GLOBAL 3000 # Vietnam: deforestation and climate change # 12.04.2010

Vietnam is one of the world's leading exporters of shrimps. But the industry is exacting a high price. Mangrove forests have been systematically chopped down to make way for more shrimp farms, particularly in the Mekong Delta. The deforestation is destroying the habitat of many animals and affecting the lives of the people. And with coastal areas now free of trees, they are unprotected and at the mercy of the elements. Climate change has brought more powerful storms to the region and the sea level is rising, threatening an increasingly wide area.