SK Innovation continues to make efforts to restore the mangrove in Vietnam, cooperating with partners of the Vietnam Social Value Alliance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In accordance with the 2020 project plan, a new round of mangrove planting activities took place in Trà Vinh Province, Vietnam, on August 7. This program is a part of SK Innovation’s “Green Balance 2030” strategy, and it is a regular activity of the Vietnam Social Value Alliance, including SK Innovation, Petro Vietnam Exploration and Production Corporation (PVEP), Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP), the Korean Association for UN Environment, Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Tra Vinh University (TVU), and institutions of Tra Vinh Province.

By the end of 2019, the Vietnam Social Value Alliance has planted about 160,000 mangrove seedlings on the total area of about 40 ha, mostly in Tra Vinh and a part in Nam Dinh Province. This year, the Alliance expects to not only plant about 180,000 seedlings on the total area of 30ha in Vietnam but also expand the project to Myanmar. However, due to the ongoing complex situations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the reforestation activities are carried out mostly by the hands of local residents gathering in small groups with the support of the Bureau of Tra Vinh Province.

▲The mangrove planting areas in Tra Vinh before and after the reforestation

In addition to the volunteer work of planting mangrove seedlings, the Vietnam Social Value Alliance has been taking an active part in creating social values by handing out presents to elementary school children in Trà Vinh Province and volunteering in an educational project to raise awareness of environmental protection.

The Alliance also supported foundation of Manglub, the first social enterprise in Trà Vinh Province, in April 2019. Manglub organizes volunteer work to plant seedlings and operates outreach programs that contribute to creating more jobs and vocational training for local residents.

Last year October, the Vietnam Social Value Alliance launched the I Green We Green Vietnam campaign in Xuan Thuy National Park to encourage less use of single-use plastics. Officials of the Ministry of Environment and Resources in Vietnam, Masan, Vingroup, and the Korean Embassy in Vietnam also attended the event.

▲ The volunteers representing the Vietnam Social Value Alliance plant new mangrove trees in Tra Vinh, August 7

Regarding the reforestation activity this year, a PVEP official stated that “Together with SK Innovation and the Alliance, we will overcome the difficulties caused by the Corona virus, effectively maintain the Mangrove Reforestation Project and actively carry out programs for the environment in order to raise the sense of responsibility and awareness of the corporates and communities. Through such programs, we will try to strengthen the cooperation and connection between partners participating together in the same energy field, as well as in other social contribution activities.”

SK Innovation also added that even though COVID-19 makes it difficult for a large group of members to gather in one place and plant trees, they will follow the safety guidelines and organize small groups of volunteers to continue the project. In addition, by expanding the Mangrove Reforestation Project with the Alliance, SK Innovation will make efforts to contribute to global warming response and ecology preservation, and to improve the quality of lives of residents in rural areas.