Adapting to a Changing Environment

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Country office in Vietnam

Hanoi, Vietnam

An Overview Of Our Solution

Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Oceans
Oceans/Coasts
Urban Built Environment
Urban/Built Environment
Community Type
Suburban
Suburban
Rural
Rural
Additional Information
  • Population Impacted:
  • Continent: Asia
General Info

Address

8th floor - 59 Quang Trung street Hai Ba Trung district
Hanoi
10000
Vietnam

Email

tao.vandang@ifrc.org
Problem

Population impacted

11,000 people whose annual income is about 900 USD per head.

Size

medium commune of Vietnam

Major Occupations

Fishing: 2000 labors, annual income of USD 2,285; Aquaculture: 800 labors, annual income of USD900; Services: 500 labors, annual income of USD 1150; Farming: 3000 labors, annual income of USD 900,

Local resources the community depends on, and for what purpose

One thousand and ninety seven hectares of land for infrastructure system, commune offices, health station, schools and 2,854 houses. 380 hectares for agriculture farming, thirty seven hectares for aquacultures.

Local threats to resources

Storm surge, sea waters and storm waves, rainy water, strong wind

Climate Hazards

Annual storms, sea waves, sea water rise of 65 cm in 2100 (Climate change scenario of Vietnam, sea tides

Level of sensitivity

High: damage of houses, damage of rice field because of salinity intrusion, damage of fishing boats because of boat shelter and storm waves

Level of adaptive capacity

Low: the community can repair the damage of their houses but they can not clean salinity intrusion, they can not repair or protect the national sea dyke of three kilometer length.
Solution

To plant mangroves to protect the sea dykes from storm surges and waves then protect the agriculture farm and livelihoods, houses, infrastructure from coastal flood caused by storm To improve the capacity of the selected vulnerable community in disaster risk reduction and climate change through training courses and public awareness so they know how to protect their lives, properties and livelihood when receiving early warning signals from local authority

Results

Ecological Costs

No

Ecological Benefit

Mangroves have led to an increase of yield from aqua culture product collection (e.g shells, oysters) by 209% -789% providing more income for coastal communities, in particular its poorer members. Ecological benefit is about USD10 millions.

Economic Indicators used to measure benefit

The commune has got now an area of 370 hectares of mangroves which length of over 4 kilometers and width of average 900 meters along its dyke exposed to the sea.

Community/Social Cost

the whole community involve in planning and designing mangroves plantation to ensure that will still provide proper access of fishing boats out and in. a mangrove protection team of five members who take care of mangroves every days in three first years.

Community/Social Benefit

97% of the community members committed to protect mangroves in their commune. 64% of community members do not agree with suggestion to cut down mangroves for other economic purpose. 53% of community members agree to plant mangroves with their own resources and 33% agree to plant mangroves with external support.

Community/Social Indicators used to measure benefit

Interview of community members through household visits and focus group discussion

Economic Cost

The economic cost to plant one hectare of mangroves is about USD 950, the total cost is USD425,866

Economic Benefit

Direct economic impact to the community is USD 36,900 per year. Protective benefits only to the sea dyke is USD 295,000 per annual event.

Ecological Indicators used to measure benefit

The external project impact analysis used the cost- benefit approach.

What were/are the challenges your community faced in implementing this solution?

Because of very high threat from storm surge to this community, the project does not have any challenge up to date.

Action

Describe the community-based process used to develop the solution including tools and processes used

1 Request for support from community for plantation of mangroves to protect 3 kilometers of sea dykes in the Dai Hop commune through Vietnam Red Cross. 2 IFRC and VNRC HQ mobilized mangrove experts to assess the proposal feasibility, mud-soil quality, interviews with local representatives and community members. 3 VNRC staffs met all representatives of community stakeholder to discuss on how and why the previous failure of mangroves plantation to improve the planting and protecting plan especial to establish a commune protection team and to guide fishermen not to destroy newly planted mangroves. 4 VNRC has met forestry services, local authority for land use right and protection of trees, mangrove experts for mangrove seedling and planting technical training to selected poor community members, teachers for mangrove benefits to children. 5 Poorer members involved in the annual plantation of mangroves and get labor costs. 6 VNRC staffs monitor the mangroves and guide the commune team for protection of mangroves. 7 The project started in 1998 to now,the commune has a mangrove forest of nearly 370 hectares and protect well three kilometers of national sea dyke during the event of typhoon Damrey in 2005, Son Tinh in 2012 etc.

Climate hazard of concern

Coastal flooding or storm surge

How does your solution reduce the exposure of and buffer/protect the ecosystem affected?

Four year after the plantation and protection of mangroves, there were no more national sea dyke damage that means a saving of annual maintenance cost. The mangroves also contributed a lot to improving the ecosystem with more baby crabs, shrimps and fishes. Poor people have a commune forest to collect the sea products for their daily earning. The agriculture land of the commune does not be affected by the sea water during high tide times. Migrant birds also have a habitat for their stops for food and rest.

How does your solution reduce the exposure of and buffer/protect the communities affected?

The commune sea dyke has been well protected since 2000. There is no dyke erosion or damages caused annual by sea surge or storm surges

How does your solution reduce the sensitivity of the communities affected?

The community now feels safer during the event of a tropical storm because they know that the commune dyke will not be broken thanks to mangroves protection. they can invest for economic activities.

How has your solution increased the capacity of local communities to adapt to potential climate changes?

The project has provided to the community members including children, teachers knowledge about climate changes and its possible impacts. the project also discuss with them about several possible solution to reduce climate change or green house gas as reduction of pollution, garbage collection and how to apply a green living style. The commune members pay more attention of the early warning system since they know that the storm forecast is not easy because storm track and trends are not similar as their past experience.

Scale

Can this solution be replicated elsewhere?

This solution has been replicated in many communes in Vietnam. The mangroves plantation is continuing with support from local NGOs, INGO. the government of Vietnam also approved a project funded by World Bank including a component of mangroves plantation to 2015.

Overview
Solution
Scale