Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) Thanh Hoa (VNA) - Millions of residents in 10 coastal and mountainous provinces have benefited from a project on mangrove forestation and disaster risk mitigation implemented by the Vietnam Red Cross between 2011-2015.
The figure was released at a conference on December 15-16 in the central province of Thanh Hoa.
Addressing the event, VRD General Secretary Doan Van Thai praised the significant contribution the project has made to the VRC’s strategy through 2020 on disaster prevention and adaptation.
He said the project has helped enhance VRC chapters’ capability to conduct climate change-related risks mitigation activities and the self-recovery ability of vulnerable groups.
The 2011-2015 phase of the project, which received 215 million JPY (USD) in funding from the Japan Red Cross, has been carried out in the eight coastal provinces of Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh, and two mountainous provinces of Vinh Phuc and Hoa Binh.
Under the project, more than 9,000 hectares of mangrove forest were cared for and 107.6 hectares of protective forest have been planted. Thousands of local rangers have been trained and equipped with necessary tools to protect the forests.
Besides, thousands of local officials, residents, teachers and students from the targeted communes under the project have received training in climate change adaptation and disaster management skills.
Communal disaster response teams have been established while infrastructure facilities have been developed and disaster response drills held.
The VRC has been carrying out the mangrove project for over 20 years, with focus shifting from planting to caring and protecting forests and disaster risk mitigation from 2010.
During the event, participants shared the view that the State should devise incentives for mangrove forest planting and protecting, with involvement of different resources in the work, especially the community.
They also called for other similar projects sponsored by the Vietnam Red Cross, relevant ministries, sectors, and.
On December 16, participants are scheduled to take a field trip to a disaster mitigation work in Hau Loc district in Thanh Hoa province.-VNA
