Reviving mangrove forests

Previously, many people cleared mangrove forests to create salt fields and aquaculture ponds, causing a serious decline in the area of ​​mangrove forests in the province. To change this situation, in recent years, with the involvement of the entire political system at all levels, the people, and the business community, many valuable mangrove forests are gradually being revived.

Mangrove forest area is declining.

Along National Highway 1, near the Nha Phu lagoon area (Ninh Hoa town), there are numerous shrimp ponds and stretches of barren land left abandoned for many years. This is a consequence of the past widespread destruction of mangrove forests for high-tech shrimp farming. Mr. Nguyen Van Mao (Ninh Ich commune, Ninh Hoa town) said that previously, the area around Nha Phu lagoon was a diverse ecosystem with mangrove forests, fertile land, and abundant seafood, providing a livelihood for thousands of residents. From the 1990s to 2000s, the high price of shrimp led to a boom in shrimp farming. People from within and outside the province rushed to clear mangrove forests to create ponds for shrimp farming. However, after about 3-4 years of strong development, due to deforestation, water pollution, shrimp diseases, and losses, farmers stopped farming, leaving dozens of hectares of land abandoned.

The mangrove forest area along Nha Phu lagoon.

A similar situation occurred in the Dam Bay area (Hon Tre Island, Nha Trang Bay), which once had a distinctive coral reef and mangrove ecosystem. Between 1980 and 2000, deforestation and the impact of storms caused the decline of dozens of hectares of mangrove forest in the area, seriously affecting the marine ecosystem.

According to a survey by the Provincial Association for Nature and Environment and the Institute of Biotechnology and Environment (Nha Trang University), mangrove forests in the coastal areas of Khanh Hoa province play an extremely important role: regulating the climate, absorbing CO₂, acting as windbreaks, preventing coastal erosion, preventing saltwater intrusion, and supporting socio -economic development through fisheries and tourism services. Before 2000, the entire province had nearly 3,000 hectares of mangrove forests. Today, only about 3.4% of the area remains, equivalent to just over 100 hectares. In the last five years, the consequences of deforestation for economic development have become evident: soil compaction, reduced shrimp farming productivity, and increasingly severe saltwater intrusion and tidal erosion. In localities such as Ninh Ich, Ninh Ha (Ninh Hoa town), and Van Hung (Van Ninh district), many areas once had large mangrove forests and rich ecosystems, and the people's livelihoods depended on mangrove resources. To date, although most of the forest has been destroyed, there are still strips of naturally regenerating forest with diverse ecosystems including tree species such as: Sonneratia caseolaris, Avicennia marina, Rhizophora apiculata, and Rhizophora apiculata.

Recovery efforts

Over the years, with the involvement of local authorities at all levels, along with organizations and individuals inside and outside the province, efforts have been made to restore the mangrove ecosystem. For example, from 2024 to the present, the Women's Union of communes in emulation group No. 3 (Ninh Hoa town) has planted 10,000 mangrove trees in Nha Phu lagoon; the STEAM Nha Trang group, in coordination with the Women's Union of Ninh Ich commune, planted 1,000 mangrove trees and educated students about the value of mangrove forests in Nha Phu lagoon; and student volunteers in the province have planted more than 11,000 mangrove trees in the coastal area of ​​Van Ninh. The Institute of Biotechnology and Environment has organized training workshops on mangrove forest management and restoration for households in communes and wards with mangrove forests in Ninh Hoa town; and provided a total of 270 million VND in support to 15 households for mangrove planting…

Planting new mangrove forests in the Dam Bay area.

Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thuy Binh from the Institute of Biotechnology and Environment stated that in recent years, some mangrove areas in the northern part of the province have shown signs of natural recovery in abandoned shrimp ponds, along canals, estuaries, and streams. Many businesses and local people have actively planted new trees and protected the area, thus increasing the forest area to some extent. Although the restored area is still limited compared to before, it is a positive sign showing a shift in the awareness and actions of the community.

According to Mr. Dam Hai Van, Head of the Nha Trang Bay Management Board, from 2012 to the present, the management board has coordinated with various units and universities to implement activities to regenerate resources and plant new mangrove forests. The forest area in Dam Bay has increased from 5.4 hectares (in 2015) to approximately 8 hectares. Recently, the management board collaborated with businesses and individuals to install floating platforms and warning signs stating "Protected area for aquatic resources and mangrove forests, exploitation prohibited." Currently, Dam Bay is being planned for the restoration and expansion of mangrove forests, aiming to develop ecotourism in harmony with nature. Along with awareness campaigns, the Nha Trang Bay Management Board is strengthening coordination with functional forces and the Border Guard to patrol and handle cases of violations affecting Dam Bay.

Students were educated about the benefits and responsibilities of protecting the mangrove forests along Nha Phu lagoon.

To protect and restore mangrove forests, according to Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thuy Binh, in the coming time it is necessary to review and supplement planning in coastal localities; plan for a minimum of 500 hectares of mangrove forest for the entire region; strengthen monitoring and protection of all existing forest areas; develop annual reforestation plans, mobilize social resources and international organizations; improve coastal pollution, control the discharge of waste into the marine environment; and support people with seedlings for planting and caring for the forests. For areas with floating cages for aquaculture, it is necessary to encourage businesses and people to actively participate in planting mangrove forests.

According to the leaders of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, in recent years, the department has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue many specific mechanisms and policies in the management, protection, and development of forests, including mangrove forests. For the period 2021-2030, the department has directed its subordinate units to manage mangrove forests in conjunction with forestry planning; comprehensively assess the current state of the forests (area, volume, vegetation, impacts, etc.); enhance the capacity of specialized management agencies; and develop mangrove forests using an ecological approach, with the community at the center. These policies are expected to contribute to increasing the area of ​​mangrove forests, improving forest cover, enhancing disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities, adapting to climate change and sea level rise, and reducing natural disasters in the province.

Currently, the province has 48.23 hectares of mangrove forests in Cam Lam district, Ninh Hoa town, Nha Trang city, etc. In addition, the province also has nearly 1,722 hectares of coastal forests with the function of protecting against wind, sand, waves, and land reclamation.  

THAI THINH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202505/hoi-sinh-rung-ngap-man-92954f2/