The studies have been conducted under the support by the European Union (EU) and organised by the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) to Vietnam in implementing its commitments at COP21.
The soft and hard measures for protecting the U Minh and Go Cong coastal regions resulting from 12 months research were presented and discussed.
The studies examine the causes of coastal erosion heavily damaging the region and inhabitants livelihood, aiming to understand the mechanism responsible for the erosion process in these two zones, establishing a solid scientific basis for integrated management of the Vietnamese coastal zones, and propose soft and hard measures for sustainably protecting these coastal zones from erosion.
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For this, two large-scale campaigns of in-situ measurements (hydro-dynamics of waves, tidal and sedimentary currents) have been carried out for the first time in the country and experimental (laboratory and in situ) and numerical methods have been implemented.
EU Delegation to Vietnam, Head of Cooperation Alejandro Montalban said: "The study is a response to EU commitments made in Paris during the COP21 to support Vietnam in adaptation to climate change. While erosion is mainly a man-made disaster, its impacts will be multiplied with the sea level rise. Based on the study results, an investment program will be designed including hard and soft adaptation measures that could include dyke building, mangrove rehabilitation and capacity building for enhanced sustainable development and environmental management".
AFD, the EU, and the Government of Vietnam have started exploring the possibility of funding the recommended protection measures.
The studies were implemented by the Southern Institute for Water Resources Research in cooperation, the Central Region College of Technology, Economics and Water Resources, and international experts in cooperation with the AFD.
Vietnam is one of the countries severely affected by climate change and its related disasters. The Mekong Delta is one of the deltas in the world most susceptible and vulnerable to sea level rise. Consistent to its international commitments regarding Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals, the EU is actively helping Vietnam on mitigation through energy sector reform, and adaptation through funding studies on climate change impact and appropriate adaptation measures./.