Clam co-operatives have been asked to pay a fee to protect mangroveforests that play an important role in white-clam breeding in the MekongDelta.

"Mangrove forests have reduced tidal erosion for alluvialground and transformed organic matter into fresh food for clams. Theyhave also reduced organic pollution from domestic aquaculture andagriculture," said Professor Hoang Nghia Son, Head of the Institute ofTropical Biology, who spoke at a conference held in Ho Chi Minh Citylast week.

"More than anyone else, farmers who breed clams shouldbear the responsibility to protect, plant and take care of mangroveforests," he added.

The conference, which discussed the linkagesbetween clam breeding and mangrove forests, was held to build the firststage for Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) policy, whichwould require clam co-operatives to pay an annual fee to protect anddevelop mangrove forests.

Clam breeding has yielded a significant income for residents, providing around 100,000 VND (5 USD) per day.

Thereare nearly 94,000ha of mangrove forest in the Mekong Delta and150,000ha around the country, and over 2,100 clam grounds in the deltaarea.

"Many farmers don't recognise the benefits from mangroveforests for clams, and this national conference is necessary to build apolicy," said Andrew Wyatt, Mekong Delta programme manager at theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The conference was organised by the Institute of Tropical Biology, IUCN and Mangroves for Future.

Attendingwere more than 100 delegates, including scientists, representativesfrom the clam co-operatives and Mekong Delta provinces' departments ofAgriculture and Rural Development and Science and Technology, andmanagement boards of national parks.-VNA