Rebuilding Forests and Futures: A Woman's Determined Effort in Thanh Hoa
Up in the isolated corners of Thanh Hóa province, a flux of change is brewing amidst the arid hills. At the helm of this transformation wave is Nguyễn Lê Ngọc Linh, a 34-year-old Thổ woman, who traded her glittering city career for resin-spewing trees and mud-splattered boots.
Originally from the district of Như Xuân, Linh encountered the hardships her community faced: poor soil quality, deforestation, and lack of economic opportunities. After obtaining a public relations degree from a Hà Nội university and securing a dream job at a major publishing company, Linh felt a magnetic pull towards her roots.
Each homecoming starkly reminded her of the disappearing forests and the people left behind. In 2020, she took a daring leap, investing her savings - nearly USD 39,000 - into a barren three-hectare hillside devoid of electricity, water, or roads.
As her friends and family murmured about making a mistake, Linh saw a chance to revive both the land and the people.
Nature-led rewilding
Unlike monoculture forestry projects, Linh's venture, the 'Vườn rừng bản Thổ' (Thổ Village Forest Garden), is an agro-ecological marvel, mirroring a natural forest ecosystem. Multi-layered vegetation - fruit trees, medicinal herbs, native timber species, and nitrogen-fixing plants - dominate the area. Her goal is simple: rebuild biodiversity, and let nature guide the regeneration process.
The site abides by the rules of Mother Nature, eschewing synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, or herbicides in favor of composted organics, and biofertilisers produced on-site. Erosion-prone lands are protected with grasses, not uprooted.
"Như Xuân is a dry region that sheds water easily, which eventually leads to soil degradation if the land isn't well-covered," Linh explained, noting that over 100 species now flourish in her forest-farm system[2][3].
Empowering community through unity
Nguyễn Lê Ngọc Linh and her forest garden honey products. - VNA/VNS Photo
Recognizing that personal action was insufficient, Linh established the Hợp tác xã Bản Thổ (the Thổ Village Cooperative) in late 2020. Initially involving seven members, the cooperative now comprises over 20, primarily ethnic minority women from financially stricken households.
The cooperative promotes sharing: land, tools, knowledge, and profits. Linh also championed value-added processing, introducing new income streams to the local economy. Her star product? Fermented forest honey infused with aromatic ingredients such as ginger and turmeric, which earned it a three-star OCOP certification - Vietnamese national standard for rural products[3].
A story that sells
The cooperative has expanded its presence beyond Thanh Hóa. Products are marketed online, showcased at regional fairs, and shared on social media[3]. These marketing skills were carried over from Linh's prior career in media.
The social impact is evident. Villagers now have stable incomes. Women once confined to domestic chores are earning money, boosting their confidence, and taking leadership roles within the cooperative[3]. Linh offers training in sustainable farming practices, often welcoming students and volunteers from across Vietnam[2].
National acclaim and future aspirations
Honored with the Special Prize at the National Rural Youth Start-up Contest in 2020 and topping Thanh Hóa's Innovation Awards in 2021, Linh's work has garnered national acclaim[3]. In 2022, she received the highly esteemed Lương Định Của Award for exceptional young farmers[3].
Her eyes are set on the horizon. The long-term vision? A complete sustainable food ecosystem intertwined with the forest. She aims to broaden her organic production with new forest plots in Ngọc Lặc District, and delve into community-based tourism, highlighting local Thổ culture through workshops, traditional foods, and eco-lodges[2].
Nguyễn Lê Ngọc Linh inspects beehives in the forest garden. - VNA/VNS Photo
"I sell more than honey; I sell the story behind it. The story about the forest," Linh emphasized, positioning herself as a narrator who connects the forest's values to consumers[3].
A revived forest for a revived culture
Beyond financial success, Linh's approach has emerged as an environmental and cultural case study. Her reforestation efforts have improved groundwater retention, soil fertility, and created a habitat for avian and insect species richness[2][3].
Most poignantly, the forest stands as a cultural landmark for the Thổ people, restoring the connection to their roots through medicinal plants, ancestral tales, and traditional land-use practices[3].
"If there are no more forests, our world will have nothing left," Linh stated[4].
Sources:[1] https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/womens-forest-cooperative-reviving-the-vietnamese-countryside-2022-03-15[2] https://asiafoundation.org/multimedia/innovations-of-change-impact-network-honors-top-social-entrepreneurs-in-vietnam/[3] https://environmentalnews.network/2022/11/local-vietnamese-womans-story-of-honey-forest-restoration/[4] https://www.vietnamnet.vn/en/features/why-this-woman-quit-her-city-job-to-reforest-a-community-691784.html
- Linh's forest garden, 'Vườn rừng ba
