IUCN partners to restore coastal mangrove forests in Ca Mau

On July 29-30, the Coastal Special-Use and Protection Forest Management Board under the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), conducted a field survey and community training session in Vinh Hau Commune.

The activity is part of the 2023–2027 project Scaling up nature-based solutions through mangrove restoration in Ca Mau Province, led by IUCN. The initiative aims to restore mangrove ecosystems in tandem with local livelihoods, enhancing climate change resilience.

As of July 2025, more than 80,000 mangrove trees have been newly planted across 18 hectares of degraded coastal protection forests and shrimp–mangrove ponds. By the project’s conclusion, the goal is to restore 160,000 trees in areas heavily affected by coastal erosion and climate change.

Mangrove restoration serves as a “green shield” protecting the shoreline, improving water quality, reducing carbon emissions, and bolstering the resilience of aquaculture systems – a primary livelihood for local communities.

Alongside reforestation, the project runs training courses to raise community awareness of climate change impacts and to promote sustainable aquaculture practices. Local residents are introduced to integrated models such as shrimp–mangrove, shrimp–crab, and multi-species farming under mangrove canopies. Training also covers polyculture techniques, environmentally friendly farming methods, and current support policies.

This nature-based solutions approach aligns with Vietnam’s National Climate Change Strategy through 2050, which targets net-zero emissions by mid-century. Sustainable restoration and management of mangrove ecosystems strengthen the country’s climate adaptation capacity and open opportunities to access international resources through natural carbon credit mechanisms.

With support from global organizations like IUCN, initiatives in places like Vinh Hau are helping to build a more resilient coastal ecosystem in Ca Mau – one where communities live in harmony with nature, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance a green economy.

K.Linh