Directive No. 06/1999/CT-TTg On organizing the "Forever Grateful to President Ho Chi Minh" Tree Planting Festival, the 40th time

DIRECTIVE

Regarding the organization of the "Planting Trees Festival 'Forever Grateful to President Ho Chi Minh'" for the 40th time

Implementing the Tree Planting Festival initiated by President Ho Chi Minh, over the past 39 years, all levels, sectors, localities, units, organizations, and people across the country have actively participated in planting trees and establishing forests, achieving significant results. The tree planting movement has developed strongly, planted forests have played a protective role, improved the ecological environment and landscape, and provided forest products to meet the needs of economic and social development.

In 1999, it is the 40th year implementing the "Tree Planting Festival" forever grateful to President Ho Chi Minh, and also the first year implementing the project to plant five million hectares of new forests. To continue promoting the fine tradition of the nation regarding the "Tree Planting Festival," the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. Organizing the 40th Tree Planting Festival must create a strong, continuous, and regular movement, bringing about new changes, mobilizing all strata of the people, all organizations, agencies, enterprises, schools, and armed forces to actively participate in planting trees, caring for, and protecting trees and forests.

2. Strengthen propaganda on the significance and benefits of the Tree Planting Festival, the tree planting and forest establishment campaign initiated by President Ho Chi Minh; the role of green trees and forests in protecting the ecological environment and developing the economy and society. Encourage all strata of the people and all economic sectors to accept land for planting trees and forests, protecting and managing green trees and forests.

3. The Tree Planting Festival will be implemented over seven days called the "Week of the Tree Planting Festival Forever Grateful to President Ho Chi Minh."

- For provinces and cities in the northern region, starting from the day the Party was founded, February 3.

- For provinces and cities in the southern region, starting from President's birthday, May 19.

Depending on weather conditions, agricultural seasons, and land availability, arrange the Tree Planting Week appropriately and effectively.

4. Localities and units need to develop specific plans regarding planting locations, types of trees, planting organization, and forest protection for the Tree Planting Week and throughout the year; promote the allocation of land and forests to organizations, households, and individuals for planting trees and forests, achieving both high economic efficiency and protective functions, improving the landscape.

- For the delta regions, select and arrange planting trees in vacant lands around houses, gardens, along roads, along riverbanks, canal banks, field boundaries, pagodas, temples, etc., building rows of trees and tree-lined streets to protect farmland, provide wood, firewood, flowers, and fruits.

- For cities, towns, market towns, choose important traffic routes, parks; build green streets and green parks with shade trees and create landscapes.

- Within agencies, enterprises, units, schools, hospitals, residential areas: arrange planting green trees to provide shade for rest and health recovery; establish fruit orchards, flower beds, creating a clean and beautiful green environment.

- For midland and mountainous regions, plant trees in vacant lands that can improve soil quality, prevent erosion, grow fruit trees, build hills and orchards in memory of President Ho Chi Minh; create models of forest gardens and forest farms.

- For coastal areas and land near dikes, arrange them into windbreaks, wave barriers, land reclamation areas, sand barriers.

5. Nationwide this year, there will not be a launch ceremony for the Tree Planting Festival at a specific location as before, but all provinces and cities throughout the country will organize launch ceremonies, among which seven locations will be selected to invite leaders of the Party and State to participate in the Tree Planting Festival, specifically: the Presidential Palace, Hanoi Capital, Cao Bang, Nghe An, Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Giang, Ba Vi National Park.

6. Ministries, sectors, and localities are responsible for:

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall direct and guide localities and sectors in organizing the implementation of the Tree Planting Festival.

- Provinces and cities need to promptly establish steering committees at the county and commune levels, involving organizations and the people in the province to implement the Tree Planting Festival, prepare planting sites, and ensure sufficient seedlings to support units and people participating in planting.

- Ministries, sectors, central agencies, and mass organizations shall guide subordinate units in organizing the Tree Planting Festival according to the directive of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

- News agencies, press, radio, television shall strengthen propaganda on the Tree Planting Festival and the program to plant five million hectares of new forests.

- After completing the Tree Planting Week, provinces, cities, ministries, sectors, and mass organizations shall report the results to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for consolidation and reporting to the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister requests the heads of ministries and sectors at the central level and the Chairmen of People's Committees of centrally governed provinces and cities to effectively implement this Directive so that from now on, the Tree Planting Festival truly becomes a driving force to promote the tree planting and forest protection movement among all sectors, levels, and strata of the people nationwide, achieving high effectiveness./.