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Jan 27, 2018 / 13:42

EU to support Vietnam coping with coastal erosion

European Union (EU) supports conducting a seminar on coastal erosion’s scientific studies in two Vietnamese provinces of Ca Mau and Tien Giang.

The seminar dicussesd the final results of two scientific studies on coastal erosion in two Mekong Delta’s provinces on January 26 at the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research (SIWRR) in Ho Chi Minh City.
The studies have been conducted under the support by the EU and organised by the Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) to Viet Nam in implementing its commitments at COP 21.
Illustrative photo.
Illustrative photo.

The studies examine the causes of coastal erosion heavily damaging the region and inhabitants livelyhood, aiming to understand the mechanism responsible for the erosion process in these two zones; establishing a solid scientific basis for integrated managements of the Vietnamese coastal zones and propose soft and hard measures for sustainably protecting these coastal zones from erosion.
For this, two large-scale campaigns of in-situ measurements (hydrodynamics of waves, tidal and sedimentary currents) have been carried out for the first time in Viet Nam, and experimental (laboratory and in situ) and numerical methods have been implemented.
The soft and hard measures for protecting the U-Minh and Go Cong coastal regions resulting from 12 months research will be presented and discussed during the seminar.
Attending the seminar were researchers from national scienctific institutions, scholars in the area of coastal engineering, central and local government representatives as well as the representatives from international orgnisations and developments partners.
Speaking at the seminar, Head of Cooperation Alejandro Montalban said: "The study is a response to EU commitments made in Paris during the COP 21 to support Viet Nam in adaptation to climate change.”
“Based on the study results, an investment programme 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", Montalban pressed.
EU along with AFD and the Provinces and the Central Government 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 Viet Nam on mitigation through energy sector reform, and adaptation through funding studies on climate change impact and appropriate adaptation measures.