MAM wraps up first phase of implementation
The ‘Mangroves and the Markets’ (MAM) project held a successful Phase 1 review workshop on 22 February 2016. The MAM project team was even awarded a certificate of merit by Ca Mau People’s Committee.
The Phase 1 review workshop was held as part of the MAM project which aims to restore mangrove forests, introduce certified organic shrimp farming, connect Ca Mau’s shrimp farmers with international markets, and support the legal basis for aquaculture Payment Ecosystem Services (PES) establishment in Viet Nam. MAM is a regional initiative which is implemented in the coastal provinces of Ca Mau, Viet Nam and Chanthaburi, Thailand. The project is supported by the International Climate Initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), and implemented by SNV and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
“MAM is one of SNV’s key projects that serves a dual purpose of environmental preservation and livelihoods improvement for the local communities. SNV is proud to be part of the success that the project has achieved to date.” Miguel Mendez, SNV Vietnam Country Director, said in his opening speech.
The success of the project, according to Mr. Chau Cong Bang, Deputy Director of Department for Agriculture and Rural Development of Ca Mau province, lies in the fruitful partnership that it has established and supported over the past three years. MAM has successfully brought together multiple stakeholders, including shrimp farmers, private companies, research institutes, policy makers, NGOs and international certification agencies. Together, they have made impressive achievements:
2,000 farmer households trained on mangrove ecosystem, international organic shrimp certification, and organic shrimp farming practices.
Payment for Forest Ecosystem Services (PFES) has been made to more than 200 households, with a total amount of nearly VND 300,000,000.
Almost VND 600 million have been paid to more than 500 certified organic shrimp by Minh Phu Seafood company.
Nearly 800 shrimp farmer households have obtained Naturland certification and received their bonus for protecting the mangrove ecosystem, while other 1,700 households are in the process of getting certified.
80 hectares of mangrove forest have been replanted on devastated shrimp ponds
There is a plan in place to scale up certification to 20,000 hectares of integrated mangrove-shrimp farms by 2020, according to the authorities of Ca Mau province. Economic incentives and secured market access are essential tools to foster sustainable aquaculture practices and raise farmers’ awareness. By establishing integrated mangrove-shrimp farming systems, which incorporate the promotion of local community resilience and strict third party monitoring, the MAM project aims to permanently reduce pressure on mangrove forests.
SNV is working closely with the donor and our partners on the next phase of the project which aims to scale up this sustainable integrated-mangrove shrimp model to the wider Mekong Delta.