Destructive human activities have put coral reefs, sea grass beds and many other marine species off Ly Son Island at risk in recent years, with local authorities urged to make more efforts to preserve the unique ecosystem.
Ly Son Marine Reserve
in central Quang Ngai province, covering Ly Son Island and its surrounding
areas, has a water surface of more than
7,100 hectares,
including the 620-hectare no-take zone, an area of more than
2,000 hectares for
ecology restoration and another for development stretching across
4,470 hectares.
The sea protected area is known for high biodiversity and an ecosystem that
houses many rare marine species like black coral, maxima clams and abalone. But
these creatures are in danger of extinction due to the activities of local
people.
Fishermen have used explosives to kill many fish, seriously
harming coral reefs. Meanwhile, hundreds of locals harvest natural brown
seaweed, which offers shelter for many sea creatures, every May and June. They
can harvest an average of 3-5 tonnes of brown seaweed daily, making it
difficult to recover.
In addition, more than 150,000 sq.m of sand from beaches is exploited each year
to cultivate garlic, causing coastal erosion and depleting sea grass beds.
To solve the problems, the provincial People’s Committee adopted a project to
use advanced technology to restore coral reefs near Ly Son Island in 2015.
Experts have been sent to survey the coral reefs and raise local awareness of
the importance of animal and environmental protection. Local authorities and
residents have also been provided with training on how to recover coral reefs.
A model for coral recovery piloted across
2 hectares of the marine
reserve has developed well, giving hope of bringing back endangered species and
increasing local seafood yields.
The province urged Ly Son Island to intensify management of the sea protected
area by requesting tour operators strictly comply with the reserve’s
regulations and keeping close watch on the density and development of rare sea
species.
The island was also urged to get local people involved in protecting natural
resources and to guide them to fish sustainably.
Source: VOV
In recent years, the preferential loans from the Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) have been contributing to creating jobs for many employees in the province. This source of capital has helped many households invest in economic restructuring, increasing income, and reducing the sustainable poverty.
In the morning of May 9th, the Provincial Women's Union held a conference to summarize the Project "Empowering women’s rights through the access to the Law on Cyber Security, Marriage and Family Law”.
Ms. Bui Thi Dinh, the President of the Women's Union of Dinh Cu commune (Lac Son) says: Dinh Cu is a particularly difficult commune of the district, Muong ethnic group accounts for 90%. When being selected to participate in the project "Empowering women’s right through the access to the Law on Cyber Security and Law on Marriage and Family”, especially establishing the model "Equality in marriage” in Muong Chong hamlet with the participation of 30 members, along with propaganda and dissemination work on gender, the Law on Marriage and Family, and the Law on Prevention and Control of Domestic Violence has helped raise the awareness and qualifications for the officials and women members.
The club model "Women integrating in the online environment" is one of the two basic models of a project on empowering women through access to the Law on Cyber Security, and the Marriage and Family Law, sponsored by the Justice Initiatives Facilitation Fund (JIFF) - EU Justice and Legal Empowerment Programme (EU JULE).
In recent years, Thung Nai commune on has undergone significant changes in its appearance, landscape, and lives of local residents. Road 435 from Hoa Binh City to Tan Lac district’s Suoi Hoa commune, passing through the Thung Nai commune, has helped attract many tourists to the area.
A seminar on promoting the startup movement among high school students has been held recently by the provincial Department of Education and Training and the Vietnam National University of Agriculture at Tan Lac High School in Tan Lac district of Hoa Binh province.
