Experts of the Mekong Delta Province Bac Lieu and GTZ meet the WISDOM project at DLR

On June 10th 16 experts from Bac Lieu Province (Head of the Peoples Committee, Directors of local environmental agencies etc.) jointly with local GTZ experts visited DLR to exchange ideas of collaboration between EZ funded projects such as a coastal protection project of GTZ in Bac Lieu and the WISDOM Project. Several participants had already been involved in the DARD, DONRE, DOST Workshop for Mekong Delta provinces, which was held in March 2009 in Can Tho. Coastal protection – and here especially the protection of remaining forest areas – are of highest priority in Bac Lieu. However, as shrimp farming (aquaculture) brings more profit to the local farmers than forestation, most forest areas are endangered. According to the provinces governor it is an urgent need to offer people, who are currently living in forested areas, new relocation grounds, so that they can develop economically without destroying the valuable ecosystems.