The pilot use of the ecological risk assessment (ERA) and approach to biosphere reserves as a means to cope with climate change in the coastal region featured high at a seminar in Hanoi on October 1.

The ERA, widely used across the world, is a process of evaluating the environmental impact of exposure to one or more stressors such as chemicals, land change, disease, invasive species and climate change.
The event shed light on opportunities and challenges in the management of coastal natural resources as well as the promotion of community-based means of livelihood amid climate change.

Participants reviewed the 2011-2013 project on enhancing coastal biosphere reserves’ resilience to climate change via the management of natural resources and development of sustainable sources of revenue.
It is a joint effort between the Centre for Marine Life Conservation and Community Development (MCD) and Stockholm University.

They were also briefed on changes in the national biodiversity strategy, including the vulnerability of biodiversity and Vietnam’s major coastal ecological systems.

Vietnam is now home to eight biosphere reserves with over 4 million hectares of natural resources, notably the Red River Delta and Cat Ba archipelago biosphere reserves which were recognised as world biosphere reserves by UNESCO in 2004.

The seminar was co-hosted by the MCD, the National Committee on the Man and the Biosphere Programme, the Swedish Embassy and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.-VNA