Protection and development of coastal forests in Nghe An
(Baonghean.vn) - With the characteristics of a locality with a long coastline, mangrove forests and coastal protection forests have played a very important role in protecting biodiversity, blocking storms and winds, and preventing seawater from eroding the mainland.
Green shield protects the mainland
From Vinh city, run along the roadLam riverside road, from Hung Hoa commune (Vinh city), down to Cua Hoi bridge in Nghi Hai ward (Cua Lo town), the mangrove and green mangrove forests, like a long green dike, serve as a barrier against waves and storms for people in coastal communes.
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| Hung Hoa mangrove forest. Photo: Nguyen Sach |
We met Mr. Hoang Thien Duong, residing in Xuan Canh hamlet, Nghi Xuan commune (Nghi Loc), who has spent more than 10 years looking after and protecting the mangrove forests in this locality.
In the salty scent of the sea, amidst the chirping of birds, pointing to the vast mangrove forests, Mr. Duong excitedly told that the mangrove forests and mangrove forests here have existed for a long time. In the past, people did not pay much attention to them. Many people waded down to cut trees to dry for firewood, and some even went into the forest to hunt birds. Then, after many years of enduring big storms, with waves tens of meters high hitting the mainland, people learned to appreciate the mangrove forests more.
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| Mr. Duong next to the mangrove and mangrove forests that he has been taking care of and protecting for more than 10 years. Photo: Tien Dong |
Mr. Duong also said that he protects and takes care of all 14.1 hectares stretching from Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc) to the foot of Cua Hoi bridge in Nghi Hai ward (Cua Lo town). Every day, in addition to regular patrols, Mr. Duong always has to brace the newly planted saplings when the tide is high. During rainy and windy times, he also has to stay outside the forest to support fishing boats that are unfortunately drifted into the forest.
The province currently has 82km of coastline, running through 144 communes and wards of 6 districts and towns. Currently, this area has 7,728.09 hectares of forest, including 331.09 hectares of mangrove forest; 1,652.82 hectares of wind and sand blocking forest; and 5,744.18 hectares of natural forest. This coastal forest area is being assigned to 5 management units.
According to the report of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2021, implementing the Project "Modernizing the Forestry Sector and Enhancing Coastal Resilience - FMCR", 28.83 hectares of coastal protection forests were newly planted, including 23.71 hectares of mangrove forests and 5.12 hectares of wind and sand protection forests.
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| In 2021, 23.71 hectares of new mangrove forests were planted. Photo: Tien Dong |
Mr. Nguyen Cong Son - Head of Management Boardprotective forestNghi Loc district said: Nghi Loc district currently has 3,131.70 hectares of coastal forest, including 1,059.80 hectares of protective and special-use forests; 2,071.90 hectares of production forests. Most of the mangrove forests, mangrove forests, and casuarina forests for wind and sand protection have been assigned to households for care and protection.
However, Mr. Son also admitted that the difficulty in the current contract is that the cost of payment to households receiving the contract has decreased compared to before, which will make many households not interested in taking care of the land.mangrove protection. Because unlike protective forests in mountainous districts, people can exploit forest resources, but for mangrove forests, it is very difficult for people to exploit aquatic resources there.
Not only Nghi Loc, currently the Northern Nghe An Forest Protection Management Board is also managing a coastal protection forest area of up to 3,017.50 hectares located in Hoang Mai Town and Quynh Luu District. Currently, most of the protection forests are also assigned to the people for care and maintenance, some areas are assigned to local management.
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| Quynh Luu residents exploit oysters in the mangrove forest. Photo: Viet Hung |
In Dien Chau district, due to the lack of establishment of a protective forest management board, 1,249.29 hectares of coastal protective forest are currently being managed by Dien Chau Forest Protection Department, including 114.99 hectares of mangrove forest and 341.52 hectares of casuarina forest for sand and wind protection.
Strengthen protection and development
To protect and develop coastal forests, on January 17, 2022, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 22/KH-UBND to implement the Project "Protecting and developing coastal forests to respond to climate change and promote green growth in the period 2021-2030". According to this plan, the Provincial People's Committee assigned localities and management units to organize the review and development of plans, synthesize targets and tasks for protecting and developing coastal forests annually and for each 5-year period from public investment projects in the period 2021-2025 according to national target programs, sustainable forestry development programs, etc.
In addition, the province will review land use planning, planning of three types of forests in conjunction with reviewing national forestry planning. Determine land funds and sites for coastal forest protection and development, ensuring feasibility and long-term stability, as a basis for considering the recovery of land areas in the dike protection safety corridor, coastal forest planning areas that are encroached upon, illegally used, land areas used for improper purposes, ineffectively to restore and plant forests according to regulations.
According to the plan to implement coastal forest protection and development projects in 2022, the province will plant 15.15 hectares of new forests, and at the same time supplement, restore, and enrich 255 hectares of mangrove forests and coastal wind and sand forests. However, according to representatives of coastal forest management and protection units, due to financial difficulties, the planting and protection of existing coastal protection forests has not been implemented much.
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| Mangrove forests become green dykes protecting coastal villages from wind and storms. Photo: Tien Dong |
Not to mention, currently, forest protection activities under the Project "Protecting and developing coastal forests to respond to climate change and promote green growth in the period 2021-2030" are implemented in conjunction with public investment projects, programs and projects in the area, so the funding source is inadequate, affecting the implementation progress.
Mr. Nguyen Khac Hai - Head of Forest Management and Protection Department, Nghe An Forest Protection Department said: Based on the results of the review of localities, the Forestry sector has carried out the assignment of land to the people, contributing to strengthening the role of the community in forest protection. The Provincial People's Committee will also review the existing policy mechanism for coastal forest protection and development to supplement policies suitable to the actual situation and current conditions in the period 2021-2030.
Mangrove forests are an important factor in reducing the impact of climate change, preventing waves, protecting against storms and balancing the coastal ecosystem. Therefore, the Forestry sector regularly directs units to take care of, protect and contract forests in accordance with the provisions of law.
