The southern central coastal province of Phu Yen has set to conserve and develop its coastal protection forests in order to cope with climate change and rising sea water as well as to preserve biological diversity.

Under the plan, the provincial People’s Committee has approved a project with total investment capital of 51.33 billion VND (2.4 million USD) in the Dong Hoa and Tuy An districts and Song Cau town through 2020.

Accordingly, 330 hectares of protection forests will be developed along the province’s coastline and another 235 hectares of existing forests are set to be recovered through 2016.

About 20 hectares of mangrove forest will also be planted in Xuan Dai gulf and Cu Mong lagoon (Song Cau town).

The province will support contracted forest farmersto protect over 80 hectares of coastal protection forest areas in An Ninh Dong commune (Tuy An district).

The project also includes the construction of a 6.5 kilometres fire line to stop fires and the construct and repair of 3,000 square meters of nurseries and forest management stations.

Forest coverage in Phu Yen has been encroached upon by up to 54.3 hectares due to local deforestation for shrimp farming. Local authorities are attempting to mobilise all possible resources to recover destroyed areas.-VNA