Clam co-operatives have been asked to pay a fee to protect mangrove
forests that play an important role in white-clam breeding in the Mekong
Delta.
“Mangrove forests have reduced tidal erosion for alluvial
ground and transformed organic matter into fresh food for clams. They
have also reduced organic pollution from domestic aquaculture and
agriculture,” said Professor Hoang Nghia Son, Head of the Institute of
Tropical Biology, who spoke at a conference held in Ho Chi Minh City
last week.
“More than anyone else, farmers who breed clams should
bear the responsibility to protect, plant and take care of mangrove
forests,” he added.
The conference, which discussed the linkages
between clam breeding and mangrove forests, was held to build the first
stage for Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) policy, which
would require clam co-operatives to pay an annual fee to protect and
develop mangrove forests.
Clam breeding has yielded a significant income for residents, providing around 100,000 VND (5 USD) per day.
There
are nearly 94,000ha of mangrove forest in the Mekong Delta and
150,000ha around the country, and over 2,100 clam grounds in the delta
area.
“Many farmers don’t recognise the benefits from mangrove
forests for clams, and this national conference is necessary to build a
policy,” said Andrew Wyatt, Mekong Delta programme manager at the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The conference was organised by the Institute of Tropical Biology, IUCN and Mangroves for Future.
Attending
were more than 100 delegates, including scientists, representatives
from the clam co-operatives and Mekong Delta provinces’ departments of
Agriculture and Rural Development and Science and Technology, and
management boards of national parks.-VNA