The 'Leaf for Forest Restoration' Campaign to Restore 50 Hectares of Northwest Forests in 2024

On August 20, 2024, in Hang Kia Commune (Mai Chau District, Hoa Binh Province), Vietnam Airlines, MoMo, the Center for People and Nature (PanNature), and the Hang Kia – Pà Cò Nature Reserve, in collaboration with local authorities, organized the "Leaf for Forest Restoration – For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam" event to restore forests at the Hang Kia – Pà Cò Nature Reserve.

In this first phase, the program planted a total of 16,000 native trees over an area of 24 hectares at the Hang Kia – Pà Cò Nature Reserve, Mai Chau District, Hoa Binh Province, to increase forest cover and restore habitats in the area. At the same time, the community in Van Ho Commune (Van Ho District, Son La Province) also continued to green 3 hectares in the corridor area extending to the Hang Kia – Pà Cò Nature Reserve. The total area restored across both regions is 27 hectares, with 18,000 native trees planted.

This is the first step in implementing the "Leaf for Forest Restoration – For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam" initiative co-launched by Vietnam Airlines and MoMo.

Officially launched on World Environment Day – June 5, 2024, after nearly three months of implementation, the "Leaf for Forest Restoration" campaign has successfully raised sufficient funds to achieve the goal of restoring the first 25 hectares of forest by August 20, 2024. The remaining areas will be restored in the Hang Kia – Pà Cò and Van Ho regions in the next phase.

Mr. Đặng Anh Tuấn, Deputy CEO of Vietnam Airlines, shared: "As the National Flag Carrier, Vietnam Airlines always strives towards activities that promote sustainable development, help preserve nature, protect the environment, and reduce CO2 emissions. We are proud to contribute to the restoration of 50 hectares of forest in Hoa Binh and Son La in 2024 through the 'Leaf for Forest Restoration – For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam' campaign. Environmental protection is the responsibility of every individual and organization, and Vietnam Airlines is committed to continuing to support nature conservation activities to contribute to reducing net emissions and combating the escalating global climate change."

Mr. Nguyễn Hoành Tiến, Senior Deputy CEO – Head of Marketing and Distribution Solutions at MoMo, expressed: "MoMo is not only a payment platform and provider of financial services but also trusted as the largest online charity platform in Vietnam. We are honored to bridge technology and make online donations through ticket bookings a new and meaningful experience for users. This is an effort MoMo hopes will help spread the 'small actions, big meaning' concept to raise community awareness. We are confident that the 'Leaf for Forest Restoration' project will achieve great success, becoming a stepping stone for future charity activities aimed at promoting sustainable tourism conservation by MoMo."

Hang Kia – Pà Cò is a small nature reserve covering an area of 5,258 hectares, located in Mai Chau District, Hoa Binh Province, at an altitude of 500 – 1500 meters above sea level. The reserve was established in 2000 with the goal of preserving the forest ecosystem on limestone mountains, species of gymnosperms, and rare animals in the region.

Previously, Hang Kia – Pà Cò was one of the highlights along the Northwest route, with its ancient forests still retaining many pristine features along National Highway 6. However, due to the pressure from agricultural activities, most of the forest in the reserve is now limited to the mountain peaks, while in the lower valleys and on relatively gentle slopes, the land is used for farming.

Hang Kia and Pà Cò are two communes entirely within the reserve, with the majority of the population belonging to the Hmong ethnic group. Surrounded by forests and limestone mountains, with a cool climate year-round, the locals still maintain traditional cultural practices such as hand weaving, embroidering textiles, and beeswax painting. Hang Kia – Pà Cò is an unmissable destination for travelers who want to explore the pristine beauty of the Northwest mountains and experience the simple, close-knit life of the local people.

Mr. Nguyễn Thành Lương, Head of the Hang Kia – Pà Cò Nature Reserve Management Board, shared: “Restoring the forest ecosystem is a major challenge for the Reserve. The management board, local authorities, and communities are working hard and are determined to restore the forest ecosystem, preserve biodiversity, and promote ecological tourism and experiential tourism in this area.”

The "Góp Lá Vá Rừng – Vì Một Việt Nam Xanh và Phát Triển Bền Vững" (Leaf Contribution for Reforestation - For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam) initiative carries profound social significance. Through this initiative, customers who purchase Vietnam Airlines tickets directly on MoMo or make payments via MoMo can “do good” and “contribute leaves” to the forest restoration efforts in the simplest and most convenient way. Reforestation not only improves the livelihoods of local communities but also protects water resources, enhances air quality, increases carbon absorption, and helps the Earth reach its Net Zero goal by 2050.

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