Vietnam's Mekong Delta among world's 5 most vulnerable: WWF

By Ngoc Tai   December 18, 2024 | 03:09 pm PT
Vietnam's Mekong Delta among world's 5 most vulnerable: WWF
A canal in Tran Van Thoi District of Ca Mau Province in the Mekong Delta runs dry due to drought, April 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Thanh Tung
The Mekong Delta is among the world's five most vulnerable deltas due to challenges such as climate change, sediment loss from upstream hydropower dams, freshwater scarcity, land subsidence, and saltwater intrusion, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

As Vietnam's agricultural heartland, the Mekong Delta contributes over 95% of the country's rice exports, 60% of exported aquatic products, and 70% of fruit production. Spanning over 40,000 square kilometers, the region is home to more than 20 million people.

However, its vital role in Vietnam's economy and food security is under significant threat. The delta is listed among the five most vulnerable globally, alongside the Ganges River Delta (India and Bangladesh), Mississippi River Delta (U.S.), Volta River Delta (Ghana), and Nile River Delta (Egypt), said Luu Thi Lan, Nature-based Solutions Project Manager at WWF Vietnam.

To address these challenges, WWF Vietnam is implementing the Mekong Nature-based Solutions (NbS) project. The initiative focuses on restoring natural water flows, promoting sediment accumulation, and developing adaptive livelihood models to ensure sustainable development in the region.

The project includes seven pilot flood-based livelihood models across 170 hectares, such as flood-season fish stocking, ecotourism, and floating rice farming.

Preliminary data from WWF shows these models deliver 1.2 to 1.5 times return on investment, reduce fertilizer use by 20-30% in subsequent rice crops, and increase sediment deposition capacity by 20-30 times compared to conventional triple-crop rice farming. Additionally, the models enhance fishery resources and biodiversity.

"While some households experienced initial losses, the environmental improvements are evident," Lan said.

 
 
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