A river bank erosion site in My Duc Dong commune of Cai Be district, the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Ecosystem-based solutions are vitally importantfor the Mekong Delta to adapt to climate change in the decades to come,speakers said at a seminar held in Can Tho over the weekend.
Dr Le Anh Tuan of Can Tho University’s ResearchInstitute for Climate Change, said that ecosystem-based solutions could reducevulnerability and improve resilience to natural disasters and weatherabnormalities.
Climate-change measuresmust focus on conservation and restoration of ecosystems, as well assustainable management and social benefits, he said.
Farmers in the delta havealready improved their incomes through successful climate-change programmes,including conversion from rice-only cultivation models to sustainable models inwhich rice is cultivated in rotation with fish, shrimp, lotus, vegetables orfruit.
Many farmers who havereceived support from scientists and organisations have also focused on theprocessing of agricultural products as well as tourism development, Tuan said.
In the context ofglobalisation, the Mekong Delta region has great potential for development butit is vulnerable to environmental changes, according to Dr Ha Thanh Toan, rector of Can Tho University.
“Climate change and risingsea levels are occurring more quickly than what was predicted, causing extremeweather phenomena, and affecting livelihoods. These require long-term solutionsfor the region’s sustainable development,” he added.
Last year, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc signed a resolution on sustainable developmentof the Mekong Delta as part of an effort to cope with climate change.
Under the resolution, by 2100, the region’ssustainability would be ensured with high-quality agriculture, eco-tourism,services, and industry, especially the processing industry. The latterwould increase the value and competitiveness of the area’s agriculturalproducts.
The infrastructure systemof the delta would also be greatly improved by that time.
By 2050, the Mekong Deltawill aim to become a region with "moderately good development and a modernsocial organisation level", according to the resolution.
By that time, the incomeper capita of the delta would be higher than the national average, while theproportion of ecological agriculture and high-quality applied agriculture wouldreach 80 percent.
Besides ensuring prosperityfor local residents, sustainability would require the preservation oftraditional and special cultural values, and protection of land and water,according to the resolution.
The resolution includessolutions such as newly established ecological sub-regions for agriculture anda master plan for sustainable development.
It instructs the Ministryof Foreign Affairs to promote sustainable and fair usage of the Mekong Riverand other river resources, especially among the six Mekong River basincountries.
The ministry plans to workwith Mekong River development partners to increase their support for activitiesof the Mekong River Commission, and has asked the upper countries to join thecommission soon.
The resolution alsoinstructs the HCM City People’s Committee to create a cooperation programmeamong provinces in the Mekong Delta, HCM City and the Southeast region.
The National Assembly hasbeen tasked to arrange the State budget to implement the missions andprogrammes mentioned in the Prime Minister’s resolution.-VNS/VNA
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