Nearly 2,600 ha of forest have been cultivated in the northern province of Hoa Binh under a project using official development assistance (ODA) from the German Government.

The work was kick-started in May 2007 in Hoa Binh city and Luong Son, Kim Boi, Lac Son and Ky Son districts, focusing on forestation, community-based forest management, and biodiversity conservation.

According to Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Dung, the project has helped improve the local living standards and the environment.

In 2013, more than 227,000 ha of land nationwide were covered with trees, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The country aims to raise the rate of forest coverage to 41.5 percent this year.-VNA