The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta is in desperate
need of an adaptable environmental policy in order to cope with current
decreasing biological diversity and declining natural resources.

“Investment in biological preservation equates to investment in the future. The
environmental protection policy has to be current with development trends in the
region,” said Bui Ngoc Suong, deputy head of the Southwestern Steering
Committee, at the recent third Natural and Cultural Conservation Forum for Cuu
Long (Mekong) Delta Sustainable Development in the southern province of Ben Tre.

Around
200 delegates from 13 regional provinces, universities, research institutes and
foreign organisations participated in the forum, co-hosted by the World Wide
Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Ben Tre People’s Committee in celebration of World
Environment Day on June 5.

The
“Adaptive Management in Coping with Climate Change” forum included talks on the
impact of climate change, hydropower development, the preservation of nature,
economic development and practical models on adaptive management aimed at
increasing awareness amongst policy makers, authorities and residents regarding
the importance of biological preservation.

“We need
long-term strategies and the participation of relevant authorities, partners and
people in order to cope with climate change,” said Dr Nguyen Hong Tri, general
secretary of the Viet Nam’s National Committee for Man and Biosphere.

Tri
pointed out that the impact of climate change in the region had caused a lot of
uncertainty.

“We have
to change our vision and methods in dealing with international issues by
applying new adaptive management strategies,” he added.

Adaptive
management involves a systematic process of developing knowledge and continually
improving project development by learning from previous projects and their
outcomes. It brings together a scale of practice, science and governance that
allows learning through continual involvement in various disciplines.

“Setting
up a Biosphere Reserve Zone would be an effective measure in coping with climate
change by conserving biodiversity as well as cultural and traditional values,”
Tri said.

Although
the delta is a famous wetland ecosystem, it has suffered from economic
development both upstream and downstream as well as a shortage of water.

“Implementing environmental protection strategies, allowing the ecosystem to
recover, creating natural reserve zones and issuing a regional development
master plan is essential in saving the Cuu Long Delta,” said Vo Tri Chung from
the Environment and Sustainable Development Institute.

Delegates suggested that Viet Nam co-operate with Africa in order to produce
rice with the aim of ensuring national cooking security and the reduction of
pressure on agricultural production throughout the Delta area.

Organisers confirmed the positive results from last year’s event towards better
protecting the Delta area

According to the United Nations Development Programme, the delta will be amongst
the three most affected delta areas in the world in terms of climate change and
rising sea levels.

It has
been predicted that, up until 2075, around 11 per cent of the delta will lose
ground as sea levels rise by 50cm.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News