Sowing green, building shields against natural disasters

With a long coastline, low-lying river deltas, and a tropical climate, Vietnam is on the frontline of climate threats. Extreme weather events, scorching heatwaves, devastating floods, powerful storms, and rising sea levels are no longer distant warnings but immediate challenges that threaten livelihoods and safety across the country.

Farms, factories, cities, and critical infrastructure face mounting risks of severe damage. Economic losses are already a reality rather than a potential hazard.

Tree planting in protected forests has become a strategy embraced by many businesses, serving both as a natural shield against disasters and as a step toward sustainable development.

A recent World Bank report, Vietnam 2045: Toward a Greener Future, underscores that inaction on environmental challenges could cost Vietnam at least 12.5% of its GDP by 2050.

Data from the General Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, now the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment show that in the past five years, storms in central Vietnam have grown stronger, with increasingly heavy rainfall triggering flash floods and landslides. The toll: nearly 400 dead or missing and economic losses reaching about USD 2.5 billion.

In 2023 alone, the country experienced 16 types of abnormal disasters, including more than 170 storms and heavy downpours, causing close to USD 40 million in damage. The following year, Super Typhoon Yagi struck northern Vietnam, inflicting a record loss of around USD 3.3 billion.

Looking ahead, 2025 raises further concern, with forecasts of more super typhoons, violent thunderstorms, flash floods, and landslides that could bring devastating consequences.

These threats are not unique to Vietnam. Across the world, climate shocks have escalated. In the past two decades, climate-related disasters have inflicted more than USD 3.6 trillion in damages globally. By 2050, climate migration could displace more than 216 million people.

Such figures are stark warnings. Experts stress that reducing risk requires concrete, localized actions such as reforestation, ecosystem restoration, and investment in green growth solutions.

At a recent tree-planting event, Do Thi Thanh Huyen, Director of Gaia Nature Conservation Center, joined with local leaders and Miss Sea Vietnam Bao Ngoc to highlight the importance of forests as natural defenses.

With more than 27 years in conservation, Huyen believes tree planting goes beyond safeguarding nature. It helps companies see tangible benefits in their sustainability journey. As global pressure mounts to meet Net Zero and ESG commitments, nature-based solutions are emerging as strategic pathways, especially for manufacturers. Yet, she noted, only 16% of companies worldwide have set targets linked to nature, and fewer than one-quarter of those are taking systematic action.

“Every minute, the world loses forest area equivalent to 10 football fields. Vietnam is among the seven countries most severely affected by climate change. Without action, the Mekong Delta could lose up to 40% of its land. How much longer can we afford to hesitate before standing with nature?” Huyen asked.

She explained that tree planting in landslide-prone or protective areas is one of the most durable ways to reduce disaster damage. Forests regulate water, shield soil from erosion, and serve as vast carbon sinks, while also preserving habitats that strengthen biodiversity, boost agricultural resilience, and improve food security.

“Planting forests not only restores ecosystems and absorbs carbon, but also sustains water resources, stabilizes climate, and enables companies to secure their positions in global value chains—where sustainability increasingly determines long-term survival”, Huyen emphasized, adding that Gaia will continue partnering with businesses to expand green cover across Vietnam’s nature reserves and special-use forests.

The World Bank recommends that Vietnam step up investments in climate adaptation, strengthen disaster-resilient infrastructure, and transition toward greener development models, including sustainable marine economies. Policy reforms should accelerate renewable energy, low-emission transport, and climate-smart agriculture, paving the way toward the nation’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2045.