A view of U MInh Thượng National Garden in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta Kiên Giang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Hữu Thiện, talks to the newspaper Thanh Niên (Young People) on the eco-system in the Mekong Delta and threats from climate change. How do you assess the importance of the Government’s Resolution 120 on Sustainable and Climate Resilient Development of the Mekong Delta in the regional development? The Government’s Resolution 120 has great significance towards the development of the Mekong Delta. The main messages from Resolution 120 are that development plans should be "harmonious" with nature, shifting mere agricultural practices to an agriculture economy, considering salt water, brackish water and fresh water as natural resources, developing an integrated development planning for the Mekong Delta region, including the coastal waters. At present, the Mekong Delta faces three main challenges … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta faces severe climate risks
Mekong delta what to do
Mekong Delta faces a bleaker future than people realize
With every passing year of environmental degradation, land loss in the Mekong Delta assumes progressively grave proportions. Forget reversing or stopping the damage, even slowing the process gets more and more difficult. The two most critical sources of the phenomenally productive Mekong River system, Vietnam's Mekong Delta and Cambodia's Tonle Sap (Great Lake), which connect symbiotically during annual monsoon floods, took four or more millennia to develop. But, in the space of a few decades, the Delta has been ecologically degraded to such an extent that its very existence is threatened. The most optimistic prediction is that the Delta is certain to shrink by 30 percent in the next couple of decades, leaving the fate of the remaining 70 yet to be determined. The future of the Mekong Delta is far bleaker than is realized by most of the 18-19 million people who farm, fish and carry on other occupations in the region. Several mega-negative developments have combined to seriously … [Read more...] about Mekong Delta faces a bleaker future than people realize
Scientists seek solutions to landslides in Mekong Delta
VietNamNet Bridge - Coastal and riverbank landslides are now a hot topic in the Mekong Delta. In May and June, a series of landslide cases occurred in the delta’s provinces, from Ca Mau, Hau Giang and Can Tho to An Giang, Dong Thap and Vinh Long. Landslides occur regularly in Mekong Delta The PM has approved a budget of VND2.5 trillion to allocate to Mekong Delta provinces to deal with acute landslide areas which directly affect residential areas and essential infrastructure.What should we do to fix the problems?What do you think about measures to handle landslides that provinces/cities have applied? RELATED NEWS Mekong Delta erosion incidents increase Mekong Delta kicks off efforts to save water sources Thanh Mai … [Read more...] about Scientists seek solutions to landslides in Mekong Delta
Coconut price dipping in Mekong Delta
The lowest price ever Everywhere in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre – the largest area of coconut planting – farmers are groaning about the low price of the produce. According to Mr. Nguyen Van The, living in Giao Long Commune of Chau Thanh District (Ben Tre Province), this time last year, the consumption volume was so high that he did not have enough coconuts to sell. The price at that time was VND100,000 – 150,000 per dozen (approx. $4.4 – 6.6). Yet this year the prices of premium-quality and medium-quality coconut are only VND45,000 – 50,000 ($1.97 – 2.2) and VND20,000 – 30,000 ($0.9 – 1.3) per dozen, respectively. After careful calculation, due to such a low price, this year his profit is purely negative, although he owns 2.5 acres of land. Mr. Le Hoang Phi, also living in Giao Long Commune, worriedly shared that coconut trees are the main income source of many households in his area. Yet this year, even with such a low price, … [Read more...] about Coconut price dipping in Mekong Delta
Dammed, doomed: the Mekong Delta story
I have the habit of talking to old people every time I do research on the climate and the environment. To me, they are living records of what really happened, having directly experienced the natural disasters that have swept through our lands. After the 2016 drought, I did a study on the people of the Mekong Delta and their adaptability to climate change. In every province and city I went, Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Tien Giang and Tra Vinh, the elders shared the same worries, without exception. Something bad is coming, and it’s imminent. The Mekong Delta has always been blessed by Mother Nature. Lush plantations, abundant fish and shrimp are just some of the few things the Delta gives us. It is Mother Nature herself who breathed life into the people here. They are vivacious and carefree, unchained and untamed, just like the Delta itself. Not anymore. Such blessings are now relics of a distant past, showing themselves only in the people’s verses of songs and lines of poetry. … [Read more...] about Dammed, doomed: the Mekong Delta story