Selected as an Outstanding ODA Project for 2024, with Active Anticipation for Further Collaboration with Korea

On the 27th, the Korea Forest Service (KFS), led by Minister LIM Sang-seop, announced that the Vietnamese government had selected Korea’s mangrove restoration cooperation project as an outstanding ODA project.

Since 2020, KFS has invested a total of 5.8 billion KRW in ODA funds to restore mangrove forests, establish nurseries, improve livelihoods, and strengthen local capacities in the Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh regions of the northern Red River Delta. To date, 250 hectares of mangrove forests have been restored.

The restored mangrove forests have played a crucial role in protecting the local ecosystem from natural disasters, such as Typhoon Yagi in September 2024.

In addition to the restoration efforts, KFS has supported a local mangrove honey cooperative, contributing to the economic independence of the residents. As a result, local incomes have significantly increased, prompting the Vietnamese government to request a two-year extension of the project.

The Vietnamese government has also promoted the outcomes of the mangrove restoration project through state-run media and expressed strong interest in further collaboration with Korea in the forestry sector. They are eager to expand cooperation in areas such as the second phase of mangrove restoration, REDD+, forest disaster management, and the use of forestry and agriculture satellites.

Dr. NAM Song Hee, Director General of the International Affairs Bureau of KFS, stated, “This mangrove restoration project plays a vital role in climate change mitigation, disaster prevention, marine ecosystem conservation, and income generation for local communities. We will continue our close cooperation with the Vietnamese government to expand our forestry collaboration.”