Adjustments made to Cat Ba coastal forest restoration Project

The project has a total investment capital of 130 billion Vietnamese dong, including over 97.2 billion dong for tree planting, enrichment, nurturing, and forest regeneration, and 13.9 billion dong for the construction of forestry infrastructure. The project's funding is sourced primarily from the central government through the National Target Program for Response to Climate Change and Green Growth for an amount of 109.9 billion Vietnamese dong, and an additional support capital of 20 billion Vietnamese dong from Hai Phong city's budget.

According to the Project Management Board for Investment in Agricultural Facilities and Rural Development in Hai Phong city, the project aims to develop coastal forests to enhance their role in disaster prevention, land preservation, environmental cleansing, and greenhouse gas absorption. Furthermore, the project will minimize contributing factors in climate and sea level changes in addition to preserving biodiversity.

By consolidating afforestation efforts, the initiative sets the groundwork for eco-tourism development, thereby contributing to the national socio-economic growth as well as reinforcing national security. Moreover, the project's activities are deployed in accordance with the city's forest protection and development planning. On the other hand, the project aids in protecting and restoring ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and conserving the natural values of Cat Ba archipelago, which encompass its wildlife, vegetation, terrestrial and marine landscapes. The afforestation project also contributes to effective management and protection of the biosphere reserve, and promotes local socio-economic development.

The project aims to plant 116.23 hectares of new coastal forest area, including 79.37 hectares of mangrove coastal forest, 36.86 hectares of hill and mountain forest, and 220.5 hectares of naturally-enriched forest area. Additionally, the project designates over 1,107.56 hectares of reforestation promotion area through supplementary planting, and 53.62 hectares of natural reforestation area. Furthermore, the project incorporates the construction of a 1.95-hectare indigenous tree nursery.

Upon completion, the afforestation project will significantly increase forest canopy coverage, create a clean forest and marine ecosystem, expand habitats for wildlife, and maximize the potential for biodiversity.

To date, the project has been executed in full accordance with the revised 2023 approved project plan, and the tree nursery has been handed over to the Cat Ba National Park. Subsequently, stakeholders will engage in planting, maintaining, and safeguarding the forests in the project's third and fourth years in accordance with the stipulated guidelines.

"This project generates employment opportunities and enhances community awareness regarding the value and significance of forests, thereby gradually limiting the degradation of biodiversity through exploitation. Furthermore, it will empower local residents to proactively manage the on-site seed source to serve coastal forest conservation efforts in accordance with the project's schedule, and the reforestation task using other funding sources in the future," stated Mr. Nguyen Quang Hoang, Director of the Project Management Board for Investment in Agricultural Facilities and Rural Development in Hai Phong city.