Hanoi, March 21 -- About 25 million people in Vietnam are directly and indirectly benefiting from forests, underscoring their vital role not only as ecological assets but also as drivers of economic growth, social welfare, and sustainable development.

As green development becomes an inevitable global trend, protecting and investing in forests is increasingly seen as an investment in the future, where people, nature, and the economy can develop in harmony. Often described as the "green lungs" of the Earth, forests quietly sustain life and shield communities from growing climate uncertainties.

In Vietnam, forests serve as a foundation for livelihoods, water resources, public health, and environmental stability, particularly for ethnic min...