Ninh Thuan restores riverhead protective forests hinh anh 1Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
Ninh Thuan (VNA) – Some 1,222ha of protective forests in the central province of Ninh Thuan has been planted, contributing to biodiversity preservation and poverty reduction in mountainous localities.

This was the result of a project on restoration and sustainable development of protective forests, known as JICA 2 Ninh Thuan project, in the districts of Thuan Nam, Ninh Phuoc and Ninh Son.

It is within the framework of forestry cooperation between the Vietnamese and Japanese governments aiming to restore and sustainably develop riverhead protective forests and improve the livelihoods of locals.

Invested by the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the 2012-2021 project has total investment of more than 164 billion VND (7.13 million USD), 132 billion VND (5.73 million USD) of which was from Japan’s official development assistance and the remainder from the Vietnamese government.

Since 2014, the project’s management board has zoned off 660ha of natural forests for restoration and assigned local households to protect and care for protective forests with a total area of 4,991ha.

Le Minh Hien, head of the management board of riverhead protective forests in Tan Giang Lake (Ninh Phuoc), said together with 74 households, the unit plans to plant 230ha of forests during this year’s rainy season.

Deputy head of the provincial Forestry Agency and member of the project management board Duong Dinh Son said the project has generated jobs for Raglai and Cham ethnic minorities.

It has built infrastructure in poor areas by investing in clean water supply and irrigational systems. It also offered 35 cows to Raglai ethnic minority people.

This year, the board will plant 400ha of protective forests near Tan Giang lake and Thuan Nam district.-VNA

VNA