A mangrove forest project in coastal areas in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang has helped improve the environment and preserve biodiversity in the province. Implemented by the Soc Trang Red Cross society and the Vietnam Red Cross's southern office, the project aimed to prevent erosion and other negative impacts triggered by climate change in Trung Binh Commune in Tran De District. Sponsored by UK Premier Oil Company in Tran De district, the project was carried out in the two phases. About 25ha of mangrove forests were planted along coastal areas between 2011 and 2013, preventing soil erosion caused by rising sea levels, organization leaders said at a conference in Soc Trang. In the second phase of the project, from 2013 to 2014, the provincial Red Cross worked with the Forest Management Department and People's Committee of Tran De District to plant an additional 20ha of mangroves. According to Nguyen Thu Huong, chairwoman of the provincial Red Cross, the project improved local people's living conditions because it helped mitigate the impacts of natural disasters like floods and storms. The project also created sustainable jobs for residents, she said. In 2015, the project will expand to other coastal communes in the district and plant 20 more hectares of mangroves. (Vietnamplus Dec 29)
