In the 1940s, 60 per cent of Vietnam was forested. But conflict (and the infamous Agent Orange), overexploitation, and slash-and-burn cultivation have all taken their toll, reducing forest coverage to just 23 per cent.rnThe loss of forests came at a high cost for the environment and especially for villagers dependent on forest products for income. It also led to a national shortage of wood for industry.rnThe Vietnamese Government, however, has reacted to these problems with a series of programs to protect natural forests and establish tree plantations for watershed protection and for industrial wood production.
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