Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Lessons learned fromthe strategic mainstreaming of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) was agood foundation for Vietnamto prepare for climate change, according to Dr. Nguyen The Chinh from theNatural Resources and Environment Strategic Institute.
Chinh was speaking at a workshop on February 6 reviewing a project on thesubject. It was held by the Institute for Strategy and Policy on NaturalResources and Environment in collaboration with the German DevelopmentCooperation Agency. The event marked more than three years of productivecollaboration.
The 4-million Euro (4.9 million USD) project funded by the German Society forInternational Cooperation (GIZ) worked with the Vietnamese Government tomainstream ecosystem-based measures into pilot models in Ha Tinh and Quang Binhprovinces.
"After three years of implementation, the project evaluated the vulnerableecological situation in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces," Chinh said.
“The project also helped to set up a national plan of land use for2016-2020, and an updated action plan for climate change preparedness until2020 in the provinces,” he added.
The EbA project aims to support efforts in the strategic mainstreaming ofecosystem-based approaches into national policies on climate change adaptation,land-use and development planning.
EbA has been identified as an effective adaptation measure given that Vietnam isheavily affected by the adverse effects of climate change.
Climate change vulnerability assessments have been conducted at both provincialand commune levels to introduce appropriate EbA solutions for implementation inthe selected provinces.
From 2016, the project began pilot EbA activities in coastal areas sufferingerosion and sand movement in Quang Binh province by planting and rehabilitatingcoastal forests in combination with livelihood activities, such as cattle-raising,fresh- water fish farming, and vegetable cultivation.
In Ha Tinh, the project piloted EbA approaches in a mountain ecosystem underdrought conditions, enriching natural forest by using indigenous plants,oranges and pineapples grown in contour lines - plus bee-raising.
The two areas selected for the pilot EbA approaches shared commoncharacteristics. Firstly, the communities in both areas showed real enthusiasmto participate; and secondly, they lived in areas suffering from difficulteconomic conditions, with limited access to the technologies required foragricultural production.
Strengthening the capacity of stakeholders at central and local levels was akey aspect of the project.
To improve knowledge and the sharing of information on EbA measures andactivities, the project organised a series of training workshops onmainstreaming them into the development planning process.
The project also focused on mainstreaming EbA into theclimate-change-adaptation legal framework by supporting Government agencies.For example, the Department of Land Management will implement strategicenvironmental assessments to collect inputs for revising national land-useplanning for 2016-2020; the Department for Planning Management will mainstreamEbA and climate-change issues into developing the Planning Law; and thedepartments of Natural Resources and Environment of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh willmainstream EbA into the updated Provincial Climate Change Action Plans to 2020.
Ivo Litzenberg, GIZ expert, said after three years of implementation, the twoprovinces had cleaner water resources and a healthier ecological system whichwas less vulnerable to climate-change impacts.
Land erosion was also reduced, which helped local people produce rice crops onslopes, said Litzenberg.
The project had also helped local people understand the importance ofproduction that was less harmful to ecological systems, he said.
Meanwhile, according to Phan Lam Son, deputy head of Ha Tinh province’s NaturalResources and Environment Department, the project helped people become aware ofmain reasons for climate change, such as improper use of natural resources,waste discharge and polluting the environment.
Vietnamwas assessed as one of nations worst affected by climate change.
If the sea water level rise by one metre, 40 percent of land area in the MekongDelta, 11 percent of land in the Red River Delta, and 3 percent of land areasalong other coastal regions would be submerged.
About 10-12 percent of population would be affected and losses would accountfor 10 per cent of the country’s GDP, said experts.
Understanding the consequences, the Government has issued several legaldocuments to deal with the situation, including a National Programme on ClimateChange Preparedness, National Strategy on Climate Changes, National Strategy onNatural Calamity Reduction by 2020. -VNA
Chinh was speaking at a workshop on February 6 reviewing a project on thesubject. It was held by the Institute for Strategy and Policy on NaturalResources and Environment in collaboration with the German DevelopmentCooperation Agency. The event marked more than three years of productivecollaboration.
The 4-million Euro (4.9 million USD) project funded by the German Society forInternational Cooperation (GIZ) worked with the Vietnamese Government tomainstream ecosystem-based measures into pilot models in Ha Tinh and Quang Binhprovinces.
"After three years of implementation, the project evaluated the vulnerableecological situation in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces," Chinh said.
“The project also helped to set up a national plan of land use for2016-2020, and an updated action plan for climate change preparedness until2020 in the provinces,” he added.
The EbA project aims to support efforts in the strategic mainstreaming ofecosystem-based approaches into national policies on climate change adaptation,land-use and development planning.
EbA has been identified as an effective adaptation measure given that Vietnam isheavily affected by the adverse effects of climate change.
Climate change vulnerability assessments have been conducted at both provincialand commune levels to introduce appropriate EbA solutions for implementation inthe selected provinces.
From 2016, the project began pilot EbA activities in coastal areas sufferingerosion and sand movement in Quang Binh province by planting and rehabilitatingcoastal forests in combination with livelihood activities, such as cattle-raising,fresh- water fish farming, and vegetable cultivation.
In Ha Tinh, the project piloted EbA approaches in a mountain ecosystem underdrought conditions, enriching natural forest by using indigenous plants,oranges and pineapples grown in contour lines - plus bee-raising.
The two areas selected for the pilot EbA approaches shared commoncharacteristics. Firstly, the communities in both areas showed real enthusiasmto participate; and secondly, they lived in areas suffering from difficulteconomic conditions, with limited access to the technologies required foragricultural production.
Strengthening the capacity of stakeholders at central and local levels was akey aspect of the project.
To improve knowledge and the sharing of information on EbA measures andactivities, the project organised a series of training workshops onmainstreaming them into the development planning process.
The project also focused on mainstreaming EbA into theclimate-change-adaptation legal framework by supporting Government agencies.For example, the Department of Land Management will implement strategicenvironmental assessments to collect inputs for revising national land-useplanning for 2016-2020; the Department for Planning Management will mainstreamEbA and climate-change issues into developing the Planning Law; and thedepartments of Natural Resources and Environment of Ha Tinh and Quang Binh willmainstream EbA into the updated Provincial Climate Change Action Plans to 2020.
Ivo Litzenberg, GIZ expert, said after three years of implementation, the twoprovinces had cleaner water resources and a healthier ecological system whichwas less vulnerable to climate-change impacts.
Land erosion was also reduced, which helped local people produce rice crops onslopes, said Litzenberg.
The project had also helped local people understand the importance ofproduction that was less harmful to ecological systems, he said.
Meanwhile, according to Phan Lam Son, deputy head of Ha Tinh province’s NaturalResources and Environment Department, the project helped people become aware ofmain reasons for climate change, such as improper use of natural resources,waste discharge and polluting the environment.
Vietnamwas assessed as one of nations worst affected by climate change.
If the sea water level rise by one metre, 40 percent of land area in the MekongDelta, 11 percent of land in the Red River Delta, and 3 percent of land areasalong other coastal regions would be submerged.
About 10-12 percent of population would be affected and losses would accountfor 10 per cent of the country’s GDP, said experts.
Understanding the consequences, the Government has issued several legaldocuments to deal with the situation, including a National Programme on ClimateChange Preparedness, National Strategy on Climate Changes, National Strategy onNatural Calamity Reduction by 2020. -VNA
VNA
