Talking to PV. VietNamNet about the potential of carbon credits, Mr. Ha Sy Dong - Permanent Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee, said that in addition to selling carbon credits from natural forests, this locality can exploit carbon credits from 26,000 hectares of planted forests certified with FSC and VFCS/PEFC sustainable forest management certificates.

The province has just assigned the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to carry out the task of "Researching and assessing the current status and carbon storage capacity of seagrass beds in Quang Tri province". This is also a potential for Quang Tri to exploit and sell carbon credits in the near future.

Scientists assess that seagrass beds play a very important role, participating in the nutrient cycle in the sea and ocean. Just in terms of ecological and environmental value, seagrass beds globally are estimated at about 3,800 billion USD, averaging 212,000 USD/ha of seagrass per year.

In addition, seagrass ecosystems also play an important role in mitigating climate change. Seagrass has the ability to store about 19.9 billion tons of organic carbon, 2-3 times higher than the storage capacity of forest trees per unit area.

Seagrass carbon credit prices in 2022 range from $11-35, possibly reaching $60 by 2050, significantly higher than the typical carbon credit price of $8-10.

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The organic carbon storage capacity of seagrass is 2-3 times higher than that of forest trees per unit area. Photo: UWA

Mr. Dong assessed that developing seagrass will generate income from participating in carbon credit exchange and offset programs and projects in the international market, helping Quang Tri province meet its commitments on emission reduction and climate change response, while promoting sustainable economic development.

Citing the results of previous general research documents on seagrass beds, provincial leaders said that in Quang Tri there are two species of seagrass, including Japanese eelgrass - Zostera japonica and sea needle grass - Ruppia maritima. These seagrasses grow into a wide beach of about 400 hectares, concentrated in the sea areas of Cua Tung and Cua Viet.

Specifically, at Cua Tung, along both sides of Ben Hai River, Japanese eelgrass grows and develops. On the northern bank of Ben Hai River in Vinh Giang Commune (Vinh Linh), this seagrass species is distributed in a carpet, about 800-900m long, about 30m wide from the bank to the riverbed. On the southern bank of Ben Hai River in Tung Luat Village, Trung Hai Commune (Gio Linh), the grass grows densely. They form a 1,200-1,500m long beach, 20-35m wide from the bank to the riverbed.

In Cua Viet area, the South bank of Ha Tay village in Trieu An commune, Japanese eelgrass grows into a 1.5-2km long, 100m wide beach with a coverage of 60-100%. The North bank is similar, seagrass is distributed into large beaches.

However, according to the results of the project "Investigation, assessment of the current status and changes in environmental pollution in the coastal waters of the Central region and proposal of urgent solutions" in 2016, after the Formosa incident, the status of seagrass communities in the coastal areas of Quang Tri in particular and the Central region in general has been seriously affected and degraded.

In Cua Tung area, the estimated seagrass area is about 1.5 ha with 50% coverage; in Cua Viet, only small areas of seagrass beds appear sporadically in some aquaculture ponds. This shows that the current status of seagrass in this area has decreased sharply in both species composition and distribution area.

In addition, according to the results of the report on the establishment of the island resource profile of Quang Tri province conducted by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment in 2021, the Con Co island area recorded only one species of oval grass - Halophila ovalis. Oval grass in Con Co is scattered in some types of muddy sand around the island with very low coverage and density and there is no data on the area of ​​seagrass in this area.

Vice Chairman Ha Sy Dong emphasized that, along with coral and mangrove forests, seagrass is one of three important coastal ecosystems, providing many ecological and environmental service values ​​to humans.

According to him, the marine environment is always affected by waves, wind, and currents. The presence of leaves, upright stems, and root systems of seagrass reduces the mechanical impact of waves, creating favorable conditions for marine organisms to reside, hide, and escape predators (especially larvae and juveniles). Seagrass leaves act as water filters, making the water clearer. In addition, grass leaves also have the function of settling sediments. The intricate root and underground stem systems of seagrass hold and stabilize the bottom, preventing erosion in coastal areas.

Together with mangrove and coral ecosystems, seagrass ecosystems play an important role in coastal waters, performing mechanical and biological functions. Seagrass meadows participate in the material cycle and food chain in coastal areas. Decomposed organic matter from grass leaves as well as from bottom-dwelling seaweeds is an important component in the food chain of marine ecosystems.

“In Southeast Asia, seagrass is also a food source and habitat for many seafood species of high economic value,” Mr. Dong informed. Accordingly, seagrass is home to bivalves, sponges, crustaceans, and benthic animals such as polychaetes, sea urchins, and sea anemones.

With these benefits, seagrasses are considered one of the three most valuable ecosystems in the world. One hectare of seagrass is estimated to provide services worth over $19,000 per year.

According to Mr. Dong, seagrass communities in the coastal areas of Quang Tri are seriously declining, with the remaining area being insignificant. Based on the research of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment on the current status of local seagrass beds, expected to be completed in 2026, the province will develop a plan to conserve and develop seagrass beds.

Quang Tri sells forest carbon credits, people share billions

Quang Tri sells forest carbon credits, people share billions

“The carbon credit money has arrived. People received it at the beginning of this year, everyone is happy and excited,” said Ho Van Chien, one of the people who received carbon forest credit payments in Quang Tri, after a patrol trip to protect the forest assigned to the community.
Bringing forests to coffee gardens, waiting to collect money from selling carbon credits

Bringing forests to coffee gardens, waiting to collect money from selling carbon credits

“One million trees are being planted among the monoculture coffee hills to create a vast green forest in the future. This is the first step for us to have green label coffee products and move towards selling carbon credits.”
Collecting money from carbon credits, the distant past has become reality

Collecting money from carbon credits, the distant past has become reality

In a conversation with VietNamNet about the potential of selling carbon credits, Mr. Ha Sy Dong - Permanent Vice Chairman of Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee emphasized that "the distant thing has now become a reality".