The causes of worsening land erosion along rivers and the coast inthe Mekong Delta were analysed at a seminar held in the Mekong Deltaprovince of Soc Trang on June 6.
Deputy Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development Hoang Van Thang said among variousreasons, impacts from development process in upstream Mekong River,socio-economic development in the Delta and climate change are the majorfactors causing land erosion in the region.
Hesaid integrated solutions are needed which must combine management ofcoastal economic development, local residents’ livelihoods and thecultivation of mangrove forests.
According to the deputyminister, the Ministry is cooperating with relevant ministries andforeign organisations to build up counter plans, which include sea dykeand land use planning.
In addition, science-technology measures will bedeployed to efficiently control and prevent the erosion.
Severalsuccessful solutions to land erosion were shared at the conference suchas a model of wave breaker fence in Soc Trang and Bac Lieu, fortifiedembankment and protective forest.
Attendees agreed that mangrove forest plantation is a sustainable measure to protect the coastline and dykes.
According to recent scientific research, 38 percent of the land inMekong Delta region will be engulfed by the sea in 2100 due to climatechange. Mangrove forests destruction has led to the drastic salinityintrusion in the region, which seriously affect local life andproduction.-VNA