Government, partners discuss mangrove afforestation in Mekong Delta

Trần Công Hùng from the Management Board for Forestry Projects said the mangrove belt and the coastal zone of the Mekong Delta were in a serious state of degradation.

The degradation had been caused by a range of factors including lack of sediment, and the land use in the coastal zone pressing the dike seaward, he said.

The inadequate water management and overexploitation of groundwater resulting in land subsidence along with the inland shrimp farming also contributed to the degradation of mangroves in the region, the official said.

The workshop themed 'mangrove afforestation in the Mekong Delta for sustainable coastal resilience' was co-organised by the Netherlands Embassy, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

It attracted participants from the agriculture ministry and other relevant ministries, central government agencies and coastal provinces in the Mekong Delta, and representatives from key international partners including the Netherlands Embassy, ADB, World Wide Fund for Nature and International Union for Conservation of Nature.

The ADB and the Government of the Netherlands have co妹妹itted to supporting Việt Nam in strengthening the coastal zones of the Mekong Delta and the resilience of its inhabitants.

The ministry is currently working on a proposal to restore the natural environment and strengthen coastal protection to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change in the five coastal provinces of Bạc Liêu, Sóc Trăng, Trà Vinh, Bến Tre and Tiền Giang during  二0 二 三 -  二0 二 九. 

The project will apply for ABD loans. VNS