SUSTAINABLE RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MANGROVE FORESTS IN HA TINH PROVINCE

Mangrove forests are critical ecosystems to coastal areas with high biodiversity value, provide coastal protection, and environmental services. Coastal areas adjacent to mangrove forests are protected from hazardous weather such as storms, flood, erosion, etc. Mangrove forests form resting, wintering, feeding, and nesting grounds for birds, aquatic species, and invertebrates. Despite its immense values to the environment, mangrove forests are degraded by anthropogenic impacts and invasive species.

Ha Tinh province has mangrove forests which are dispersing along estuaries, establishing a protection belt for coastal areas. Unfortunately, the expansion of aquaculture farms and invasion of pests have damaged a large area of mangrove forests in the past 10 years. Beginning in 2022, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) has supported the Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh province to implement the plan of studying integrated solutions to control crustaceans harmful to mangrove forests. The plan aims to manage and restore the decimated and protecting planted mangrove areas.   

from left to right:Picture 1: CCD's team is surveying the mangrove forest in Thach Mon commune, Ha Tinh provincePicture 2: Representatives from Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh province at the planted mangrove site

CCD’s team conducted surveys and identified Sphaeroma terebrans – a crustacean species belonging to the Sphaeromatidae family, Isopoda order, Malacostraca class as one of the main agents of the mass death of mangroves. The crustacean colonizes the internal, thereby hollowing out and breaking trunks.

from left to right:Picture 3: A

Kandelia candel

's trunk is hollowed out by the colonization of

Sphaeroma terebrans

Picture 4: A matured

Sphaeroma terebrans

With its mission and an experienced team, CCD will continue to support Ha Tinh province and other localities to restore and develop mangrove forests, thus increasing the value of ecosystem services, coastal protection, and better adaptation to climate change.