The event was jointly organised by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Steering Committee for the Southwestern Region.

Aided by German’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, the 2014-2018 project aims to improve the region’s resistance to climate change through restoring flood prevention and regulation ability in Dong Thap Muoi and Long Xuyen Quadrangle areas.

Under the project, functioning ecosystems in coastal areas can provide helpful services to support farm production and aquaculture activities in salt water zones, as well as help locals to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Participants agreed that it is necessary to seek flexible policies and measures for coastal areas to create biodiversity for coastal ecosystems, thus contributing to producing much livelihood value for the local community.

They said regional localities should change their modes of production and replace rice with other plants in order to help balance the ecosystem and ease negative impact on nature.

Nguyen Phong Quang, deputy head of the Steering Committee, expressed his belief that the project will help bring stability and sustainable development to the region, as well as contribute to coping with the increasingly complex climate change situation in Vietnam.