The effectiveness of “green” projects

(Baonghean) -Since 1997, with the sponsorship of the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRC), the “Mangrove Planting and Community-Based Disaster Prevention Program” has been implemented by the Provincial Red Cross Society. After nearly 15 years of implementation, the mangrove planting program has contributed to improving local livelihoods and helping to mitigate climate change. The planted forest area is considered a "green belt" to effectively and sustainably block waves and sea encroachment...

Walking along the Hung Hoa dike (Vinh City), we come across the image of a lush green mangrove forest, about 60 hectares wide, stretching over 4 km. The mangrove forest is also called Tram Chim because the animals here are mainly birds such as: storks, herons, ducks, woodpeckers, turtledoves... and concentrates many rare vertebrates and invertebrates. Previously, the mangrove forest was only about 10 hectares, since benefiting from the mangrove planting program, the forest has been newly planted with 50 hectares, thanks to good care and protection, the forest has grown rapidly, forming a wave-breaking wall, avoiding erosion and preventing salinity. Ms. Duong Thi Bay, President of the Red Cross Society of Hung Hoa Commune, said: “Inside the foot of the dike are shrimp ponds and rice fields of the people. Without the protection of mangrove forests, when the rainy season comes and the tide rises, the villagers will be flooded, and salt water will intrude into the production land... Since implementing the mangrove planting program, Hung Hoa has avoided risks caused by natural disasters. In particular, with the existing biodiversity, mangrove forests are becoming an attractive eco-tourism destination...”.

Hung Hoa is one of 24 communes in 5 districts: Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen, Vinh City that benefit from the program "Mangrove planting and community-based disaster prevention" sponsored by the Japan Red Cross Society, with a total budget of over 6 billion VND. After nearly 15 years of implementation, nearly 1,400 hectares have been planted, all the trees have grown into forests, creating a "green belt" to protect sea dykes, limit the effects of storms, high tides eroding dykes, and prevent the phenomenon of the coast encroaching further inland.

Caring for and protecting mangrove forests in An Hoa (Quynh Luu).

In addition to the effect of disaster prevention, minimizing damage caused by natural disasters and floods, the mangrove planting program also contributes to creating jobs and improving income for people in communes that benefit from the program. Through the project, from 1997 to now, 45,000 families have enjoyed the benefits brought by the project. Mangrove forests have also helped increase income from collecting aquatic products (such as shrimp, crab, clams, mussels, oysters) for coastal fishermen; preventing salinity and erosion, so coastal people can confidently produce on shrimp ponds, fish ponds, salt fields, cultivated land... contributing to improving crop and livestock productivity. Many households in coastal communes take advantage of the water surface area under the mangrove canopy to raise clams with high efficiency. In places where the forests were planted early, the mangroves have produced fruit and are ready for harvest. People use the seeds to expand the area and supply neighboring provinces with dozens of tons of seeds, bringing in large revenues.

In particular, during the project implementation, the Association has coordinated with localities to open thousands of training courses on disaster prevention for people, Association officials, students and teachers of primary schools. From 2000 to present, training has been organized for nearly 2,500 households; over 1,200 Association officials; over 2,413 teachers and over 170,000 students; 20,000 leaflets and nearly 16,000 books on disasters have been distributed to program participants. Since then, people's awareness of planting, caring for and protecting forests has been raised.

Mr. Nguyen Phung Vinh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Red Cross Association, said: “It is undeniable that the mangrove forest system brings great value. To maintain the sustainable effectiveness of the program, it is necessary to maintain regular relationships and seek support from sponsors; strengthen the monitoring and inspection of project activities to promptly adjust activities to suit the practical situation and project requirements; improve the capacity of project management staff... Focus on motivating staff, members, and forest planting households to actively plant and protect forests, propose methods to exploit forest resources to grow forests; promote information and propaganda work on the benefits of mangrove forests...”

Duy Nam