An International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) funded projecthas not only helped protect Can Gio mangrove forest in Ho Chi MinhCity’s Can Gio district, but also increased income for locals, heard aconference in the city on December 15.
The four-year project,which was launched in 2011, aims to improve resilience to climate changeimpacts for coasts in Southeast Asia, including Can Gio biospherereserve.
Can Gio, the only coastal district of Ho Chi Minh Citywith mangrove forests covering over 50 percent of its total area, isstrong for aquaculture and maritime economy. However, the area is alsoone of the most vulnerable localities to climate change and sea levelrise in the Mekong lower basin.
According toDoan Van Son, Vice Chairman of the Can Gio People’s Committee, theproject helped form groups of households engaging in managing andprotecting mangrove forests, while building a strong force ofcommunicators to raise public awareness of climate change.
Meanwhile, a smaller project is being carried out to improvelivelihood for households involving in conservation of mangrove foreststhrough the model of oyster farming under forest canopy, he said. It hashelped locals raise their incomes and focus on forest protection.
Andrew Wyatt, IUCN Director for Mekong Delta Programme Manager, saidthe Can Gio mangrove forest is an important biosphere reserve and abuffer zone confronting climate change impacts.
However, he noted, activities harming the forest are still seen in thearea such as illegal fishing, deforestation, while the coordinationbetween the forest management board and locals has been poor.
The project activities have contributed to enhance local community’sresilience to climate change, while assisting the protection of the CanGio forest after the project concludes.
Theproject, which covers eight coastal provinces and cities in Thailand,Cambodia and Vietnam, has been implemented in Can Gio district and someprovinces of Soc Trang, Kien Giang and Ben Tre.
During a yearly conference held in October this year within theframework of the project, the three countries approved the PreahSihanouk statement on improving resilience to climate change impacts forcoasts in Southeast Asia.-VNA
The four-year project,which was launched in 2011, aims to improve resilience to climate changeimpacts for coasts in Southeast Asia, including Can Gio biospherereserve.
Can Gio, the only coastal district of Ho Chi Minh Citywith mangrove forests covering over 50 percent of its total area, isstrong for aquaculture and maritime economy. However, the area is alsoone of the most vulnerable localities to climate change and sea levelrise in the Mekong lower basin.
According toDoan Van Son, Vice Chairman of the Can Gio People’s Committee, theproject helped form groups of households engaging in managing andprotecting mangrove forests, while building a strong force ofcommunicators to raise public awareness of climate change.
Meanwhile, a smaller project is being carried out to improvelivelihood for households involving in conservation of mangrove foreststhrough the model of oyster farming under forest canopy, he said. It hashelped locals raise their incomes and focus on forest protection.
Andrew Wyatt, IUCN Director for Mekong Delta Programme Manager, saidthe Can Gio mangrove forest is an important biosphere reserve and abuffer zone confronting climate change impacts.
However, he noted, activities harming the forest are still seen in thearea such as illegal fishing, deforestation, while the coordinationbetween the forest management board and locals has been poor.
The project activities have contributed to enhance local community’sresilience to climate change, while assisting the protection of the CanGio forest after the project concludes.
Theproject, which covers eight coastal provinces and cities in Thailand,Cambodia and Vietnam, has been implemented in Can Gio district and someprovinces of Soc Trang, Kien Giang and Ben Tre.
During a yearly conference held in October this year within theframework of the project, the three countries approved the PreahSihanouk statement on improving resilience to climate change impacts forcoasts in Southeast Asia.-VNA
