KienGiang (VNA) – Kien Giang province has gained initial encouragingoutcomes in recovering and developing its coastal protection forests amidcoastal erosion and climate change worsening across the Mekong Delta region.

According to the provincial Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development, Kien Giang has a 200-km coastline,stretching from Mui Nai in Ha Tien township to Tieu Dua of An Minh district.

The eroded sections are about 70km long intotal, accounting for more than one-third of the coast length, seriouslyaffecting local people’s production and daily life. Kien Luong, Hon Dat, AnBien and An Minh districts record the most severe coastal erosion.

Facing this problem, 13 projects have been builtin Kien Giang to protect the marine environment, prevent coastal erosion andnatural disasters and respond to climate change between 2016 and 2020. 

Among them, the project on recovering anddeveloping coastal protection forests has initially generated positiveoutcomes. It has been carried out along the 60km-long coast from Mui Ranh inTay Yen commune, An Bien district, to Tieu Dua canal in Van Khanh Tay commune,An Minh district.

Tran Phi Hai, Director of the An Bien – An Minhforest management board, said two sub-projects are underway to recover anddevelop protection forests long the coast and create the ground for plantingsubmerged water plants to protect sea dykes. Coastal alluvial grounds have beenafforested with about 290 hectares of “mam” (Avicennia) and 88 hectares of“duoc” (Rhizophora apiculata) trees.

At least 85 percent of the newly planted treeshave survived, helping to recover coastal protection forests and reduce coastalerosion. These forests have also helped speed up sea encroachment and protectforestry and fishery production behind the protection forests, he noted.

Hai added his management board also surveyedareas subject to the afforestation along the An Bien – An Minh coast.Accordingly, eligible areas will be planted with Avicennia trees, a speciesable to keep land and create alluvial grounds to support the development ofother submerged plant species like “duoc” (Rhizophora apiculata), “ban”(Sonneratia caseolaris), “su” (Aegiceras corniculatum) and “vet” (Bruguieragymnorrhiza).

Meanwhile, bamboo or cajeput barriers will beerected on the edge of vulnerable areas to create alluvial grounds for plantingAvicennia trees.

Aside from these two sub-projects, the An Bien –An Minh forest management board will also implement some other projects fundedby the World Bank and the KfW bank of Germany. These projects also aim torecover and develop coastal protection forests in the two districts.-VNA