Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy, Director of the Sustainability Coordination Board of TH Group, at the “Patching the Forest on Rocky Mountain” event

The event was attended by nearly 300 people, including Van Ho Youth Union, Van Ho Women's Union, employees of TH Group (the owner of TH true MILK brand), the Natural Resource Management Community Network, and advocates of forest restoration from many provinces and cities such as Gia Lai, Hanoi, Quang Binh, Ha Giang, Lai Chau and Son La.

Increasing forest coverage

TH true MILK sponsors thousands of seedlings to Van Ho district, Son La province

Van Ho district has a strip of old forests on limestone mountains with a diverse flora and fauna system but the forest area is currently fragmented and degraded due to pressures from social and economic development. An estimated 30% of the forest area needs to be restored to ensure the natural landscape and keep the habitat for the white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) - an endemic and critically endangered primate in the world.

After many field surveys and analyses, forest environmentalists decided to choose a way to restore fragmented and degraded forest patches in Pa Cop and Hua Tat, Van Ho district by planting native tree varieties - the main food source of rare white-cheeked gibbons. This is the main wild habitat of the rare white-cheeked gibbon population in Asia, with 14 individuals being strictly protected by the people, authorities and environmental organizations. Currently, the gibbon herd is facing the risk of being threatened in terms of habitat and food sources due to increasingly degraded and fragmented forests.

Afforestation is launched in Pa Cop and Hua Tat villages, Van Ho commune - the main habitat of rare white-cheeked gibbons

“Like the act of patching a shirt after a long time of use without proper care, it has got torn. Now, let's climb mountains and patch up the green forest together!" said environmentalist Trinh Le Nguyen, Director of PanNature.

At the launching ceremony, Mr. Pham Quang Thao, Vice President of VUSTA, said: “Forest restoration is not only of ecological and biodiverse significance but also helpfully supports local economic development with community tourism, ecotourism and other forms of tourism.”

Wholeheartedly planting forests with villagers

On that day, Phang Thi Ca, Head of the Hua Tat Women's Union and 14 other member women formed an important force, joining nearly 300 other people to carry out more than 1,000 seedlings, 50kg of organic fertilizers and other things to climb rock mountains to patch torn forests.

After climbing many cliffs, the forest-patching group reached the destination - an area with only a few shadows of low shrubs. It seems that, with just one more flood, this swathe of forest could be washed away, leaving only stony sediments higher than an adult height.

A forest planting team in Hua Tat village stopped for a drink and Mr. Phan Van Thang, project coordinator of PanNature, began to disseminate the content and instructions on where and how to plant trees to other people. At that time, it was surprising to know that Ca was six months pregnant!

Local residents join hands to protect forests

When she was asked about her so risky act, Ca kept smiling: “H'Mong women are doing alike. I climb mountains to work every day and giving birth is as easy as a usual thing. There's nothing to fear.”

“It turns out to be that but why don't you go to work today? Are you paid for this forest planting?” others asked. "I am not paid anything. The organizers provided only a free lunch. But TH True MILK Group from afar still came and presented up to 1,000 seedlings and many other people also raised money and joined forces to "patch the forest". Why don't I go?" she replied.

In her conversation, she mentioned Xoai, a 10-year-old son of a sustainability officer at TH Group, who also joined the forest growing event: “To know how risky I am, just ask Xoai and his family. He climbed the mountains and moved across forests like an adult and planted trees as an adult too. He carefully placed seeds into rock crevices like a H'Mong man who knows how to sow seeds in rocks. They all came here to plant forests with our villagers with all their whole hearts and hoped the planted trees would grow well to feed gibbons and bring a better life for local people. So, why don't I go?"

Covering the green on bare land in Van Ho, Son La to preserve rare white-cheeked gibbons

Actually, forest planting is joined by many people and organizations.

TH Group, which positions the "green path" for a sustainable future, is always a leading business group to adopt green economy and circular economy through a closed circular production chain to make high-quality products, generate clean energy, reduce carbon emissions and protect water resources and with a range of sustainable consumption solutions.

Phang Thi Ca, Head of Hua Tat Women's Union, is resting after together with others planting nearly 200 plants on the rocky-mountains

TH is also a founder and member of major organizations in Vietnam to show its responsibility to reduce plastic waste, protect the environment and conserve biodiversity. For example, it is the founder of Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam), the founder of the Vietnam Business Alliance for the Environment (VB4E) and an active member of the Alliance of Retailers reducing consumption of single-use plastic bags.

Tree planting is considered a proud annual tradition of all employees of TH Group. In 2021-2022, nearly 40,000 trees were planted around TH factories.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy, Director of the Sustainability Coordination Board of TH Group, said: “TH Group's sustainable development policy consists of six pillars: Nutrition and health, Environment, People, and Education, Community, and Animal Welfare. When we adopt green business development, we understand that forest ecosystem restoration has been an urgent task for decades. TH Group is committed to accompanying people, local authorities and environmental-loving organizations in various forest protection and restoration activities.”

Like Xoai and Ca, they did not choose to stop when they felt tired. They chose to leave behind a leisurely, restful Sunday for their own but joined together to climb high mountains to cultivate green plants. Actions and commitments by environment-loving individuals and businesses at the "Patching the Forest on Rocky Mountain” Program are steadfast and persistent.