Vinamilk creates "Net Zero Forests"

In Ca Mau, Vinamilk , a Vietnamese dairy company, has partnered with the Gaia Nature Conservation Center and Ca Mau Cape National Park to launch a program to regenerate 25 hectares of mangrove forest.

This is an activity by Vinamilk employees as part of a larger project called "Vinamilk Net Zero Forest," aiming to create green spaces to help absorb carbon emissions, moving closer to the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, and contributing to the overall Net Zero 2050 goal that the Vietnamese government has been promoting.

"Mangrove regeneration - Blocking carbon footprint"

This is the message Vinamilk is conveying during this activity at Ca Mau Cape National Park, as it begins a project to cultivate and regenerate 25 hectares of mangrove forest with its partner Gaia, which will last for the next 6 years.

Mr. Le Hoang Minh (left), representing Vinamilk, and Ms. Do Thi Thanh Huyen, representing Gaia, symbolically handed over 25 hectares of mangrove forest, part of the "Vinamilk Net Zero Forest" project, to representatives of the Ca Mau Cape National Park.

According to Ms. Do Thi Thanh Huyen, Founder and CEO of Gaia Nature Conservation Center (an organization partnering with Vinamilk on this project), mangrove forests are an ecosystem that effectively "locks" carbon. Some studies show that the amount of carbon absorbed and stored by mangrove forests can be up to four times greater than that of tropical forests on land, depending on the region. It can be said that mangrove forests are extremely effective "carbon sinks" as they can store carbon for more than 5,000 years. Therefore, the conservation and development of mangrove forests plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change.

“The mangrove forest being cultivated by Vinamilk & Gaia covers an area of ​​25 hectares in the core zone of Ca Mau Cape National Park, with an expected growth of 100,000 to 250,000 mangrove trees. To ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the project, we will coordinate with Ca Mau Cape National Park to implement protection and monitoring activities in the cultivated area such as: raising awareness among the local people through communication; patrolling and monitoring, reinforcing the protective fence of the forest, and conducting research to measure the impacts of the forest over the next 6 years. We hope the forest will grow rapidly and become a large ‘carbon sink’ in the near future,” Ms. Thanh Huyen shared.

The 25-hectare mangrove regeneration area is a joint project between Vinamilk and Gaia in the core zone of Ca Mau Cape National Park.

Vinamilk's total investment in this project is 4 billion VND, covering activities related to forest conservation and natural regeneration, as well as awareness programs for communities living within and around the national park.

It is estimated that 25 hectares of mangrove forest, under normal growth conditions, could form a carbon sink capable of absorbing 17,000-20,000 tons of carbon, equivalent to 62,000-73,000 tons of CO2e. The Ca Mau Cape National Park is a key area within the Ca Mau World Biosphere Reserve, one of Vietnam's RAMSAR sites (Wetlands of World Importance). It is also a place for gene conservation and protection of diverse ecosystems with over 400 species, including more than 40 rare and endangered species such as otters, fishing cats, and reticulated pythons.

Vinamilk employees participated in constructing the first nearly 1,000 meters of fencing out of almost 2,400 meters planned for the regeneration of mangrove forests in Ca Mau Cape National Park.

“The forest regeneration promotion activities implemented by Vinamilk through Gaia at Ca Mau Cape National Park, in addition to helping neutralize carbon and contribute to mitigating the impacts of climate change, also help increase forest cover, gradually extend into the sea, prevent saltwater intrusion, increase wave protection, create a forest ecosystem, and provide habitats for many aquatic species, as well as rare animal and plant species. I believe that with more support and cooperation from businesses, organizations, and the community, the mangrove forests of Ca Mau Cape will grow stronger and stronger,” said Mr. Le Van Dung, Director of Ca Mau Cape National Park.

In this project, Vinamilk employees also directly contribute and participate in the conservation and care of the forest through various activities organized annually. Specifically, to launch the "Vinamilk Net Zero Forest" project in Ca Mau this time, nearly 60 Vinamilk employees participated in the conservation of the forest.

Vinamilk staff are preparing to undertake the task of "building a fence around the aquaculture area" after receiving technical guidance from National Park and Gaia officials.

On this occasion, Vinamilk also donated 5 boats to the Ca Mau Cape National Park to support patrol, inspection, and forest protection activities, and gave more than 4,200 nutritional products to its staff and employees.

Ms. Bui Thi Huong (third from the left) - CEO of Vinamilk, presents 5 boats and 4,200 nutritional products to representatives of Ca Mau Cape National Park.

Forests heading towards Net Zero

Vinamilk is known as a pioneer and active participant in sustainable development activities and its commitment to Net Zero 2050. Besides reducing emissions throughout its value chain, Vinamilk actively promotes tree planting to neutralize carbon. For example, the "Vinamilk Net Zero Forest" project, currently underway, is a practical initiative that helps create green spaces, absorb CO2, and inspire the community to protect nature and encourage tree planting.

Prior to this project, in 2018, also in Ca Mau, Vinamilk and the "Fund for 1 Million Green Trees for Vietnam" program planted nearly 100,000 trees in areas such as: National GPS coordinate marker 0001 - Milestone No. 0, the coastal area of ​​Dat Mui commune (Ngoc Hien district) and Tan Hung commune (Cai Nuoc district),… To date, the forests have all developed, creating large green areas in the locality.

In Ca Mau, in 2018, Vinamilk planted 100,000 trees as part of the "One Million Trees for Vietnam" program.

Participating in the reforestation trip and revisiting the former "1 Million Green Trees Fund" planting area, Mr. Le Hoang Minh, Production Director and Net Zero Project Manager of Vinamilk, said: “Experiencing and understanding more about mangrove forests, seeing the rows of green trees planted 5 years ago now growing tall and healthy, we understand even more clearly why we need to act for nature and the environment. Through these activities, Vinamilk also hopes that all our employees will be positive contributors, working together for the company's sustainable development goals. This will bring shared values ​​and help spread the meaning of the program even further.”

The "One Million Trees for Vietnam Fund" is a program implemented by Vinamilk from 2012 to 2020, in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, planting 1,121,000 trees at 56 locations in 20 provinces and cities with a total value of 12.5 billion VND.

In early 2023, Vinamilk continued its partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in the "Planting Trees Towards Net Zero (2023 - 2027)" initiative with a budget of 15 billion VND. In the future, Vinamilk will continue to promote the creation of more "Vinamilk Net Zero Forests" across Vietnam, making a significant contribution to Vinamilk's roadmap towards Net Zero by 2050.

PV

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/nong-nghiep/vinamilk-hinh-thanh-cac-canh-rung-net-zero/253399.htm