Mangrove forests in the Mekong Delta play an important role in adapting to and mitigating climate change, improving socio-economic development and ensuring livelihoods and well-being for coastal communities. However, in the context of population growth, climate change is taking place more and more rapidly. Thus, because of changes in domestic and foreign markets, in the needs and tastes of users regarding products related to mangroves, and in the processes of economic transition, social development and land resource management, mangrove forests are under great pressure. In order to build a low-emission economy that both ensures livelihoods for coastal communities and meets environmental goals, it is necessary to undertake a lot of analysis and evaluation around policies, techniques, finance and society with the participation of the people. Scientific information on the development and evaluation of the effectiveness of multi-sectoral economic development models related to mangroves plays an important role in the process of formulating and developing appropriate policies, programmes and projects, but they are few in number, scattered and not comprehensive.

In order to address this knowledge gap, University of Adelaide, CIFOR-ICRAF and Nong Lam University co-organise a national workshop which brings policy makers and practitioners to discuss about the opportunities and challenges for sustainable mangrove-based businesses in Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

Agenda

Delegate registration

Welcome and opening remarks

NLU Leadership

Opening remarks

Australian Embassy and Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in Vietnam

Vietnam’s current status, policies and priorities on climate change and roadmap for building economic development models for mangroves in the Mekong Delta

Representative of the Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Mangrove changes and future projections – and knowledge gaps that need to be studied

Speakers

Vien Ngoc Nam

Associate Professor, Nong Lam University (NLU)

Vo Quoc Tuan

Associate Professor, Can Tho University

Assessing mangrove-based economic development and livelihood models in the Mekong Delta – and issues that need to be studied

Speakers

Nguyen Phu Hoa

Associate Professor, Nong Lam University (NLU)

Nguyen Van Trai

Lecturer, Nong Lam University (NLU)

Climate change adaptation roadmap: a collaborative approach to building strategic solutions to strengthen resilience to climate change

Speaker

Seona Meharg

Integration scientist, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Coffee break

Q&A and roundtable discussion

Moderators

Tang Thi Kim Hong

Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Nong Lam University (NLU)

Pham Thu Thuy

Proffesor, Flinders University, Australia and CIFOR-ICRAF Senior Associate

Conclusion

NLU

Lunch