Only 10 years old, Đinh Công Chính, the son of Nguyễn Lệ Quyên and Đinh Công Tú, has narrowly escaped the clutches of death. The scent of incense still lingers in the air.
In a frail state, with a face still reflecting shock, the child frantically runs back and forth, searching the drainage ditch at the end of the house for the silhouettes of his parents… In just a moment, a catastrophic flash flood on September 27, 2005, swept away his home along with eight relatives and neighbors from his village, Ba Khe (Cát Thịnh, Văn Chấn, Yên Bái)…
Few would believe that today’s natural disaster was caused by human hands. Every day, we inadvertently pierce the protective shield of the Earth and destroy ecological balance, leading to unimaginable consequences for humanity, of which this flash flood is just a minor example.
However, in recent years, some regions have recognized this issue and have taken appropriate steps. A notable example is the Bắc Trường Sơn area, considered the “roof” of Hà Tĩnh, which provides freshwater to the residents of Hương Sơn.
The officials and residents here have realized: if forests are destroyed, they cannot retain water, cannot block winds, leading to soil erosion… and natural disasters are inevitable. The community has been empowered to manage land and forests, making them feel responsible for carefully protecting their resources.
The peaceful green color of the vast forests has gradually replaced the barren hills. Along with the return of forests, rare animal species such as elephants and precious langurs have returned to inhabit the area. The locals no longer chase or hunt wild animals as they did in the past but have also planted various fruit trees to provide food for their growth and development. Biodiversity is gradually being restored.
The achievements are due to the successful implementation of the project “Biodiversity Conservation in Bắc Trường Sơn” by the Union of Scientific and Technological Associations of Hà Tĩnh in six communes of Hương Sơn district. The project has helped the community access technical advancements in forestry, cattle farming, and high-yield corn and peanut varieties… promoting economic development while protecting the forests and biodiversity of the Bắc Trường Sơn region, especially in reducing natural disasters. This is a successful model that combines environmental protection with poverty alleviation—a symbiotic model that needs to be replicated.
Regarding his experience, Mr. Lê Quang Uý, the project director, stated: Hương Sơn is a mountainous district, so the economic life of the people faces many difficulties. The community’s aspiration is to develop economically; thus, the project has devised a plan to help them eradicate poverty through livestock breeding, reforestation, and planting fruit trees, corn, and high-yield peanuts…
The households have been assisted with techniques and capital before being granted land for afforestation and fruit tree cultivation. The project has coordinated with local authorities and relevant agencies to allocate 16,000 hectares of forest to 5,000 local households for management and provided 1 million fruit trees, including various types such as longans, persimmons, and mangoes, along with fertilizers.
Each family is responsible for planting about 3 to 5 hectares of forest, including various timber species such as acacia, lim, and chestnut. For every tree planted, the community receives support for labor (700 VND/tree) and fertilizers. To date, the forests, once devastated by indiscriminate logging, are now flourishing with 2,900 hectares. In the near future, one hectare of forest can yield profits ranging from 5 to 10 million VND.
In addition to reforestation, the community has also been guided in cultivating peanuts and high-yield corn to “shorten the gap while lengthening the future.” Planting corn and peanuts provides food for livestock while improving soil quality; simultaneously, it greens bare lands, retains soil, and preserves water, contributing to environmental protection and disaster mitigation.
Agricultural officials assist the community in enhancing a herd of 12,000 cattle, training technicians in communes to directly guide the community in artificial insemination for cattle, birthing assistance, and proper feeding practices…
Additionally, the locality has established a credit fund with an initial capital of about 3 billion VND, allowing residents to borrow for development at low-interest rates. This fund is entirely managed by the community, which sets its own interest rates, thus not only effectively promoting production but also yielding a significant profit (380 million VND) returned to serve the community after four years.
The project “Biodiversity Conservation in Bắc Trường Sơn” has also collaborated with Hanoi University of Science and Technology to create energy-saving stoves for the community, reducing fuel consumption by up to 6% and cooking time by up to 40%, which is also a practical action to protect the forests.
Mr. Uý stated: the establishment of the credit fund and the fuel-efficient stoves are the most timely assistance for the people. It is not only economically and socially significant but also fosters unity among the people to collaboratively combat poverty.
The lives of the residents in the six communes of Hương Sơn district have improved significantly since receiving support from the project. The endless cycle of poverty and lack of food that forced families to leave home in search of work has vanished. The number of poor households has significantly decreased. Families that once had to abandon their homes due to extreme poverty are now returning to their homeland to receive forest land, seedlings, and loan capital to support economic development and can aspire to grow wealthy on their ancestral land.
Although there are no accurate statistics yet, it can be asserted that the consequences of natural disasters across the planet this year are extremely severe. With damages from hurricanes like Katrina and Stan shaking the United States and Europe, followed by earthquakes in South Asia, the human toll has reached five digits, with over 30,000 people dead or missing.
And in just one night in Yên Bái, countless families were shattered, children lost their fathers, and wives lost their husbands. In less than a month, Vietnam has faced consecutive storms and floods in Nam Định, Thanh Hóa, Quảng Ninh, followed by flash floods in Yên Bái, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị, and Thừa Thiên – Huế, resulting in hundreds of casualties, thousands of hectares flooded with salinity, crop losses, and destruction of many civil infrastructure projects… with damages amounting to tens of thousands of billion VND. This alone is enough for us to calmly reflect and develop a strategy for harmonious coexistence with nature.
Phương Anh
