Timeless Charm
Xin chao! Welcome to Vietnam.
Vietnam is a long, narrow, and mountainous country that stretches along the South China Sea. It is a place with rich traditions, stunning landscapes, and friendly people. Vietnam has a long history of being connected closely to the natural environment. For thousands of years, many people lived in the countryside, farming the land and grazing their animals. People understood the importance of protecting the rare trees, plants, and animals that made their home so beautiful.
Like in many other parts of Southeast Asia, Vietnam is now having trouble conserving its forests. In the last fifty years, over half of the native forests in Vietnam have disappeared. Surprisingly, one of the reasons so many trees are being cut is to plant new trees.
How can planting new trees be bad for the environment?
Many people are cutting native trees, and planting “crop” trees in their place. In Vietnam, farmers sometimes plant trees like they plant rice or beans. People all over the world will buy large, old native trees for a lot of money. So, the big trees are cut down and sold, and new trees, like palms and rubber trees, are planted on the empty land. The new trees grow quickly and also bring the farmer a lot of money when the palm oil or rubber is sold. Rubber and palm trees do provide oxygen, absorb CO2, and help shade the land and hold the soil. But, the way they are being planted is hurting the environment. Where once there was a forest full of many different kinds of trees, plants, flowers, animals, and birds, now the land is covered in neat rows of only one kind of tree. Many plants and animals are gone. Including the Javan Rhinoceros, which went extinct in Vietnam in 2011. The country is loosing its biodiversity!
Scientists are working quickly to help farmers and loggers understand the importance of protecting native forests, and help preserve Vietnam’s “timeless charm” for generations to come.
Vietnam is a long, narrow, and mountainous country that stretches along the South China Sea. It is a place with rich traditions, stunning landscapes, and friendly people. Vietnam has a long history of being connected closely to the natural environment. For thousands of years, many people lived in the countryside, farming the land and grazing their animals. People understood the importance of protecting the rare trees, plants, and animals that made their home so beautiful.
Like in many other parts of Southeast Asia, Vietnam is now having trouble conserving its forests. In the last fifty years, over half of the native forests in Vietnam have disappeared. Surprisingly, one of the reasons so many trees are being cut is to plant new trees.
How can planting new trees be bad for the environment?
Many people are cutting native trees, and planting “crop” trees in their place. In Vietnam, farmers sometimes plant trees like they plant rice or beans. People all over the world will buy large, old native trees for a lot of money. So, the big trees are cut down and sold, and new trees, like palms and rubber trees, are planted on the empty land. The new trees grow quickly and also bring the farmer a lot of money when the palm oil or rubber is sold. Rubber and palm trees do provide oxygen, absorb CO2, and help shade the land and hold the soil. But, the way they are being planted is hurting the environment. Where once there was a forest full of many different kinds of trees, plants, flowers, animals, and birds, now the land is covered in neat rows of only one kind of tree. Many plants and animals are gone. Including the Javan Rhinoceros, which went extinct in Vietnam in 2011. The country is loosing its biodiversity!
Scientists are working quickly to help farmers and loggers understand the importance of protecting native forests, and help preserve Vietnam’s “timeless charm” for generations to come.