Protect marine ecosystems
Quang Ninh has a coastline of over 250 km, a sea surface area of over 6,000 km2, over 2,700 large and small islands and over 40,000 hectares of tidal flats, 20,000 hectares of bays. With the above potentials and advantages, Quang Ninh has had many preferential policies for investment, attracting resources, and gradually developing the marine economy.
However, in recent years, due to the increasingly complex impacts of climate change, coastal environmental pollution from fishing and aquaculture activities has gradually reduced aquatic resources, significantly affecting the livelihoods of coastal residents. Faced with this situation, Quang Ninh province has implemented many solutions to protect the marine ecosystem and coastal aquatic resources.
Dong Rui is considered one of the most beautiful mangrove forests in the North today, with nearly 3,000 hectares, accounting for more than half of the natural land area of Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen district. The mangrove forest here has many species of trees that are hundreds of years old and are strictly preserved to maintain valuable genetic resources. It is also the source of livelihood for many generations of local people with valuable seafood resources such as shrimp, snails, crabs, and cockles. Therefore, in recent years, people and authorities have joined hands to plant, care for, protect and promote the value of the forest.
To protect the mangrove forests, more than 10 years ago, the mangrove forest management team of the villages was established, consisting of 5-6 people/team with the veteran force as the core, with the task of coordinating with the forest rangers to regularly patrol, control and remind people to protect the forest. Thanks to that, 100% of the existing and newly planted natural mangrove forests in the commune have been restored, managed, protected and developed well, the environment has been improved, aquatic resources that were previously depleted have now been revived, creating stable livelihoods and income for local people.
Along with protecting the marine ecosystem, the inspection and handling of destructive fishing practices as well as the regeneration of aquatic resources have always been a focus of Quang Ninh province. According to Mr. Do Dinh Minh, Head of the Department of Fisheries of Quang Ninh province, since the beginning of the year, functional forces and localities have handled 238 violations of fishing, collecting over 3.3 billion VND for the budget. With the motto of sustainable development of marine livelihoods, protecting biodiversity and aquatic resources, every year the provincial fisheries sector organizes fish seed release campaigns into the natural environment to regenerate aquatic resources. In April 2023, the locality released 2.3 million aquatic seeds, including species with high economic value such as sea bass, cobia, grouper, shrimp, and other species into the environment to regenerate resources.
Creating sustainable livelihoods for people
In recent years, Quang Ninh province has promoted extensive propaganda to owners of fishing vessels, as well as coastal communities, about protecting the marine environment and mangrove forests, which is also protecting their own long-term livelihoods.
Mr. Hoang Van Thong, Ha village, Dong Rui commune, Tien Yen district said: The revival of local mangrove forests has created a green belt to help withstand waves, storms and floods, and also brought aquatic resources to help hundreds of households have a stable source of income, improving their lives. Mangrove forests are also exploited by local people to attract tourists to experience catching seafood under the forest canopy.
Dong Rui Wetland is assessed to be eligible to meet the selection criteria of a wetland of international importance as stipulated in the Ramsar Convention. Of the 1,227 species in Dong Rui, 67 rare species with conservation values at different levels have been identified. In August 2020, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Quang Ninh Province prepared a dossier to propose recognition of a Ramsar site for Dong Rui Wetland. The project has conducted additional research, investigation, analysis and evaluation of data on nature, environment, biodiversity, and socio-economics in Dong Rui Wetland area under the guidance of the Ramsar Convention Secretariat.
The early recognition as a Ramsar site in the near future will help to enhance the position of Dong Rui wetland in general and Dong Rui mangrove forest in particular in countries around the world. At the same time, it is a favorable condition to create sustainable livelihoods for people in planting, caring for, protecting forests associated with fishing and developing experiential tourism associated with protecting the coastal ecosystem.
In parallel, Quang Ninh always focuses on implementing detailed planning for Co To marine reserves, Tran island and Dong Rui wetland reserve with a total area of about 5,883 hectares, focusing on implementing the goal of protecting ecosystems, protecting marine species of economic and scientific value, protecting the environment associated with developing ecotourism, creating sustainable livelihoods for people, especially those in coastal areas.
In the coming time, Quang Ninh province will continue to strengthen propaganda so that organizations and individuals can raise awareness, consciousness, responsibility and take specific, practical actions, join hands to protect aquatic resources, as well as preserve and protect mangrove forests, creating long-term sustainable livelihoods for coastal people - Mr. Do Dinh Minh added.
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