%, with more than 244 thousand trees planted. However, the impact of storm No. 3, many roads were buried and landslides, somewhat affecting the progress and results of tree planting.

In Bao Yen district, despite the difficulties after storm No. 3, up to now, 100% of the plan has been completed, planting more than 23 thousand scattered trees, equivalent to 118 km on National Highway 70, Provincial Road 160, district roads and inter-village roads. Of which, National Highway 70 planted 6 thousand trees spanning 30km; Provincial Road 160 planted 1 thousand new trees, over 5km including: Lat hoa, trum hong, phong linh. Not to mention, thousands of giổi, xoan, and trầu trees were planted along the roads from the district to the commune, the commune to the villages...

According to Mr. Pham Hong Thai, Head of Bao Yen District Forest Protection Department, the number of trees planted above was mostly mobilized from socialized sources and a part of the local budget. The trees along the roads are currently growing and developing well; at the same time, with the participation of the Party Committee and local authorities, propaganda and mobilization of people to participate in planting and caring for and protecting the trees to ensure the requirements set forth...

Currently, Lao Cai province is also interested in some key routes including Bao Ha - Van Hoa route, routes along the Red River from A Mu Sung to Y Ty, the new route located in Sa Pa; historical sites in Bao Yen, Bao Thang, Bat Xat, Sa Pa districts...

According to Mr. Vu Hong Diep, in 2025, the Department will continue to promote propaganda, mobilize a large number of organizations, individuals, agencies and units to actively participate and respond to tree planting. In particular, step up guidance on technical procedures for planting and caring for trees; inspect the implementation of the plan in the locality; advise and propose solutions to difficulties and obstacles in the implementation process, especially the expansion and upgrading of traffic routes, early handover of boundary markers for planting scattered trees on the routes.

"Planting trees on local roads contributes to promoting tourism development in the province, implementing the policy of planting 1 billion trees according to Decision No. 624/QD-TTg dated April 1, 2021 of the Prime Minister; completing the criteria for building new rural areas", said Mr. Vu Hong Diep, Deputy Director of Lao Cai Provincial Forest Protection Department.

Source: https://nongnghiep.vn/phu-xanh-hang-nghin-kilomet-duong-de-phat-trien-du-lich-d745214.html