Ca Mau preserves coastal protective forests

A mangrove forest (Photo: VNA)

Ca Mau (VNA) – The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the southernmost province of Ca Mau has taken measures to effectively protect coastal protective forests. 

Accordingly, the department has urged the provincial Forest Management Department and sub-departments of Ngoc Hien, Nam Can, Dam Doi and Phu Tan districts to launch activities to raise local people’s awareness of protecting protective forests and aquatic resources. 

The department also joins hands with the Forest Management Board, local authorities, border guards and relevant agencies to increase patrols to prevent deforestation and illegal exploitation of forest products.

Ca Mau is also paying special attention to improving the efficiency of forest management. The province has banned local farmers from illegally residing in and near the protective forests. 

Head of provincial Forest Management Department Le Van Hai highlighted the stable forest management and development of Ca Mau as violating cases dropped over years. 

The mangrove forest of the Ca Mau National Park, which was damaged severely during 2012-2013, has improved with tight management, he added.

However, illegal forest exploitation and coal cellar building still exist in some areas of the province, along with forest product trafficking.

Over the last five years, Ca Mau province has reported more than 1,300 cases of forest product transport and deforestation. In the first 10 months of 2016, local authorities handled 196 forest protection violations.-VNA