(photo: botainguyenmoitruong.vn)

Speaking at the seminar, Vu Tan Phuong, Director of the Office of Forest Management Certification of the Vietnam Academy of Forest Sciences, said mangrove forests help reduce emissions.

"Coastal forests cover just a small area, about 2% of Vietnam’s total forest area, but they reduce the country’s total emission 7%, while also mitigating the impact of climate change. We need more solutions to reduce emission and we need to protect our existing forests and prevent forest degradation. We also need to improve the quality of our forests to increase carbon reserves, especially in mangrove forests in the southwestern, southeastern, and northeastern regions and in the Red River Delta,' said Phuong.

Nguyen Huu Bach of Thua Thien-Hue province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: "We need to protect key mangrove forests in estuaries, review our land reserves, and plant trees in protective forests and coastal forests. By 2025 we hope to plant 235 hectares of trees adapted to local conditions."

UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward says Vietnam and the UK should strengthen cooperation in protecting Vietnam’s coastal mangrove forests.