Illustrative photo
However, the figure has fulfilled only  22 percent of the target set by the project, which aims to grow  46,058ha of forest by 2020.
  
Given the pressing time scale, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural  Development (MARD) proposed that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc adjust  the forestation target of the project down to 25,085ha.
The MARD urged relevant ministries and agencies to pour more investment  into projects under the target programme of sustainable forest  development during 2016-2020 and the target programme of climate change  response and green growth for 2016-2020.
The ministry called for the early completion of investment and capital  allocation procedures for the projects, and greater efforts in  mobilising official development assistance (ODA) and capital from  businesses, organisations, households, and individuals for forest  protection and development.
Besides, localities were also asked to closely monitor the shift of coastal forests to serve other purposes.
Statistics provided by the provinces show that as of December 2017, the  total area of coastal forests and forestry land nationwide was  469,170ha, including 311,551ha covered by forests.