Elevating Environmental Standards in Song Ma District

The integration of environmental criteria in emerging rural development plays a pivotal role in safeguarding ecological balance and elevating the overall quality of life for residents. In recent years, the Song Ma district has actively fostered communication, implementation, and maintenance of various environmental protection models, with the overarching goal of cultivating a vibrant, verdant, pristine, and aesthetically pleasing rural environment.

 
 Song Ma district places a distinct emphasis on environmental protection, aspiring to create a luminous, green, clean, and aesthetically pleasing landscape

As reported by the Song Ma People's Committee, the district is currently home to 3,288 producers, processors and traders. Primary environmental pollutants encompass household waste, mining activities, manufacturing of construction materials, and agricultural production. Monthly waste generation averages 64 tons, prompting the District People's Committee to orchestrate heightened communication efforts and establish interdisciplinary working groups. These groups are tasked with overseeing businesses, trade practices, pesticide and fertilizer use, tree planting initiatives, placement of waste bins in communal areas, markets, and schools, as well as the establishment of pesticide packaging collection points in production zones. The populace is encouraged to relocate livestock and poultry kept beneath floors, and waste sorting initiatives are promoted to facilitate efficient collection and treatment.

Lo Thi Bach, Director of the Song Ma Office of Natural Resources and Environment, asserted that the office proactively advises the district government on environmental protection measures. This includes scrutinizing investment projects, providing guidance on waste treatment in agricultural production, inspecting compliance with environmental protection commitments by agencies and companies, and annually signing regulations for collaboration with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and local socio-political organizations. The office actively participates in global environmental events such as "World Environment Day," the "Make the World Cleaner" Campaign, "World Meteorological Day" and "World Water Day."

In a concerted effort to fulfill and enhance Criterion 17 on the environment, mass organizations have formulated a comprehensive coordination program aligned with the "All people unite to build new rural areas and civilized urban areas" campaign. This program places a distinct emphasis on environmental protection and endeavors to create a luminous, green, clean, and aesthetically pleasing environmental landscape. The Song Ma Women's Union, for instance, has overseen the registration and construction of flowery roads and initiated two plastic waste collection models. Concurrently, the Song Ma Youth Union has effectively sustained programs like "Voluntary Saturday" and "Green Sunday," while the farmers' association has spearheaded a sanitation movement, relocating livestock barns away from residences and instituting practices for composting manure as crop fertilizer.

Mr. Lo Van Tuong, Vice Chairman of Chieng So Commune People's Committee, underscores the commune's commitment to maintaining and elevating environmental standards. This involves the thorough review and establishment of designated landfill sites, inspections of waste and pollution sources, and the formulation of effective treatment plans. Presently, 98.9% of households have access to hygienic water, and solid waste and wastewater in residential and business areas are diligently collected and treated according to regulations. Additionally, all households boast hygienic and clean toilets, bathrooms, and water tanks, with 93.8% possessing livestock barns that meet stringent environmental hygiene standards. As a result of these specific and targeted actions, nine out of 18 communes in the Song Ma district are now certified to meet Criterion 17. Notably, 79.3% of solid waste in rural areas is collected, 100% of the rural population enjoys access to hygienic water, 50% of livestock households maintain hygienic barns, and 60% of households possess pristine toilets, bathrooms, and water tanks. The Muong Sai commune is poised to achieve Criterion 17 in 2023.

By Bao Dan, Vietnam Business Forum