Transcript The Mekong Delta Region

Group 6: Mekong Delta
Location: Main Room
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1. Dr. Andrew Wyatt
2. Dr. Dao Huy Giap
3. Mr. Do Duc Dung
4. Ms. Kasina Limsamarnphun
5. Dr. Klaus Schmitt
6. Dr. Le Anh Tuan
7. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tri
8. Ms. Nguyen Thu Huong
9. Dr. Pham Trong Thinh
10. Mr. Tran Thai Ngoc Thanh
11. Mr. Viet Hoang
12. Dr. Vo Le Phu
13. Ms. Trang Dang Thuy
Facilitators:
• 1. Ms. Ruth Mathews
• 2. Ms. Trine Glue Doan
Climate Change
Adaptation
Strategies
and Gaps
The Mekong Delta Region
Adaptation Strategies
Structural Measures
Non-structural Measures
Policy Options
Structural Measures
Dikes construction (coastal areas);
Infrastructure upgrading/climate
proofing
Transportation system
Housing design system
Urban infrastructure systems
(water/wastewater/solid waste
facilities)
Non-Structural Measures
Researches on coping strategies (FW
protected areas, structure of mangroves for
coastal protection, etc)
Reforestation/plantation schemes
Crop adjustment/re-arrangements
New aquacultural technologies application
(species with more resilience or salinity
tolerance)
Forecast system capacity;
Public education (awareness raising)
Policy Options
Integrated Water Resources Management
(IWRM);
IZCM/ICAM (Integrated Coastal Area
Management)
Land-use planning
 Wetland restoration;
 Mangrove conservation;
 Swamp/marsh/melaleuca
Test new approaches to CC resilience
(mangrove rehabilitation)
Gaps and Future Actions
Gaps in Knowledge
Understanding of resilience of natural
systems to CC
Mangroves resilience
Lack of synthesis practical study on
ecosystem functions/services/values
Understanding of costs of socio-economic
to CC
Full understanding of costs and benefits of
adaptations
Gaps and Future Actions
Gaps in Knowledge
How temperature/rainfall patterns change
will impact on species?
Predator – prey relationships/food chain/food
sources;
Pilot projects to test and evaluate
adaptation and mitigation measures
Training and educating for capacity
improvement for managers and local
people on CC
Gaps and Future Actions
Gaps in Knowledge
How SLR will impact on seagrass?
Interaction between SLR and increases of
runoff (from upstream to downstream)?
Understanding of increase of flood
frequency and flood arrival (earlier arrival)?;
What are economic costs to maintain the
status quo in infrastructure systems?
Gaps and Future Actions
Development of Methodology & Tools
Lack of practical methodology informing
public on CC impacts, which currently
focuses on academy
Realistic scenarios on
global/regional/national scales
Details of topographic maps and DTM
Applicable management practices of
wetland conservation areas
Gaps and Future Actions
Systems
Monitoring systems (regional extreme
climate events, ect);
Monitoring of land habitats, land cover
change;
Monitoring CC impacts on vulnerable
communities
Natural disaster warning systems
Gaps and Future Actions
Cooperation and Partnerships
Promote dialogues between policy-makers
and researchers/academic scholars
Promote partnerships between different
stakeholders and society bodies at
different levels
(Mekong) Regional cooperation to share
data/information on CC
Next Steps
Maintaining the Working Groups from this
Workshop;
Spending reasonable time to digest,
modify and prioritize adaptation options;
Setting up network of CC experts to share
knowledge and information;
Forming IPCC for Mekong Delta Region
(MPCC- Mekong Panel on Climate
Change);
Build on Mekong Delta Forum platform
(WWF);
Identify core values (critical habitat, species, ecosystem
services) pertaining to biodiversity conservation in each
priority area
• UpperMiddleCoastal Water
Freshwater Bracksish Saline
Critical habitats-Swamp forest-Melaleuca -Grassland -LimestoneRice field-Swamp forest-Grassland-Rice field-Swamp forest-Mud
flats-Grassland-Mangroves-Seagrasses-Coral reefs
SpeciesEndangered species-Red Crane-Monkey-Migratory and
non-migratory birds- Reptiles-Migratory and non-migratory birdsMigratory and non-migratory birds-Monkey
• Ecosystem servicesRegulatory -water
purification- flood prevention- pest controlaquifer recharge- carbon storage• wastewater treatment- nutrient cycling• storm protection- coastal erosion preventionsupporting fisheries, breeding and nursery
habitat for fisheries- carbon storage
• Provisioning- food - water- medicinal
plants- food- water- medicinal plants- foodwater- medical plants
• Cultural- tourism- future benefits and
existence value- tourism- future benefits
and existence value- tourism- future
benefits and existence value
Identify major changes from development that are
likely to occur in each area over the next decades.
Describe how these changes will affect the area.
• Drivers of changes and Effect on ecosystems
• Physical Development
DikesRiver dikes - Ministry plans to build dykes upriver
to prevent saline inundation.Coastal zone dikes (sea
dikes)
• Changes in hydrological regimes, though it should be
noted that the impact of dikes is highly variable
depending on the location. By blocking development of
mangrove in response to the SLR.Port and water
transportationChanged water flow and hydrological
regimes. Impacts of high-speed boats on soil erosion.
• Tourism and supporting infrastructureLand reclamation
for industrial activity, related to river dredging and extract
of sand Losing wetland areas and fragmentation of
ecosystems.
• Urbanisation in coastal zoneLosing wetland areas and
fragmentation of ecosystems. Coastal tourism
development
• Exportation of sand and gravelRiver bank erosion, and
increase in invasive species. Industrial development
(saw mill, thermal energy plants)Water quality.
• Expansion road networksHabitat fragmentationGas
pipeline development
• River channel alteration (river channel networks,
dredging etc) for navigation
• Changed flow regimes and river bank erosion
• Continuing crop changes and diversification
• Abandoned shrimp farms being converted to rice fields
• Expansion of irrigation systems for agriculture
• Land use change – conversion of natural
ecosystems for aquaculture and food
production (rice)
• Habitat fragmentationAgricultural practices
and overuse of pesticides, herbicides, and
fertilizer.
• Water quality
• Socio-Economic
• ‘Natural’ migration from rural areas to urban areas for
employment, including migration both from within the
Delta, and to the industrial zone
• Food including rice export policy
• Forest policy and fire management policy
• Industrialization through ‘industrial zones’
• Water quality
• Population growth
• Increased pressure on resources and demand for
housing development and construction materials
(cement from limestone, river sand),
• Poor, disjointed, sectorial land use planning and policy – will
Vietnam proceed to more integrated planning? Uncertain, but
hopeful that it will.
• Poor conservation area planning, degrading conservation areas
• Ineffective, inadequate management of wetlands
• Changing value sets e.g. regarding wetlands as ‘wasted lands’
• Improved capacity in policy arena due to next generation leaders
taking a more progressive, sustainable approach to development
and conservation
• Changing preferences and increased standards of living placing
increased pressure on resources
• Political Improved empowerment of people and
safeguarding of rights to own, use, and manage
natural resources
• Change in structure of agriculture -transition
from smallholders to more corporate, large scale
agriculture
• Sectoral shift
• Labour force changes
• Human health
Natural
Physical impacts influenced by
• River erosion
• River dredging and changing channels for navigation, transportation
• Mining of sand and gravel for export and housing construction
• Impacts of high-speed boats on soil erosion
• Coastal erosion
• Loss of mangroves
• Loss of wetlands
• land reclamation for industrial development
• Loss of biodiversity and habitat fragmentation
• Expansion of road networks
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Increase in invasive species
River alteration
Declining water quality of rivers
Industrial development (saw mill, thermal energy plants)
Increased sedimentation from upstream developments
(road networks, other..?)
Industrial pollutions from expanding ‘industrial zones’
Declining water quality in estuary?
Decreased water availability - from decreased water
flows due to altering rivers and flow regimes
Change in hydrological cycle
Identify species, harbitats and ecosystem services
likely to be most sensitive to the combined effects
of CC
• Freshwater
• BrackishThere will be habitat shifts along this continuum, for
example freshwater will become increasingly brackish .
• Freshwater food source relationship between predator/prey,
including freshwater birds, reptiles and amphibians .- increased
invasives- increased insect pests that will affect agriculture - flowering triggers for pollination- increased invasive species
displacing endemic species (e.g. reduced Dissolved Oxygen (DO_
that will favour some introduced pest species like sucker fish)increased incidence of fire- fish migration cues- distribution and
density of bird species- impact on fisheries?- protected areas e.g .
bird sanctuaries as U Minh Thuong and U Minh Ha, . - Grasses Kim
Giang, Ha Tien
• Saline- impact on coral reefs- seagrasses
• Precipitation- altered precipitation- Flooding
changes (duration and frequency) - food source
relationship between predator/prey, including
freshwater birds, reptiles and amphibians. rainfall distribution patterns will change, and this
is most serious in the start and end of the year. fish migration cues- acid soils increase – dryingdistribution and density of bird species
• Sea level rise- increased salinity- prolonged inundation
and flooding (even during the dry season)- becomes
more saline- disturbance of ecological relationshipsimpact on high biodiversity - wetlands will be lostinundation- seagrasses
• Storms - Mangroves Rhizaphora species in particular–
will be affected as the stems are susceptible to
breakage.- Severe erosion leading to loss of plantsSaline intrusion- seagrasses
• Glacial melt- increased river flow and flooding
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Knowledge Gaps
- Impact of sea level rise on sea grasses.
- What is the ecosystem resilience? Need to do further modeling to assess
the ability for species to adapt, for example what are the possible species
shifts into different ecological niches?
- How will CC impact on coral reefs
Uncertainties
Impact of climate change on mudflats? The extent of mudflat retreat
depends upon what development occurs to restrict mudflat shifting in
response to climate change. Communities living on mudflats are welladapted to living in coast, and will be able to adapt quite easily to sea level
rise.
Dialogue between scientists and policy-makers: What will the policy on dike
construction around HCMC be? There are currently plans to construct dikes
to protect the city, but there is also a growing awareness of the importance
of preserving mangroves for natural storm protection.
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Impacts of climate change on Ecosystem Services
Food production (rice)
- temperature changes and saline intrusion
Water availability
- dry season rain water
- saline intrusion
Carbon Storage
- loss of mangroves
Storm protection
- loss of mangroves
Erosion prevention
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Melaleuca forests will be affected by more fire
Aquifer storage
Water purification
Flood prevention
Nutrient Cycles
- sea level rise causing less nutrients for phytoplants
Fish/aquatic food