Lao Cai (VNA) - The national action month for environmental protection kicked off at a ceremony in Lao Cai city on June 4 jointly held by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Lao Cai provincial People's Committee.
The ceremony was held in response to World Environment Day on June 6 which aims to inspire people around the world to take action to prevent the strain on Earth’s natural systems from reaching breaking point.
This year's theme "Nature’s Call and Our Actions" is the fight against illegal wildlife trade, which erodes the precious biodiversity and threatens the survival of awe-inspiring species, such as elephants, rhinos and tigers, as well as other creatures that are less celebrated.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung emphasised that the Party, State and Government have always paid special attention to environmental protection, conservation of biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change, and considered it a key, strategic task.
He asked ministries, sectors and localities to strengthen the capacity of State management on environmental protection, enhance inspection on issues related to the environment, as well as promote the role of political, social organisations and local communities in monitoring the implementation of regulations on the environment.
Vietnam has responded to World Environment Day as an annual activity since 1982, said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, adding that this year, the ministry holds a series of responding activities that encourage the involvement of the community to join hands in addressing urgent environmental issues in localities.
As part of the national action month for environmental protection, Lao Cai province planted trees and released wild animals to the forest at the Hoang Lien National Park in Sa Pa district on June 5.
In response to World Environment Day, an additional 3,000 pine trees were planted in Da Lat city, the Central Highlands of Lam Dong.
Apart from activities such as meeting and beach cleaning, the People's Committee of central Ninh Thuan province released 260,000 aquatic breeders to the sea.-VNA