Three Women Who are Leading the Fight Against Deforestation
In Vietnam deforestation, forest degradation, and poor timber plantation management depletes critical natural resources, while increasing carbon dioxide emissions. USAID partners with forest dependent communities to restore and conserve natural forests by improving forest management. Women’s contributions to this work are essential, from forest rehabilitation and planting to the sustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products. USAID works to boost women’s opportunities in forestry decision-making by supporting over 300 women-led or owned conservation enterprises in Vietnam, improving their business leadership and managerial skills. Read about just a few of the dynamic women who are leading this impactful environmental work in Vietnam.
Ms. Tong Thi Phong
She is the director of the Tre Xanh Cooperative in the mountainous Son La Province. The cooperative was established in 2023 to develop the bamboo shoot value chain and to create jobs for local women. USAID supported them in building their capacity and in mobilizing investments to grow their business. “The cooperative is made up of ethnic minorities, who live in a remote mountainous area which lacks sufficient farmland to earn a daily living,” says Ms. Tong Thi Phong. “Thanks to support from USAID the cooperative has developed and launched five kinds of bamboo shoot products to the market.”
Mrs. Ha Thi Le
Mrs. Ha Thi Le is the director of the Huong Xuan Medicinal Plant Cooperative which locally sources medicinal plants for consumer products. "In the past we were producing shampoo from medicinal plants, but it was resource intensive,” laments Mrs. Le.
“After attending a technical training led by the USAID, we developed a standardized formula, and now we can easily produce high-quality shampoo from medicinal plants while reducing costs.”
Ms. Lo Lo May
Lo Lo May, a young woman from the Red Dao ethnic minority group, is the only female member of Chu Cang Ho community forest patrolling team in Lao Cai province, Vietnam. The Red Dao people are known for traditional remedies made from plants found in the forest. “When I was just a little girl, I followed my parents to the forest to collect bamboo shoots, firewood, and medicinal plants,” she says about her family’s traditions. “The forest is my home. Protecting the forest is protecting my community.” She attended USAID supported forestry and communications training and is now educating other women in her village on sustainable forest management.
