Adaptation according to ecological zones

According to Dr. Duong Van Ni, a biodiversity expert in the Mekong Delta, the Mekong Delta previously clearly exhibited the characteristics of four regions, also known as the four "regions," including the orchard region; the rice paddy region; the swamp region; and the coastal region. However, due to the impact of climate change and the process of production development, the characteristics of each ecological region in the Mekong Delta are no longer preserved as before, but have undergone many changes in production, livelihoods, and daily life in each region. In Decision No. 287/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the Mekong Delta regional planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, the Mekong Delta is basically divided into four "regions," but the swamp and rice paddy "regions" have been merged into one. Therefore, the Mekong Delta now has three ecological regions: freshwater, brackish water, and saltwater. Consequently, the production activities and livelihoods of the people are gradually adapting to this plan.

Dr. Tran Triet, from the University of Science, Ho Chi Minh City, commented: "Due to economic development, the Mekong Delta's ecological zone has undergone many changes. In particular, the swampy areas previously lacked river silt. However, with the extensive canal digging, silt-laden water now flows quickly into these swampy areas, altering the ecological zone and leading to the development of agriculture and aquaculture."

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) forecasts that approximately 40% of the Mekong Delta's area is at risk of flooding if sea levels rise by 1 meter, directly affecting the livelihoods of over 17 million people. To address this reality, for many years, the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Environment (DARD) of Dong Thap province, has implemented Phase I of the Climate Change Adaptation Solutions Project in the Mekong Delta (CRxN), successfully piloting nature-based (NbS) models and solutions to help communities better adapt to fluctuating floods and natural disasters. A comparison shows that a farming model with two rice crops and one lotus crop during the flood season reduces CO2 emissions by 95.67 tons of CO2 equivalent/ha/year compared to a three-crop rice farming model which reduces CO2 emissions by 129 tons of CO2 equivalent/ha/year.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap province, by implementing livelihood models that "follow the water flow" such as floating rice cultivation, combined lotus-fish farming, rice-fish farming, etc., the project has demonstrated that ecological restoration and economic growth can go hand in hand. These scientifically proven models help wetlands recover, improve income, and contribute to a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Mr. Le Ha Luan, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Dong Thap province, said: “The locality is strongly shifting from traditional agriculture to smart agriculture adapted to climate change, both to cope with climate challenges and to help people stabilize their livelihoods. NbS is key to restoring the natural flood regime of the Mekong Delta, and is also the foundation for the sustainability of the environment and people. We are committed to working with WWF-Vietnam to promote and replicate effective NbS models, while mobilizing resources to maintain and develop them sustainably.”

Replicating the model

With funding from the Australian Government through the Mekong Climate Resilience Partnership Programme, Phase II of the CRxN Project aims to restore 1,750 hectares of important freshwater ecosystems and ensure sustainable, climate-adaptive livelihoods for nearly 2,000 vulnerable residents in Dong Thap and Tay Ninh provinces. The project will also be scaled up to other localities in the Mekong Delta region in the future.

Implemented until 2029 in Dong Thap and Tay Ninh provinces, Phase II marks a significant turning point, shifting from pilot projects to scaling up successful climate adaptation models. The aim is to restore ecosystems, enhance community resilience, and foster harmonious development between humans and nature. The project focuses on supporting vulnerable communities in the buffer zones of the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve and Tram Chim National Park.

Ambassador Gillian Bird of Australia to Vietnam shared: “We are delighted to partner with Vietnam in building a more inclusive and robust Mekong Subregion. Building on this solid foundation, we believe that nature restoration and livelihood support will continue to create positive impacts for people and the planet, enhancing communities’ resilience to climate change.”

At the launch of Phase II of the CRxN Project, Mr. Vuong Quoc Chien, Regional Project Manager, WWF-Greater Mekong, shared: “In Phase II, our focus is on strengthening cooperation to promote restoration at the landscape scale, where healthier wetland habitats, sustainable livelihoods, and long-term climate security complement each other. This shared vision will help the people and ecosystems of the Mekong continue to thrive for many years to come.”

Charlotte Sterrett, Senior Program Manager for Community Resilience and Adaptation, WWF-Australia, commented: “Phase II of the project marks a step from piloting solutions to building a roadmap for scaling up. As we identify the value and ensure the integrity of these locally led, nature-based solutions, we can attract more investment to sustain these models long-term, even after the project ends.”