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. As part of the international climate initiative, experts from Germany are working with Vietnamese specialists to set up protection zones and replant the mangrove forests.