Need to protect mangrove forest area in Quynh Luu

(Baonghean) -As a coastal district, in the past as well as in the future, Quynh Luu is one of the localities directly affected by annual storms and floods and the effects of climate change. In previous years, with the funding of non-governmental projects from Japan and Denmark, the area of ​​coastal mangrove forests in Quynh Luu (mainly mangroves) has continuously increased and developed well. At its peak, the whole district had over 500 hectares of mangrove forests and coastal casuarina forests and is one of the districts with the largest and most typical mangrove forest area in Nghe An.

However, in recent years, the area of ​​mangrove forests here has been gradually decreasing. Up to now, the whole district has only about 300 hectares of mangrove forests and 40 hectares of casuarina forests to block sand in the coastal communes. Specifically, Quynh Loc commune has decreased by 30 hectares (from 100 hectares to 70 hectares), Quynh Thuan has decreased by 40 hectares (from 80 hectares to 40 hectares), Son Hai has decreased from 60 hectares to 20 hectares, Quynh Di has decreased from 40 hectares to about 25 hectares, Quynh Minh has decreased from 40 hectares to 35 hectares; some communes have maintained the area of ​​mangrove forests, developed well and are the places to supply seeds such as Quynh Thanh and An Hoa.

Mangrove forests in Quynh Thuan commune, Quynh Luu.

It is known that there are many reasons for the decrease in the area of ​​mangrove forests in Quynh Luu. One of the conditions for the development of mangrove forests is that the alluvial plains along the river must be sometimes shallow and sometimes flooded according to the tide. However, in many areas of Quynh Luu estuary, due to changes in ocean currents and some areas being built with dikes, some areas of land used for growing mangrove forests in the past are no longer suitable, leading to the loss of area.

In addition, at Lach Thoi and Lach Con, due to the frequent movement of ships, repairs and mooring to sell products as well as preparing to go out to sea, discharging oil and grease, the mangrove forests cannot develop, leading to their disappearance... According to the assignment process, with the sponsorship of non-governmental projects, the Red Cross is the agency in charge of planting and building mangrove forests for localities. After the forest area has developed relatively stably (about 3 years), it is handed over to local authorities to manage, monitor and benefit.

Witnessing the phenomenon of mangrove forest area decreasing, Mr. Nguyen Si Bay, an officer of the Red Cross Society of Quynh Luu district who has been involved in mangrove planting for many years, was very worried and thoughtful. According to Mr. Bay, in addition to objective reasons, it is regrettable that some localities do not have a stance when mangrove forests are encroached. In this matter, the Society has assigned the locality to manage and supervise, so their voice is very limited.

However, for the sake of immediate goals, many localities have not paid enough attention to the care and protection of mangrove forests. In many cases, despite receiving recommendations from the Red Cross, some communes have not voiced their objections and even signed projects and documents of some businesses and units requesting to level some areas that belong to the mangrove forest land fund. These areas are normally alluvial land along the river but are "golden lands" because they are located in front of river mouths... Leveling and planning to divide into plots to sell to people for housing and services may be beneficial in the short term but very harmful in the long term.

We all know the reality that, due to the lack of coastal mangrove forests as “shields”, many coastal residential areas from Quynh Phuong to Quynh Long and Quynh Thuan have disappeared or been encroached by hundreds of meters of sea. If the filling of river mouths and seaports is not carefully calculated, it will not only narrow the river mouths, leading to an increased risk of flooding during storms, but also make it difficult for boats to travel, with no place to anchor or take shelter during storms; the cost of building dikes and embankments will increase due to the lack of mangrove forests…

On the other hand, the benefits of mangrove forests and coastal sand protection forests are enormous for the environment. Not to mention, some project agencies, after inspecting and accepting the results of mangrove forest development in some areas of Quynh Luu, have shown that after the mangrove forests were established, due to the suitable environment, some native aquatic species such as crabs and clams have reappeared.

Through the reflection on the phenomenon of decreasing coastal mangrove forest area in Quynh Luu, it is hoped that on the one hand, local authorities in Quynh Luu in particular and other coastal districts and towns in the province in general will pay more attention to planting and developing mangrove forests; on the other hand, they must pay attention to protecting and preserving existing mangrove forest areas. If it is not really for economic development projects, bringing clear benefits to people's lives, then the mangrove forest area should not be sacrificed. In addition, there should be measures to manage, protect and develop the area of ​​coastal sand-blocking casuarina forests reasonably, exploiting them according to the correct process; the conversion of land use purposes of coastal protection casuarina forests must comply with the provisions of law.

Photo story: Nguyen Hai