As the only coastal district of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio is predicted to be heavily impacted by climate change and rising sea levels. Ho Chi Minh City has planned to develop it into a green locality.
At the CEO 100 Tea Connect program, a meeting between Ho Chi Minh City leaders and corporate leaders held at the Reunification Hall in mid-September 2023, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai shared the pilot plan to develop Can Gio into a green locality of the city.
Accordingly, Can Gio is expected to be the pioneering locality in achieving the "net zero" target (zero net emissions) by 2035, 15 years ahead of Vietnam's international commitment.
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Panoramic view of Can Gio district from above. Photo: Vietnam Financial TimesTo achieve this goal, the city is focusing investment on developing Can Gio in the areas of green transportation, including the use of green fuels and green energy for vehicles in the area; processing waste into electricity to serve production and daily life needs; building this destination into a plastic-free zone; developing green tourism and piloting carbon credits for the Can Gio forest...
Speaking to the press, Dr. Phan Thuy Kieu from the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) said that Can Gio was chosen as a pilot location because of its favorable geographical location bordering the sea and its moderate population density, which allows for control during the implementation of the green economy pilot project, aiming for net zero emissions.
To date, Ho Chi Minh City has directed relevant departments and agencies to implement the action program for building a green Can Gio. Initially, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development will take the lead, coordinating with relevant departments and agencies to propose reforestation linked to carbon credits. The Department of Tourism will coordinate with relevant units to implement an ecotourism model, combining experiences with the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program. The Department of Industry and Trade will coordinate with relevant units to propose rooftop solar power systems for government offices and salt fields...
Dr. Phan Thuy Kieu noted: In the context of limited resources, the goal is to leverage Resolution 98/2023/QH15 on piloting some specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City to bring about breakthroughs and attract strategic investors with sufficient resources and an interest in the city as well as the development of Can Gio. Utilize public-private partnerships (PPP), social mobilization, and private resources to create a comprehensive resource base for the development of Can Gio.
The Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Research is developing an action plan for a green Can Gio; implementing a project to develop the marine economy of Can Gio in a green and sustainable direction.
Protecting and sustainably developing the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve.
According to experts, the development strategy for Can Gio should prioritize the conservation of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve to enhance resilience to climate change and sea level rise; reduce saltwater intrusion into the mainland; and preserve the central green lung for the entire region. Simultaneously, it should improve the quality of soil, water, and air for the ecological space; balance the hydrological environment of the area; and protect the rich and diverse natural resources of flora and fauna and the ecological value of the region.
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Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, the "green lung" protecting Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding urban areas in the context of climate change. [Image illustration: Popular Science]The Can Gio Biosphere Reserve – the first biosphere reserve in Vietnam – covers a total area of approximately 75,000 hectares and is a coastal wetland ecosystem formed on the vast delta of three rivers: Dong Nai, Saigon, and Vam Co.
According to Associate Professor Pham Trung Luong of the Vietnam Institute for Environment and Sustainable Development (VESDI), the results of many scientific studies show that the Can Gio mangrove ecosystem, with an area of up to 11.16% of the total mangrove forest area nationwide and 83.21% of the total mangrove forest area in the Southeast region, is an environment that creates high biodiversity.
Ho Chi Minh City is a rare place that has a natural wetland located right within the city, becoming a model or symbol of wetland ecosystem restoration for Vietnam and the world.
Therefore, the Can Gio mangrove forest not only creates urban green spaces and natural landscapes, becoming a "green lung" for Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding urban areas, but also contributes to responding to climate change, especially the issue of sea level rise, and protecting against coastal erosion...
Minh Thai
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