Authorities in Thai Binh Province, northern Vietnam recently issued a clarification to dispel misunderstandings regarding potential harm to local coastal forested land to make space for a series of economic projects.

Last month, the provincial administration announced a plan which involved adjusting the size of a 'special-use forest' in the Tien Hai Wetland Nature Reserve in Nam Phu, Nam Hung, and Nam Thinh Communes, located in the province’s Tien Hai District.

A provincial decision dated September 26, 2014 stated that the reserve spans 12,500 hectares, including 1,430 hectares of forested land and 11,050 hectares of wetlands and mudflats.

According to the recently-released plan, that space will be cut down to 1,320 hectares, including 632 hectares of mangrove forests and 688 hectares of non-forest land. 

Many people understood the plan as a means of creating space for a series of economic projects in alignment with the blueprint for the Thai Binh Economic Zone until 2040, with a vision toward 2050.

Following the release of the plan, both the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the UNESCO Office in Vietnam sent official dispatches requesting clarification of the plan. 

In their communications, both organizations noted that the Tien Hai Wetland Nature Reserve is a vital nucleus within the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve, a globally-recognized biosphere reserve in Vietnam.

The nature reserve serves as a repository for a wide array of biological treasures, including 215 bird species, approximately 160 of which are migratory and 50 are water bird species. 

Many of these birds are included amongst the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. 

Both the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the UNESCO Office also noted that the nature reserve plays a crucial role in safeguarding coastal and estuarine environments, ensuring regional security, environmental integrity, and the sustainable advancement of both Thai Binh Province and its surrounding area.

In response, the Thai Binh administration clarified that the term ‘nature reserve’ in the ‘Tien Hai Wetland Nature Reserve’ name is merely a label and, in reality, the wetland is a designated 'special-use forest.'

According to the reserve’s established charter in 2014, its borders and size are “primarily qualitative and lack specific measurement-based research to guide the province in identifying resources and formulating a plan for forest development implementation."

The province stated the decision it issued on April 17, 2023 to reduce the size of the reserve provides a more detailed outline of the Tien Hai Wetland Nature Reserve’s size and location.

The mentioned 1,320-hectare area, situated at the end of the Red River, represents the section of the reserve with the most robust and uninterrupted forest cover, making it highly suitable for biodiversity preservation and forest growth initiatives.

It benefits from an intricate network of rivers and streams, along with natural tidal flows, which collectively provide optimal conditions for the flourishing of forest trees and various species of flora and fauna.

Meanwhile, the forested land incorporated into the province’s economic development plan primarily consists of swamps, aquaculture ponds, rivers, streams, and sand dunes.

In these areas, forest cover is sparse and fragmented, failing to meet the criteria for special forest protection.

Furthermore, there are numerous eroded areas which pose challenges for forest preservation and development.

The province asserts that it has no intention of causing harm to the Tien Hai Wetland Nature Reserve.

Instead, it aims to precisely and transparently define the special-use forest’s location, boundaries, and size in accordance with regulations and prevent any overlap when implementing the Thai Binh Economic Zone plan.

In its clarification, the provincial administration emphasized its unwavering commitment to adhering to the proper objectives, principles, and regulations outlined in the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat and by the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve over the past decade.

The province has also placed significant emphasis on public awareness, forest preservation, biodiversity conservation, and the integration of these efforts with economic development to enhance the livelihoods of coastal communities.

It also maintains a steadfast stance on pursuing sustainable socio-economic development in tandem with environmental protection.

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