Co-operation among local communities has been the main factor in the progress made in tackling pollution in the lower sections of the Dong Nai River, according to a senior official.
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| Barges carrying goods on the Dong Nai River. Co-operation among local communities has been the main factor in the progress made in tackling pollution in the lower sections of the river |
Co-operation among local communities has been the main factor in the progress made in tackling pollution in the lower sections of the Dong Nai River, according to a senior official.
To Thanh Buong, deputy director of Dong Nais Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, was speaking at the closing ceremony of the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) s three-year project on "Combating water pollution in the Tri An reservoir and the lower Dong Nai river" in Bien Hoa City yesterday.
"A series of environmental, social and economic issues were addressed along the lower Dong Nai River and the Tri An reservoir through the project," Buong said.
The project incorporated many environmental education and awareness-raising activities, including the Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) campaign which was held in Thien Tan and Tan An communes with the participation of more than 500 people.
Young people were also a target audience for the awareness-raising activities under WATSAN.
The WWF helped set up 11 "green clubs" at four secondary schools in the province with 350 members.
In addition to technical interventions, the project conducted several activities to support livelihood opportunities such as farming, ecotourism and gardening.
Training courses on Best Management Practices (BMP) were held for 310 pomelo farmers, 572 pig farmers and 457 fish breeders.
The project also helped install water-saving systems, wastewater treatment systems, bio-gas plants and a bio-fertilizer composting system.
"Dong Nai is one of the most industrialised and productive areas of Viet Nam. That is why the projects top priority is the most vulnerable communities including farmers and the ethnic minorities," WWF project manager Hoang Viet said.
Results and recommendations from the projects research will be taken into consideration to prioritize and initiate cost-effective measures to reduce the pollution load on the river as well as the Tri An Reservoir, the main resource of water supply for HCM City and Bien Hoa City.
The project was funded by the Danish Embassy.
(Source: VNS)
