As the only coastal district of Ho Chi Minh City, Can Gio is predicted to be heavily impacted by climate change and rising sea levels. Ho Chi Minh City has planned to build this place into a green locality of the city.
At the meeting between Ho Chi Minh City leaders and leaders of corporations called CEO 100 Tea Connect, taking place at Thong Nhat Hall in mid-September 2023, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai shared about the pilot plan to build Can Gio into a green locality of the city.
Accordingly, Can Gio is expected to be the pioneer locality in implementing the "net zero" target (net zero emissions) by 2035, 15 years ahead of Vietnam's international commitment.
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Panoramic view of Can Gio district from above. Photo: Vietnam Financial Times[/caption]To achieve this goal, the city is focusing on investing in Can Gio in the fields of green transportation, in which means of transportation in the area must use green fuel and green energy; process waste into electricity to serve production and living needs; build this destination without plastic waste; develop green tourism and pilot carbon credits with Can Gio forest...
Sharing with the press, Dr. Phan Thuy Kieu, Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) said that Can Gio was chosen as the pilot site because of its favorable geographical location adjacent to the sea and moderate population density to be able to control during the green economy pilot implementation process, aiming for net zero emissions.
Up to now, Ho Chi Minh City has directed relevant departments and branches to implement an action program to build a green Can Gio, in which the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is assigned to preside over and coordinate with relevant departments and branches to propose afforestation associated with carbon credits. The Department of Tourism coordinates with relevant units to implement an eco-tourism model, combined with the experience of the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) program. The Department of Industry and Trade coordinates with relevant units to propose rooftop solar power in government offices and salt flats...
Dr. Phan Thuy Kieu noted: In the context of limited resources, the goal is to take advantage of Resolution 98/2023/QH15 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City to create a breakthrough, attract strategic investors with strong enough resources, and have an interest in the city as well as the development of Can Gio. Take advantage of the form of public-private partnership (PPP), socialization and private resources to create comprehensive resources for the development of Can Gio.
Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies is developing an action program for a green Can Gio; implementing a project to develop a marine economy for Can Gio in a green and sustainable direction.
Protection and sustainable development of Can Gio Biosphere Reserve
According to experts, in the development strategy of Can Gio, top priority should be given to the conservation of the Can Gio Biosphere Reserve to increase the ability to respond to climate change and rising sea levels; reduce saltwater intrusion into the mainland; preserve the central green lung for the entire region. At the same time, improve the quality of the soil, water and air environment for ecological space; balance the hydrological environment for the area; protect the rich and diverse natural resources of flora and fauna and the ecological value of the area.
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Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, the “green lung” protecting Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding urban areas in the context of climate change. Illustration photo: Popular Science[/caption]Can Gio Biosphere Reserve - the first biosphere reserve in Vietnam - has a total area of about 75,000 hectares and is a coastal wetland ecosystem formed on the vast delta of three rivers: Dong Nai, Saigon and Vam Co.
According to Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Trung Luong, Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development (VESDI), the results of many scientific studies show that the Can Gio mangrove ecosystem with an area of up to 11.16% of the total mangrove forest area of the country and 83.21% of the total mangrove forest area of the Southeast region is an environment that creates high biodiversity.
Ho Chi Minh City is a rare place with a natural wetland located right in the city, becoming a model or a symbol of wetland ecosystem restoration for Vietnam and the world.
Therefore, Can Gio mangrove forest not only creates urban green space, natural landscape, becoming a "green lung" for Ho Chi Minh City and surrounding cities, but also contributes to responding to climate change, especially the issue of rising sea levels, protecting against coastal erosion...
Minh Thai
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