Hanoi expands urban vegetation

THE HANOI TIMES — Recognizing the role of urban vegetation in mitigating urban heat and improving residents' living environment, Hanoi authorities have set a goal to plant some 700,000 new trees of various species citywide this year, including 350,000 fruit trees.

The move is part of the city's contribution to the national program aimed at planting one billion trees in Vietnam between 2021 and 2025. This year, Hanoi plans to plant 200,000-250,000 shade and timber trees along urban traffic routes, along with 200,000 fruit trees.

Agencies have been tasked with restoring storm-damaged urban trees and planting along new roads, especially Ring Road 4 and in vacant and unused land.

Hanoi has also urged all departments, organizations, and localities to review their plans and speed up implementation to ensure that the tree planting and afforestation targets for 2021-2025 are met or exceeded on time.

In 2025, Hanoi plans to grow an additional 20-30 hectares of production forests and strengthen the care and protection of special-use and protection forests to maintain a stable forest coverage rate across the city.

The city will continue to plant more trees and remove old and rotten ones to improve the urban landscape and traffic safety, and protect the environment.

Statistics from the Hanoi Department of Construction show that there are about 1.8 million trees in the city, which provide green space, help balance the ecology, and bring a fresh environment.

Trees and water features in urban areas can help reduce air temperatures by 3.3 degrees Celsius, especially if tree cover accounts for 20-50% of the urban area. Urban trees can also help cut 40-50% of solar radiation and absorb 70-75% of solar energy, according to the department.

It has asked the relevant units to draw up an annual plan to plant more trees in urban areas, industrial parks, and along roads and streets in the suburbs.

Besides planting trees, the department has also taken care to remove all old, rotten, decaying, and misshapen trees.

"Hanoi has stepped up tree care and safety, especially during the rainy and stormy season," said Nguyen Phi Thuong, Director of the Hanoi Construction Department.

She said the city will draw up a plan to replace old, stunted, and leaning trees that do not meet the aesthetic requirements and to replace dead trees that pose a safety hazard.

"Replacing old and rotten trees is necessary to avoid possible accidents, but the trees should be carefully examined before cutting them down. The big old trees, the iconic symbol of Hanoi, will be taken care of and regularly inspected for preservation," said Thuong.