06. MANGROVE RESTORATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND COASTAL LIFE IMPROVEMENT IN VIETNAM

Tóm tắt

Annually, the coastal zone of Viet Nam is experiencing various adverse impacts of natural disasters such as storms, floods, high tide, and northeast monsoon. For many generations, local people in Vietnam’s Northern delta region have known how to plant mangroves to protect dykes, rice fields, properties and people life.

However, the region witnessed the conversion of mangroves into sedge fields and shrimp farming ponds for export as a result of economic development during the post-war period. The consequence is a remarkable decrease in mangrove area.

Since 2001, under the financial support of some NGOs from developed countries and technical supports from mangrove research institutes and centers, , mangrove restoration and rehabilitation have reversed the trend of deforestation in Vietnam. The area of mangrove has increased over 15,000 hectares by 2008. Due to good protection and management work, these mangrove plantations have shown their effective role in local life improvement and sea-dyke protection from big storms. Meanwhile, places without mangrove plantations have witnessed the serious damage of solid concrete dykes. According to the World Disaster Report in 2002, the rehabilitation of mangroves in coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Ha Tinh cost about 1.1 million USD and helped save 7.3 million USD/year used in sea-dyke maintenance.

On the threshold of the 21st century, Vietnam’s government has taken some measures for mangrove reforestation, conservation and management. Moreover, with the supports of some NGOs, mangroves have been replanted effectively. Nevertheless, challenges still exist. Therefore, urgent solutions should be worked out for protection of this valuable ecosystem. Education and communication on mangroves for local managers and communities are very important. The findings have contributed greatly to awareness rising among managers and communities about mangrove restoration and protection in response to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise.