Thursday, August 11, 2011

A Vietnamese commune sets climate change example

VietnamNet Bridge: Farmers in a commune in southern Kien Giang Province have improved agricultural production after learning about climate change, scientists said at a conference held by the Mekong River Commission recently. To Quang Toan, deputy head of the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research's Department of Training and International Co-operation, said the unusual weather changes in recent years, partly contributed by climate change, had affected production in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

...Community-based action plans have been adapted to climate change conditions in Binh Giang Commune in Hon Dat District of Kien Giang Province. Since 2005, the commune's paddy yield increased, thanks to the local government and people who developed and carried out action plans to adapt to climate change.

...Between 1996 and 2000, a flood control system was implemented. The T5, T6 and 8,000 canals contributed to the improvement of water resources and soil conditions. Five years after that, the locality completed a salinity prevention system and farmers here had two to three rice crops a year, and farm land was expanded.

...However, there was still a problem of salinity intrusion related to the operation of the sluice, cultivation and drought conditions, he said, adding that the annual yield increased to 116,000 tonnes last year, from 25,000 tonnes in 2004. "Residents in the commune now like the dyke and irrigation systems in their localities. Many families have rotated cultivating paddy, instead of aquaculture previously," Toan said, adding that the land for cultivation had been expanded thanks to climate change adaptation.

...Climate change adaptation in Kien Giang Province is a matter of urgency as most people live in low-lying areas vulnerable to rising sea levels and increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters, such as storms and floods. The adaptive capacity of local communities has been enhanced by mainstreaming climate adaptation management across planning and development processes, by increasing resilience of infrastructure and livelihoods, and by providing high quality information...

Tam Coc, just outside Ninh Binh, shot by Wolfetone, who has released it into the public domain

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