• Almost 5,000 hectares of mangroves, planted in challenging coastal environments.
• Biodiversity on the rise.
• 1,500 families benefit from comprehensive resettlement program.

Vietnam, June 4, 2008  — When Typhoon Linda struck southern Vietnam’s coast in 1997, it exposed a compromised ecosystem. Historically, vast mangrove forests have stabilized coastlines, affording protection from winds and storms. But for years, local populations had exploited the forests for timber and firewood or cleared the trees to make room for shrimp farms.

With a view to rebuilding livelihoods and restoring a devastated ecosystem, the Coastal Wetlands Protection and Development project financed by the World Bank set about planting almost 5,000 hectares of mangroves, often in challenging environments.

Including related government programs, about 25,000 hectares of new trees were planted between 2000 and 2007 to protect Vietnam’s southern coast.

Today, the newly planted trees are a haven for sea creatures. Sediment from the Mekong Delta is being trapped in the mangroves’ unique root systems, helping roll back years of coastal erosion. As a result, fishermen are witnessing more shell varieties, a resurgence of crab seedlings, improved daily catches and higher incomes. And coastal communities have gained protection from waves and seasonal storms.

The project also included an ambitious social development program to help address one of the root causes of environmental degradation—precarious living conditions and entrenched poverty in areas near the coast. All together, about 1,500 families across four provinces were relocated from a fragile beach-front environment to comfortable housing in new communities protected by dikes. These families gained access to schools, roads, electricity, water as well as literacy classes, extension services, micro-credit, seeds and land. For many, the move has meant new opportunities and a more secure grip on life.