Water is not an endless resource and we have to save it for future generations as well as to protect rivers nationwide from dams and pollution from industrialisation.

The Thi Vai River in the southern province of Dong Nai is one of many rivers heavily polluted by industrial waste.

Although Viet Nam has very good legal regulations that could effectively protect rivers, their implementation seems to have made no progress what so ever since 1998, according to Jake Brunner, IUCN co-ordinator in Viet Nam.

Jake hailed a comprehensive strategy to protect rivers, saying that scientists, environmental activists and non-governmental organisations are ready to join together.

The Viet Nam River Network, a Vietnamese non-governmental organisation formed in 2005 focuses on research into the impact of dams and pollution on rivers, and calls for a national action plan for the rivers, according to member Dao Viet Nga.

Healthy rivers

“It is necessary to develop a method of sustainably using rivers, in order to ensure that they remain healthy,” said Nguyen Xuan Vinh, head of the Institute of Tropical Biology’s ecosystem division.

Vinh said river dams, road construction across forests, industrial development in higher areas, spreading pollution, and over-exploitation of river resources and climate change have affected rivers.

“Stronger powers should be given for river management agencies to monitor the environmental impact of socio-economic activities on rivers,” he suggested.

Dr Duong Van Ni of Can Tho University said the Mekong River was experiencing changes in the volume of water, seasonal flow, and water quality.

“The river runs across many countries and many sections of it has been heavily damaged, and the ones that are beyond Viet Nam’s borders we can’t do anything about,” Ni said, adding “so we have to reduce the threats to our own section.”

Threats include increased habitation through deforestation, over-exploitation of the river and its resources, pollution, climate change impacts and invasive species such as apple snails and mimosa pigra.

Le Anh Tuan, an expert from Can Tho University, said the global climate change had affected the balance of water resources in Asia’s southeast region. He called for government action to reduce the impacts on people’s health, agriculture and the eco-system.

Developed methodology

Pham Anh Duc of the Ton Duc Thang University said he had developed a methodology to quickly assess the health of rivers. He added that he was trying to publicise it for the use of scientists or governmental agencies as an attempt to deal more rapidly with the effects of pollution.

“The method operated well with good results in a short period of time and I am willing to transfer it to anyone who is in need of doing quick environmental river assessments,” Duc said.

An Giang Province’s natural resources and environment department website ran a public petition against the building of 11 proposed dams across the Mekong River, said Pham Xuan Phu, from An Giang University.

Experts said they would consider what action to be prioritised, which stakeholders should take part in a national action plan and who would be the co-ordinator to unite the efforts of various agencies and organisations.

The conference was held on Saturday in southern Dong Nai Province’s Cat Tien National Park with the participation of more than 65 scientists, environmentalists and representatives of local agencies with the hope of creating the first nationwide river environmental protection campaign.

“When we conclude an effective action plan to save the river environment, then the issue of funding it becomes a question, but I don’t think this will be a problem as I’m sure the government will fund it,” said Nguyen Thanh Phong of the Southern Institution for Irrigation Planning.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News