Strengthening resilience to disasters and climate change

(Baonghean) -Climate change has been and is very present in our lives, especially for coastal communities facing rising sea levels, landslides, salinity intrusion, storms, floods, etc.

Recently, in some coastal areas of Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc districts (Nghe An), the phenomenon of rising sea levels is causing difficulties for people's lives and production. Now more than ever, it is necessary to promote and enhance activities to conserve marine ecosystems such as mangrove forests, seagrass beds, coral reefs, etc., which is to contribute to reducing sources of climate change and maintaining the values ​​of ecosystems for long-term recovery of human life.

Over the past years, with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Nghe An has implemented a mangrove planting project in 22 communes of 5 districts and cities: Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen and Vinh City. The project aims to increase the ability to prevent and minimize the consequences of natural disasters; raise public awareness of natural disaster prevention, enhance forest protection and development, restore ecology and improve the lives of poor households.

Up to now, the above localities have planted, cared for and protected 1,335 hectares of coastal mangrove forests and riverine wave-breaking forests, forming a green belt to protect sea dykes, river dykes and villages, contributing to significantly reducing damage caused by storms and high tides, creating biodiversity, contributing to improving and increasing income for many coastal households.

Ms. Bui Thi Mai - President of Nghe An Red Cross Society, affirmed: Planting mangrove forests not only brings great and direct benefits to the forested areas, but also helps to preserve and protect the environment and biological resources, regulate the climate, and contribute to combating saltwater intrusion into the mainland.

Through the project, the Provincial Red Cross Society has also organized propaganda, raised awareness, consciousness of protecting the ecological environment as well as preventing disasters for the people. In the coming time, in addition to continuing to increase the area of ​​mangrove forests, the Society will deploy riverside forest planting to prevent landslides and erosion in the two districts of Hung Nguyen andMaleAlong with that is to strengthen and promote awareness of disaster prevention, response, and adaptation to climate change among the people.

Minh Chi