Deforestation in vietnam from the perspective of the media climate model (1)

--- Page 1 --- Table of Contents 1. Introduction Deforestation in Vietnam has become a serious environmental problem in recent years. It has caused many consequences for ecosystems and human life. According to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2023, about 2,500 ha of forest were lost due to forest fires and illegal logging (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2023). Although the total forest area tends to increase slightly, the quality of forests is severely degrading, especially primary forests. To analyze this issue more deeply, this essay will apply the Media Climate Model. This is a theoretical framework with 8 main factors: elemental, technicity, visuality, networks, geopower, human power, relationships, and planetarity. This model provides a multidimensional approach to better understand the factors impacting deforestation and the relationships between them. The research question is: How does the Media Climate Model help understand and solve the deforestation problem in Vietnam? By analyzing the deforestation issue from the perspective of the 8 factors in the model, the essay will provide a comprehensive view of human impacts on forest resources. From there, it will propose effective solutions to protect and sustainably develop forests in Vietnam. 2. Overview of deforestation in Vietnam 2.1. Current state of forests in Vietnam The current state of forests in Vietnam in recent years has had positive changes. This shows the efforts of the government and people in forest protection and development. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, by 2022, the total forest area of Vietnam reached 14,790,075 ha. Natural forests accounted for 10,134,082 ha and plantations were 4,655,933 ha. The forest cover rate increased significantly, reaching 42.02% in 2022 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2023). Figure 1. The current state of Vietnam''''s forests as of 2019 Notably, Vietnam has successfully implemented the program of planting 1 billion new trees in the 2021-2025 period. By the end of 2023, the whole country had planted more than 700 million trees, exceeding the plan by 40% (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024). It is expected that by 2025, this program will complete its goal, making an important contribution to increasing forest cover and improving the ecological environment. In addition, forest quality has also improved considerably. The area of special-use forests and protection forests that are strictly protected has increased, reaching about 6.8 million ha in 2023 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024). Nature reserves and national parks have been expanded, contributing to protecting biodiversity and precious ecosystems. In particular, the area of coastal mangrove forests increased from 270,000 ha in 2015 to about 300,000 ha in 2023, playing an important role in preventing coastal erosion and responding to climate change (Mekong Eye, 2024). Sustainable forest management has also achieved positive results. By 2023, about 300,000 ha of forests were certified for sustainable forest management according to FSC international standards, doubling compared to 2018 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024). This not only helps increase the economic value of forests but also ensures sustainability in exploiting and using forest resources. It is expected that by 2025, the certified forest area will reach about 500,000 ha, making an important contribution to developing the forestry sector in a sustainable and environmentally friendly direction. 2.2. Overview of deforestation: Current situation, causes and consequences The forest area lost in Vietnam during the 2011-2024 period is still a concerning issue, despite efforts in forest protection and development. According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, from 2011 to 2024, the total damaged forest area is estimated at more than 22,800 ha. Of which, about 13,700 ha of forests were lost due to forest fires, the rest was due to illegal logging. On average, Vietnam loses about 2,500 ha of forests each year, this figure shows that the rate of forest degradation is still at an alarming level (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024). Notably, although the number of forest law violations tends to decrease, the damaged forest area does not decrease correspondingly. Specifically, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the number of forestry violations decreased from 16,531 cases in 2017 to 10,731 cases in 2019, equivalent to a 35% decrease. However, the damaged forest area only decreased by 11.9%, from 2,924 ha in 2015 to 2,575 ha in 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2020). The deforestation situation in recent years is still complicated. According to the latest data, in the first 4 months of 2024, there were 89 forest fires nationwide with an estimated affected forest area of about 498 ha, an increase of more than 25% compared to the same period in 2023 (Forestry Protection Department, 2024). The main causes of deforestation include illegal logging, conversion of forest land to other uses, and forest fires. In particular, the Central Highlands region is still a hotspot for deforestation, illegal exploitation, trading and transportation of forest products (Forestry Protection Department Region IV, 2024). In addition, climate change also contributes to the loss of a large forest area due to forest fires and landslides. For example, in Ca Mau province, nearly 5,000 ha of coastal protection forests have been lost in the past 10 years due to the impacts of climate change and erosion (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2023). The consequences of deforestation on the environment and human life are extremely serious. Forest loss reduces biodiversity, affects ecosystems and rare and precious flora and fauna. According to the IUCN Red List 2019, the risk of extinction increased for a quarter of species compared to the 2008 assessment. Among the 25 Critically Endangered primate species recognized globally, Vietnam especially boasts five indigenous species (IUCN, 2019). Deforestation immediately affects the lives and livelihoods of people by generating water scarcity, soil erosion, and flood risk, therefore compromising communities dependent on trees greatly. --- Page 2 --- 3. Analyzing the deforestation issue using the Media Climate Model 3.1. Elemental factor The Media Climate Model provides a multidimensional perspective on the role of forests as an elemental factor in the global ecosystem. Forests contribute to maintain climatic balance by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) and producing oxygen. Over half of the CO2 emissions from the use of fossil fuels are absorbed by forests globally annually—about 16 billion tons—according data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Forests in Vietnam reportedly absorb between 30 and 40 million tons of CO2 year, according estimates from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. However, deforestation is severely reducing this CO2 absorption capacity. According to a 2019 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimate, roughly 11% of the global greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation and degradation of forests. Though the overall amount of woods appears to have lately considerably expanded, the quality of forests has deteriorated dramatically in Vietnam. This reduces the capacity of plants to absorb CO2, therefore increasing climate change. Should the status of deforestation and forest degradation continue unchecked by 2024, Vietnam''''s forests'''' potential for absorbing CO2 might decline to 25–35 million tons yearly (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2024). The Media Climate Model emphasizes that protecting and developing forests is not only an environmental issue but also an important factor in responding to global climate change. Reducing deforestation and increasing afforestation can make a significant contribution to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the increase in global temperature. 3.2. Technicity factor The technicity factor plays an important role in the issue of deforestation, including both timber harvesting technology, forest land clearing, and forest monitoring and protection technologies. Regarding timber harvesting technology, modern methods such as using electric saws, tractors and specialized trucks have significantly increased harvesting efficiency, but have also caused many negative impacts on the forest ecosystem. According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the timber output exploited in the whole Central Highlands region in the first 3 months of 2024 reached 396,227.34 m3 of all kinds of wood, although it decreased by 16.14% compared to the same period last year, it is still an alarming number (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024). On the side of forest protection, forest fire monitoring and early warning technology has made significant progress. In particular, the application of 4.0 technology in signs of forest fire forecast level has brought high efficiency. This system has the ability to automatically collect meteorological factors to calculate the level of forest fire forecast and control the rotation, helping to issue timely warnings in emergency cases (Forest Protection Department, 2024). In addition, the software for early detection of suspected forest fire points applied in Tuyen Quang province from January 2024 has proven effective in detecting and promptly handling suspected fire points (Tuyen Quang Provincial People''''s Committee, 2024). Official Dispatch No. 31/CĐ-TTg in 2024 of the Prime Minister also emphasizes the enhancement of technology application in forest fire prevention and fighting. This shows the government''''s attention in applying technology to protect forests more effectively (Prime Minister, 2024). 3.3. Visuality factor The visuality factor plays an important role in raising awareness about the issue of deforestation and its impact on the environment. Images of devastated forest landscapes have the power to convey a strong message about the consequences of deforestation. According to a report by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, by 2024, the forest area lost due to forest fires and illegal logging is estimated at about 2,500 ha per year (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2024). Images of burnt forests and bare hills after illegal exploitation have contributed to creating concern and worry in the community about the issue of forest protection. In addition, charts and maps of forest decline also provide visual information about the state of forests. According to data from the Forestry Protection Department Region IV, the average forest cover rate in the whole Central Highlands and South Central Coast region reached 48.96% in 2023, an increase of 0.25% compared to 2022 (Forestry Protection Department Region IV, 2023). Although there is a slight increase, the comparison maps over the years show a significant decline in forest quality, especially primary forests. The use of remote sensing and GIS technology in creating maps and images of forest conditions has helped managers and the public have a more comprehensive and detailed view of forest changes. This plays an important role in policy making and raising community awareness about forest protection. 3.4. Networks factor The networks factor in the issue of deforestation in Vietnam is manifested in two main aspects: the network of illegal timber trade and transportation, and the network of nature conservation organizations. Regarding the network of illegal timber trade, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first 3 months of 2024, localities in the Central Highlands detected and handled 1,245 cases of violations of the Forestry Law, a decrease of 15.71% compared to the same period in 2023 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024). Although there is a slight decrease, these networks still operate with increasingly sophisticated methods, especially in border areas and seaports. On the side of forest protection, the network of nature conservation organizations plays an important role in monitoring, protecting forests and raising community awareness. According to Official Dispatch No. 31/CĐ-TTg in 2024, the Prime Minister requested strengthening coordination between authorities and social organizations in forest protection (Prime Minister, 2024). Notably, the application of 4.0 technology in forest monitoring has created an effective information network. The forest fire warning system applying modern information technology operates synchronously and automatically from the stage of collecting meteorological information to issuing news and maps of forest fire warning (Forest Protection Department, 2024). This shows the increasingly close and effective combination of technology and human networks in forest protection. 3.5. Geopower factor The geopower factor plays an important role in the issue of deforestation in Vietnam, expressed through the state''''s forest management policies and disputes over forest resources. The Vietnamese government has issued many policies to protect and develop forests, in which the program of planting 1 billion new trees in the 2021-2025 period is outstanding. According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, by the end of 2023, the whole country had planted more than 700 million trees, exceeding the plan by 40% (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2023). This shows the government''''s determination in increasing forest cover and improving the ecological environment. However, the implementation of these policies still faces many challenges, especially in remote areas. Data from the Forestry Protection Department Region IV reveal that during the first three months of 2024, villages in the Central Highlands registered and dealt with 1,245 events of Forestry Law breaches. This underlines the importance of improving management of violations in the forestry sector, monitoring, and inspection.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Overview of deforestation in Vietnam 1

2.1 Current state of forests in Vietnam 1

2.2 Overview of deforestation: Current situation, causes and consequences 3

3 Analyzing the deforestation issue using the Media Climate Model 4

3.1 Elemental factor 4

3.2 Technicity factor 5

3.3 Visuality factor 6

3.4 Networks factor 6

3.5 Geopower factor 7

3.6 Human power factor 8

3.7 Relationships factor 8

3.8 Planetarity factor 9

4 Proposed solutions for the deforestation issue in Vietnam 9

5 Conclusion 11

6 References 11

1 Introduction

Deforestation in Vietnam has become a serious environmental problem in recent years It has caused many consequences for ecosystems and human life According to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2023, about 2,500 ha of forest were lost due

to forest fires and illegal logging (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2023) Although the total forest area tends to increase slightly, the quality of forests is severely degrading, especially primary forests To analyze this issue more deeply, this essay will apply the Media Climate Model This is a theoretical framework with 8 main factors: elemental, technicity, visuality, networks, geopower, human power, relationships, and planetarity This model provides a multidimensional approach to better understand the factors impacting deforestation and the relationships between them

The research question is: How does the Media Climate Model help understand and solve the deforestation problem in Vietnam? By analyzing the deforestation issue from the perspective

of the 8 factors in the model, the essay will provide a comprehensive view of human impacts on forest resources From there, it will propose effective solutions to protect and sustainably develop forests in Vietnam

2 Overview of deforestation in Vietnam

2.1 Current state of forests in Vietnam

The current state of forests in Vietnam in recent years has had positive changes This shows the efforts of the government and people in forest protection and development According

to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, by 2022, the total forest area of Vietnam reached 14,790,075 ha Natural forests accounted for 10,134,082 ha and plantations were 4,655,933 ha The forest cover rate increased significantly, reaching 42.02% in 2022 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2023)

Figure 1 The current state of Vietnam's forests as of 2019

Notably, Vietnam has successfully implemented the program of planting 1 billion new trees in the 2021-2025 period By the end of 2023, the whole country had planted more than 700 million trees, exceeding the plan by 40% (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024) It is expected that by 2025, this program will complete its goal, making an important contribution to increasing forest cover and improving the ecological environment

In addition, forest quality has also improved considerably The area of special-use forests and protection forests that are strictly protected has increased, reaching about 6.8 million ha in

2023 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024) Nature reserves and national parks have been expanded, contributing to protecting biodiversity and precious ecosystems In particular, the area of coastal mangrove forests increased from 270,000 ha in 2015 to about 300,000 ha in 2023, playing an important role in preventing coastal erosion and responding to climate change (Mekong Eye, 2024)

Sustainable forest management has also achieved positive results By 2023, about 300,000 ha of forests were certified for sustainable forest management according to FSC international standards, doubling compared to 2018 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024) This not only helps increase the economic value of forests but also ensures sustainability in exploiting and using forest resources It is expected that by 2025, the certified forest area will reach about 500,000 ha, making an important contribution to developing the forestry sector in a sustainable and environmentally friendly direction

2.2 Overview of deforestation: Current situation, causes and consequences

The forest area lost in Vietnam during the 2011-2024 period is still a concerning issue, despite efforts in forest protection and development According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, from 2011 to 2024, the total damaged forest area is estimated at more than 22,800 ha Of which, about 13,700 ha of forests were lost due to forest fires, the rest was due to illegal logging On average, Vietnam loses about 2,500 ha of forests each year, this figure shows that the rate of forest degradation is still at an alarming level (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024)

Notably, although the number of forest law violations tends to decrease, the damaged forest area does not decrease correspondingly Specifically, according to a report by the Ministry

of Agriculture and Rural Development, the number of forestry violations decreased from 16,531 cases in 2017 to 10,731 cases in 2019, equivalent to a 35% decrease However, the damaged forest area only decreased by 11.9%, from 2,924 ha in 2015 to 2,575 ha in 2019 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2020)

The deforestation situation in recent years is still complicated According to the latest data, in the first 4 months of 2024, there were 89 forest fires nationwide with an estimated affected forest area of about 498 ha, an increase of more than 25% compared to the same period

in 2023 (Forestry Protection Department, 2024)

The main causes of deforestation include illegal logging, conversion of forest land to other uses, and forest fires In particular, the Central Highlands region is still a hotspot for deforestation, illegal exploitation, trading and transportation of forest products (Forestry Protection Department Region IV, 2024) In addition, climate change also contributes to the loss

of a large forest area due to forest fires and landslides For example, in Ca Mau province, nearly 5,000 ha of coastal protection forests have been lost in the past 10 years due to the impacts of climate change and erosion (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2023)

The consequences of deforestation on the environment and human life are extremely serious Forest loss reduces biodiversity, affects ecosystems and rare and precious flora and fauna According to the IUCN Red List 2019, the risk of extinction increased for a quarter of species compared to the 2008 assessment Among the 25 Critically Endangered primate species recognized globally, Vietnam especially boasts five indigenous species (IUCN, 2019) Deforestation immediately affects the lives and livelihoods of people by generating water scarcity, soil erosion, and flood risk, therefore compromising communities dependent on trees greatly

3 Analyzing the deforestation issue using the Media Climate Model

3.1 Elemental factor

The Media Climate Model provides a multidimensional perspective on the role of forests

as an elemental factor in the global ecosystem Forests contribute to maintain climatic balance

by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) and producing oxygen Over half of the CO2 emissions from the use of fossil fuels are absorbed by forests globally annually—about 16 billion tons— according data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Forests in Vietnam reportedly absorb between 30 and 40 million tons of CO2 year, according estimates from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

However, deforestation is severely reducing this CO2 absorption capacity According to a

2019 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimate, roughly 11% of the global greenhouse gas emissions come from deforestation and degradation of forests Though the overall amount of woods appears to have lately considerably expanded, the quality of forests has deteriorated dramatically in Vietnam This reduces the capacity of plants to absorb CO2, therefore increasing climate change Should the status of deforestation and forest degradation continue unchecked by 2024, Vietnam's forests' potential for absorbing CO2 might decline to 25–35 million tons yearly (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2024)

The Media Climate Model emphasizes that protecting and developing forests is not only

an environmental issue but also an important factor in responding to global climate change Reducing deforestation and increasing afforestation can make a significant contribution to efforts

to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the increase in global temperature

3.2 Technicity factor

The technicity factor plays an important role in the issue of deforestation, including both timber harvesting technology, forest land clearing, and forest monitoring and protection technologies Regarding timber harvesting technology, modern methods such as using electric saws, tractors and specialized trucks have significantly increased harvesting efficiency, but have also caused many negative impacts on the forest ecosystem According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the timber output exploited in the whole Central Highlands region in the first 3 months of 2024 reached 396,227.34 m3 of all kinds of wood, although it decreased by 16.14% compared to the same period last year, it is still an alarming number (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024)

On the side of forest protection, forest fire monitoring and early warning technology has made significant progress In particular, the application of 4.0 technology in signs of forest fire forecast level has brought high efficiency This system has the ability to automatically collect meteorological factors to calculate the level of forest fire forecast and control the rotation, helping to issue timely warnings in emergency cases (Forest Protection Department, 2024) In addition, the software for early detection of suspected forest fire points applied in Tuyen Quang province from January 2024 has proven effective in detecting and promptly handling suspected fire points (Tuyen Quang Provincial People's Committee, 2024)

Official Dispatch No 31/CĐ-TTg in 2024 of the Prime Minister also emphasizes the enhancement of technology application in forest fire prevention and fighting This shows the government's attention in applying technology to protect forests more effectively (Prime Minister, 2024)

3.3 Visuality factor

The visuality factor plays an important role in raising awareness about the issue of deforestation and its impact on the environment Images of devastated forest landscapes have the

power to convey a strong message about the consequences of deforestation According to a report by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, by 2024, the forest area lost due to forest fires and illegal logging is estimated at about 2,500 ha per year (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2024) Images of burnt forests and bare hills after illegal exploitation have contributed to creating concern and worry in the community about the issue of forest protection

In addition, charts and maps of forest decline also provide visual information about the state of forests According to data from the Forestry Protection Department Region IV, the average forest cover rate in the whole Central Highlands and South Central Coast region reached 48.96% in 2023, an increase of 0.25% compared to 2022 (Forestry Protection Department Region IV, 2023) Although there is a slight increase, the comparison maps over the years show

a significant decline in forest quality, especially primary forests

The use of remote sensing and GIS technology in creating maps and images of forest conditions has helped managers and the public have a more comprehensive and detailed view of forest changes This plays an important role in policy making and raising community awareness about forest protection

3.4 Networks factor

The networks factor in the issue of deforestation in Vietnam is manifested in two main aspects: the network of illegal timber trade and transportation, and the network of nature conservation organizations Regarding the network of illegal timber trade, according to a report

by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first 3 months of 2024, localities in the Central Highlands detected and handled 1,245 cases of violations of the Forestry Law, a decrease of 15.71% compared to the same period in 2023 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024) Although there is a slight decrease, these networks still operate with increasingly sophisticated methods, especially in border areas and seaports

On the side of forest protection, the network of nature conservation organizations plays

an important role in monitoring, protecting forests and raising community awareness According

to Official Dispatch No 31/CĐ-TTg in 2024, the Prime Minister requested strengthening

coordination between authorities and social organizations in forest protection (Prime Minister, 2024)

Notably, the application of 4.0 technology in forest monitoring has created an effective information network The forest fire warning system applying modern information technology operates synchronously and automatically from the stage of collecting meteorological information to issuing news and maps of forest fire warning (Forest Protection Department, 2024) This shows the increasingly close and effective combination of technology and human networks in forest protection

3.5 Geopower factor

The geopower factor plays an important role in the issue of deforestation in Vietnam, expressed through the state's forest management policies and disputes over forest resources The Vietnamese government has issued many policies to protect and develop forests, in which the program of planting 1 billion new trees in the 2021-2025 period is outstanding According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, by the end of 2023, the whole country had planted more than 700 million trees, exceeding the plan by 40% (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2023) This shows the government's determination in increasing forest cover and improving the ecological environment

However, the implementation of these policies still faces many challenges, especially in remote areas Data from the Forestry Protection Department Region IV reveal that during the first three months of 2024, villages in the Central Highlands registered and dealt with 1,245 events of Forestry Law breaches This underlines the importance of improving management of violations in the forestry sector, monitoring, and inspection

Though there are no specific numbers, research on forest resource disputes show that local people still have land conflicts with forestry businesses as well as amongst ethnic minority groups More effective engagement and coordination by the authorities would help to ensure justice and sustainability in the management of forest resources

3.6 Human power factor

The way local people react and the activities of environmental conservation groups assist

to highlight the human power element in the Vietnam deforestation issue According to a

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development study, 25 million or more Vietnamese people depend on woods in 2023 (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2023.) This number exposes both a main challenge for forest preservation at the same time and the close contact between humans and woodlands

The behavior of local people in exploiting and protecting forests has positive changes According to data from the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, by 2024, about 1.4 million households are allocated land and forests for management and protection (Vietnam Administration of Forestry, 2024) This contributes to strengthening community participation in forest protection, showing the shift of power from state management agencies to local people

Regarding the activities of environmental protection groups, the number of non-governmental organizations operating in the field of forest protection in Vietnam has increased from 20 organizations in 2010 to 50 organizations in 2024 These organizations play an important role in raising community awareness about the importance of forests and participating

in forest monitoring and protection activities This increase reflects the trend of empowering civil society in participating in environmental issues

3.7 Relationships factor

The relationship between humans and forests and the relationship between deforestation and climate change are two important factors in the issue of deforestation in Vietnam According

to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, by 2024, about 25 million Vietnamese people live dependent on forests (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2024) This shows the close relationship between humans and forests, and at the same time, it is also a big challenge in forest protection

Regarding the relationship between deforestation and climate change, studies show that deforestation contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions According to a report by UN-REDD, deforestation in tropical regions emits more than 5.6 billion tons of greenhouse gases that warm the planet each year (UN-REDD, 2023) In Vietnam, according to estimates by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, forests absorb about 30-40 million tons of CO2 per year However, if the situation of deforestation and forest degradation is not controlled,

the CO2 absorption capacity of Vietnam's forests may decrease to 25-35 million tons per year by

2024 (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2024)

3.8 Planetarity factor

Two main elements of the planetarity factor are the impacts of global climate change brought about internationally on Vietnam and the effects of deforestation in Vietnam on the global temperature According estimates from a Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam's forests annually absorb between 30 and 40 million tons of CO2 However, should the situation of deforestation and forest degradation continue to be uncontrolled, Vietnam's forests' ability to absorb CO2 might plummet to 25–35 million tons yearly by 2024 (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2024) This will speed up the process of global change and contribute to increase the atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration

On the other hand, Vietnam is also much affected by world deforestation-induced global climate change A research by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shows that

2024 is expected to have a complex development of hydro-meteorological disasters including heat, drought, saltwater intrusion, thunderstorms and hail higher than usual in the first half of the year and more rain, storms, floods and inundation in the second half of the year Especially the annual sea level rise of 3–5mm year produces salt intrusion in the Mekong Delta, thereby affecting freshwater supply and agricultural productivity (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 2024) These consequences draw attention to the globally close relationship between deforestation and climate change, which demands global international cooperation in forest protection and response against climate change

4 Proposed solutions for the deforestation issue in Vietnam

Deforestation in Vietnam needs to be addressed holistically using government policy, community engagement, and international cooperation in line with diversity Based on the current facts and data, many simple answers may be proposed:

First, community-based forest management needs to become stronger According to Nguyen Viet Dung from PanNature, individuals's participation in forest management and preservation is quite important (PanNature, 2019) This strategy has shown successful in restoring forests, therefore lowering deforestation and producing local income While not using