Efforts to revive coastal protection forests and adapt to climate change

During 2 days (July 29-30), the Management Board of Special-use Forests and Coastal Protection Forests (under the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau province) coordinated with the International Union for Conservation of Nature to conduct a survey and assess the current status of planting and restoring coastal protection forests in Vinh Hau commune, Ca Mau province. At the same time, training was provided on “Enhancing community capacity on sustainable aquaculture and climate change adaptation” for local people.

Báo Cà Mau•30/07/2025

A good start for the afforestation movement
Forestry

This activity is part of the project "Scaling up Nature-based Solutions through Mangrove Restoration in Ca Mau Province" implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature from 2023-2027.

The project will replant 160,000 mangrove trees, promote mangrove-friendly aquaculture practices, and support integrated mangrove -shrimp farming. By July 2025, the project has planted more than 80,000 mangrove trees on an area of 18 hectares in Vinh Hau commune. Planting sites include shrimp ponds combined with mangroves and degraded coastal protection forests.

People participate in planting and restoring mangrove forests. Photo: Anh Tuan

The main tree species planted is Dung - a mangrove species that adapts well to the brackish coastal water environment, with a strong root system that helps retain alluvium. The planting of 80,000 new mangrove trees brings many benefits, increasing the resilience of aquaculture models by filtering water, improving water quality and creating diverse habitats for aquatic species. The increased forest area also helps absorb carbon, reduce climate change and limit coastal erosion. Thereby, contributing to limiting the current situation of coastal erosion and deforestation in coastal communes and wards of Ca Mau province.

Coastal protection forests are gradually recovering. Photo: Anh Tuan

After the survey, farmers in Vinh Hau commune were also trained to introduce the general impact of climate change on coastal aquaculture; sustainable aquaculture models adapting to climate change in the Mekong Delta and support policies; shrimp-forest, shrimp-crab, multi-species farming models and basic techniques for shrimp-crab farming under forest canopy and sustainable aquaculture development.

Dr. Pham Trong Thinh, expert of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, shares solutions to improve resilience and adaptation to climate change.

In addition, farmers in the commune also have access to and share practical experiences in shrimp farming under forest canopies in other localities, contributing to improving community capacity in sustainable aquaculture and climate change adaptation.

Farmers in Vinh Hau commune share their practical difficulties in farming, ask experts to answer questions and guide them on how to farm more effectively.