Mr Hung said at the meeting held on April 27 that efforts should be continued to cover bare land and hills with trees and to improve the quality and value of forests. He said the Progamme to Protect and Develop Forests from 2011-2020 must be connected closely to other programmes that counter climate change, prevent natural disasters and build new rural areas.

The Deputy PM considered raising public awareness of the issue an important task in developing the country and handling social problems, particularly poverty.

Mr Hung asked relevant agencies to put an end to the illegal appropriation of forest land, strengthen forest protection forces, and complete policies on protecting forests and afforestation.

Over the past 13 years, the project to plant five million hectares of forest has increased forest coverage, improved the ecology and created millions of jobs, helping to raise local people’s living standards. More than 3.73 million hectares of forest has been grown, accounting for nearly 75 percent of the set target.

However, the rate of forest coverage remains low and there are still shortcomings in forest-related laws as well as policies on encouraging afforestation.