Soc Trang combats alluvial erosion to preserve protection forest

Erosion threatens coastal protection forest

According to Mr. Tran Trong Khiem, Deputy Director of the Soc Trang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the province has a total area of over 10,300 hectares of forest. Nearly 6,796 hectares are protection forest used for wave-breaking and coastal expansion, around 300 hectares are special-use forest, and the remainder is production forest.

Production forest in Soc Trang province mainly consists of coastal mangrove forest. The provincial coastline is 72 km long, stretching from Dinh An river mouth to the border with Bac Lieu province, covered by protection forest belts. Depending on the area, the width of these forest belts varies in thickness. In Cu Lao Dung district, the protection forest belt from the Dinh An river mouth to the Tran De river mouth spans from 200 meters to about 1,900 meters wide, measured from the foot of the dyke to the sea.

However, the forest belt in Vinh Chau commune is thinner and has undergone a significant change due to erosion. Some sections were eroded up to the foot of the dyke, such as the section from K41 to K45 in Vinh Hai commune and another from Bac Lieu border to gate 2. Data reveals the substantial changes in coastal alluvial plains in Soc Trang province. In 2023 alone, over 14.5 hectares of coastal production forest in the region were eroded. 

To combat this, solutions including anti-erosion embankments, alluvial accumulation for reforestation, and reforestation itself are essential. Promoting communication and education is crucial to create a strong shift in awareness, consciousness, and responsibility among local authorities, specialized sectors, and the public regarding forest protection and development. This will highlight the vital role of forests in economic and social development, environmental protection, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.  

Allocating forest land to local people for joint management

Allocating land and forest is to ensure adequate management ownership. To date, in Soc Trang, besides the production forest and about 500 hectares of protection forest that have been allocated, the remaining areas have not been officially assigned. The province is working to establish Coastal Protection Forest Management Board to take over forest and land forest, currently managed by the commune People’s Committee. The coastal protection forest of the province will be designated for management, protection and sustainable development.

Training and capacity building for forest rangers and protection forces of forest owners to effectively implement forest management, protection and development tasks. Conducting surveys to fully understand the current status of alluvial land with potential for forest development. Meanwhile, leveraging central government funding and resources from non-governmental organizations to develop forest protection and development projects for the province. Establishing quality nurseries to provide seedlings for mangrove forest planting.

The shrimp-forest farming model represents a sustainable economic development approach. The Soc Trang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development aims to collaborate with forest protection and development projects. For this to succeed, however, the forest must be allocated and managed by a designated entity. The forest owner will develop a sustainable forest management plan, outlining models and solutions for economic development under the forest canopy. The shrimp-forest farming model is among the solutions included in this sustainable forest management plan.

Maintaining and expanding protection forests are ongoing tasks in Soc Trang's forest protection and development efforts. The goal is to sustain and increase Soc Trang's forest cover from the current 2.53% to 3%, as outlined in the approved planning.