Master Plan for Coastal Forest Development and Protection Approved

On October 4, 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh signed Decision 1662/QD-TTg approving the Master Plan for Coastal Forest Development and Protection in Response to Climate Change and Green Growth for 2021-2030.

The plan targets to manage, protect and sustainably use existing coastal forests and newly planted forests in the 2021 - 2030 period; uphold the role and function of coastal forests in protecting the environment and coastal infrastructure, preventing desertification and land degradation, conserving biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating more jobs and incomes for people living in coastal areas, consolidating national defense and security, minimizing natural calamity and effectively adapting to climate change and sea-level rise.

The main task of the plan is to effectively manage, protect and use existing coastal forests, especially ​​protective forests, special-use forests and commercial forests which are natural forests in coastal areas.

Over the next decade, the Government plans to grow 20,000 ha of new forest, including 9,800 ha of protective forests to block sand and break waves (mangrove forest) and 10,200 ha of wind- and sand-shielding protection forests. Of the above total, the Government expects to plant 11,000 hectares of new forest in 2021-2025.

Around 15,000 ha of the forest will be grown back, consisting of 6,800 ha of protective forests to block sand and break waves (mangrove forest) and 8,200 ha of wind- and sand-shielding protection forests. In 2021 - 2025, about 9,000 ha of the forest will be regenerated.

Meanwhile, the plan expects to improve capacity and livelihood for the community and people taking part in protecting and developing coastal areas.

One of the solutions to carry out the master plan is to inform and educate stakeholders to improve capacity and awareness about the role and value of forests in coastal areas.

In addition, another solution is to perform priority tasks: Building seed forests and nurseries to produce seedlings for coastal afforestation; protecting and developing mangrove forests, preventing coastal erosion, especially in the Mekong Delta; planting protective forests to block winds and storms, prevent flying sand, protect the environment, prevent coastal desertification, especially in central provinces; zoning and promoting forest regeneration, enriching and conserving biodiversity, protecting endangered and rare wild animals and plants in special-use forests and high-biodiversity forests in coastal areas.

Source: Vietnam Business Forum