IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVENLOPMENT AND PLAN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Transcription

1 IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVENLOPMENT AND PLAN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT I. INTRODUCTION Climate change is considered as one of the most concerned issues and important factor which impacts on sustainable development worldwide. Due to the impacts of climate change, global natural disasters have been happening more frequently and complicatedly with stronger intensity and more serious effects. In Vietnam, it is estimated that tens of million people can loss their houses when sea level rises. Food productivity can be decreased, consequently the country s food security is strongly threatened. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development regulates 6 main fields: agriculture, forestry, salt, aquaculture, irrigation and rural infrastructure that relate to life of 73% of total population, including most of the poor who are under the most drastic influence of climate change. It is a difficult task to ensure national food security, to prevent and mitigate natural disaster for social life and sustainable development. Therefore adapting measures should be taken on time. With clear awareness of climate change, in order to enhance mitigation and adaptation to climate change and ensure sustainable development in the agricultural and rural sector, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development promulgated Decision No. 2730/QD-BNN- KHCN dated September 05, 2008 to approve Action Plan Framework on climate change adaptation and mitigation of the agriculture and rural development sector in period On such basis, the relevant agencies under the Ministry and the localities will organize and implement the programmes, projects and activities to detail and concretize impacts of climate change and solutions by incorporating the programmes with socio-economic development objective of the sector and the localities. This presentation briefs patterns of natural disasters in Vietnam, impacts of climate change on agriculture and rural development, identifies vulnerable regions, introduces the action plan framework on climate change adaptation of the sector and implementation organization and proposes recommendations. II. NATURAL DISASTERS AND NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE 2.1. Natural disasters and their impacts on socio-economic development Located in the monsoon tropics one of five storm areas in the Asia Pacific regions, Vietnam has been facing with various patterns of natural disasters and is annually under the disadvantageous impacts of natural disasters, causing great loss of people and assets. Especially, during the past years, natural disasters happened nationwide, caused to severe loss of people and assets, infrastructures of economy, culture and society, negatively effected on environment and socio-economic development. During the last 12 years ( ), the natural disasters such as storm, flood, landslide, drought and others had considerably caused to the loss of about 9,600 people (See Figure 1) and assets of a value equivalent to about 1.5% GDP/ year. Natural disaster level in Vietnam is increasing in terms of scope, frequency and unpredictable characteristics. 1

2 Figure 1. Loss of people by natural disaster Impacts of natural disasters on socio-economic development Situation of natural disasters happened in the recent years: Storm is one of the main and dangerous natural disasters in Vietnam. During the last 50 years ( ), Vietnam had been impacted by 390 storms and tropic low pressures, of which 31% happended in the North, 36% happened in the Central North and 33% happened in the Central Southern and South regions. The storms usually accompanied with the rise of flood-tide and sea level as well as heavy, long rain and flood, affected to around 80-90% of population in Vietnam. Flood has been happening under various types in Vietnam: five of the most populated cities: Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh, Ca Mau, Hai Phong and Vinh Long have to face with the flood-tide; Hue and Central and Central Southern cities face with flood caused by inundation; and flood caused by heavy rain on a large and partial scale happens in most of cities. Heavy rain for a long time in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city and Mekong Delta urban area causes serious traffic jam and influences on production and daily activities of local people. Landslide regularly happens in Vietnam in diferent types: landslide in rivers and streams, coastal landslide by wave, tide, sea level rise and sea current, landslide of hills and sloping sides, subsidence and land fissures.. All of these greatly affect on people, assets, houses and environment. Drought and desert ranks as the third of losses after storm and flood. In recent years, drought consecutively occurs in many regions. Drought caused a decrease of 20-30% of crop productivity, reduced food output and seriously impacts on husbandry and people s daily activities. Drought prevention has faced difficulties due to the shortage of water sources and exhausted water reservoirs in the upstream. Drought for a long time will lead to a risk of desertization in several regions, particularly in the Central Southern, coastal sand and sloping regions of the midland and mountainous areas. Salt penetration occurs along the coast of Vietnam in different levels. Three regions that being under threat of high salt penetration are the Southwest coastal provinces, Central coastal provinces and downstream of Dong Nai River. The Southwest coastal provinces are under the most robust impact with 1.77 million hectares salted land, making up 45% of this region while establishing salt prevention and fresh water retaining systems is costly. Statistical data in the recent years show that in 2007, natural disasters caused to the death and loss of 435 people, collapse of 7800 houses, damages to 113,800 hectares rice, 1,300 heavily destroyed dams, bridges and sewers and 1,500km slid dyke with total estimated losses of VND 11,600 billion, equivalent to 1% of GDP. In early August 2008 and early July 2009, rain, flood and landslide in Northern mountainous provinces caused serious damages to 2

3 people and assets. In early 2008, the cold spell lasted 40 days made 150,000 hectares rice and 9,600 hectares rice-seeds die; especially in Northern mountainous provinces, the cold caused to a 180 billion VND of breeds loss, 200 billion VND of 62,603 cattles died. Effect of natural disasters to socioeconomic development Natural disasters in Vietnam is the direct factor that obstructs sustainable development of economy and society, increases poverty, hindrances the achievement of millennium development objectives. More than 80% of population in Vietnam is influenced by natural disasters. Natural disasters may widen the gap among different social classes in terms of living standards, impede and slow the poverty alleviation, especially in regions which regularly influenced by natural disasters. Annually, millions of people need support and relief for natural disasters, many people got out of poverty backed to live in poverty again by natural disasters. Natural disasters impact on education development, destruct educational infrastructure and discontinue students schooling, particularly in the mountainous areas and Mekong Delta, and impact on environment and health of community in the flooded areas. Natural disasters cause disadvantageous effects on vulnerable population groups such as the old, the disable, women and children. Natural disasters impact on environment such as destruction, degradation and pollution of environment, negative effects on production and life of community. Its consequence is contaminated water source and arisen diseases. Natural disasters also impact on national defense and security such as destruction of national defense and security and reduction of national reserve source. Trend of natural disasters by climate change Affected by climate change, natural disasters have worsened since storms and rainfall, landslides, floods and spread epidemic diseases such an increase of malaria increase in terms of frequency, amplitude and intensity. Drought and hot spells for a long time and rise sea level are other consequences of climate change, causing considerable impacts on sustainable human development in Vietnam. According to world assessment, Vietnam with its coastal length of 3,260km and two low deltas will be one of five most influenced countries by climate change. It is estimated to flood millions hectares land and loose tens of million houses in case of highly rising sea level. At the same time, there is an increase of poverty (21.2%-35.0%) and about 27% of salted forest area and 20% of marsh forest area will be totally flooded and further salt-penetrated. Food productivity is decreased strongly, threatens national food security. It can be said that climate change will greatly impact on economy, society and environment. This is an existing challenge for objective of poverty alleviation and sustainable development as well as implementation of Millennium objectives in Vietnam Impact of climate change on agriculture and rural development Production of agriculture, forestry, pisciculture and salt i). Agriculture: According to study and forecast of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) and the World Bank, in Vietnam, the sea level rising 1 meter will flood about million hectares in Red River Delta and million hectares in Mekong Delta. In the high floods, about 90% area of Mekong Delta was flooded for 4-5 months, includes mainly rice land flooded and salt-penetrated and unproductive. The climate change increases natural disasters and decreases crop productivity. In the ADB point of view, if temperature raises more 1 o C, rice output will reduce 10%. This will pose a serious threat to national food security and impact on tens of million people. 3

4 Climate change has changed living conditions of species and disappeared several species and conversely, appeared as risk of increasing natural enemy. In the past two years, epidemics of brown and yellow bugs and twisted leaves in Mekong Delta has occurred more complicatedly and affected intensive cultivation and multi-crops and reduced rice productivity. In the North, the small leaf-wound worm in the winter-spring crop became epidemic. At the highest, the damaged rice area increased up to 400,000 ha, considerably impacting on productive output and expenses. Climate change can affect the crop; change seasonal structure, regional planning, irrigational technique, pestilent insects, productivity and yield; degrade land resources; threaten biological diversification; reduce quantity and quality due to flood and drought; and further increase extinctive risk of animals and plants and disappear rare and valuable gene sources. A number of domestic animals can be reduced resistance by increasing changeable amplitude of temperature, humidity and other exterior factors. Changes of climate and weather conditions can appear some new diseases for cultivation of cattles, poultry and waterbirds and become epidemic or great epidemic. i). Forestry Vietnam has high bio-diversification and various eco-systems. However, in the past, for the different reasons, bio-diversification and eco-systems, especially forest eco-systems with the highest bio-diversification are seriously degraded. The rise sea level reduces the coastal mangrove forest and severely affects the ecosystems of cogon forest and artificial forest on the alum land in Mekong Delta. In the recent years, in spite of an increase of forest area, rate of primeval forest remains only 8% (against 50% of the countries in the region). High temperature and a large amount of evaporation together with drought for a long time will alter distribution and growth of plants and animals; many tropical plants may move to the higher latitudes and subtropical plants may disappear. A number of rare animal and plant population will be gradually scared and be in the risk of extinction. Long-lasting high temperature and drought will cause forest fire, particularly forest on peat lands, damage creature resources, increase greenhouse gas discharge and climate change as well as harmful affect to forest pestilent insects. Climate change may alter quantity and quality of the forest ecosystems, bio-diversification and declined environmental function and services (water source adjustment, climate regulation and anti-erosion ) and economy of forest. Rise sea level and drought causes reduction of productivity and crop area and increase demand of transferring forest to agricultural land and aquatic product exploitation as well as demand of migration to the high regions and deforestation. iii) Aquaculture The rise sea level and salt submergence causes the following consequences: The salty water deeply penetrating into the interior part causes loss of suitable living conditions of some fresh water aquatic creatures. The shrunk mangrove forest influenced residence of some aquatic creatures, decreases fixed ability of organic substances in the seaweed ecosystem and reduce source supplying photosynthetic products and nutrients for the bottom creatures. Therefore, the living environment of many aquatic creatures becomes worse. High temperature sets off phenomenon of clear temperature layer division, impacts living process of creatures. Moving to the North, reducing or diving deeper by some creatures will change distributive structure of aquatic creatures in depth. The photochemical and disintegrated process of organic substances is faster and impacts on food sources of creatures. 4

5 The creatures that using more energy for the respiration process and other living activities have poor quality and low productivity. Regressing and destroying corals and changing physicologic and biochemical processes occur in the symbiosis relation between coral and alga. High intensity and rainfall results in low salt concentration and a series of brackish and riverside creatures died due to changeable salt concentration. For benefits of aquatic products and fishery, the balneology and liquefaction regime will be worsened due to the rise sea level. As a result, the existing community changes structure and components, reserves declines and temperature reduces or loses. Most fishes in the corals are wiped out. The float plants the first link of the food chain for the float aquatic creatures are disappeared. This strongly reduced the float creatures as well as main food source of the creatures in the middle and above water layers. iv) Salt production: rise sea level and heavy rains adversely affect salty area and salty infrastructure Urban and rural irrigation and water supply Safety of the water reservoirs is threatened by redistribution of rainfall in space and time with a lot of changes against initial design. There appear heavy and light raining regions for a short time and drought for a long time with more frequency and complication and stronger intensity. The rise sea level causes dyke overflowing and breaking existing dyke systems even in the case of no strong storm. Further, the rise sea level makes the riverside flow regime change and erodes the riverbank. Concerning river-dyke systems, girdle shaped dyke and surrounded bank, due to the rise sea level, the water drainage to the sea reduces and rise the rive water level, flood flows from the upstream and the flood crest, threatens safety of the river-dyke routes in Northern and Southern provinces. Most of the water drainage works in the coastal region are the self-drained systems. Upon the rise sea level and difficult self-drainage, the flooded area and time will rise in many places. Because of the rise sea level and deep salt penetration into the interior part, the upstream culverts on the riverside will be unable to supply fresh water for the rice field. The coastal cities such as Ho Chi Minh city, Can Tho, Ca Mau, Hai Phong and Tra Vinh are flooded by tide. The coastal low areas such as Ben Tre and Ca Mau are flooded and saltpenetrated by tide. The flow regime in the rivers and streams changes disadvantageous direction and the irrigational works will operate under the condition different from the design, lessening service capacity of the works. Together with increasing the extreme weather phenomena, the flood flows to the works suddenly rise, even exceeds the design parameter and seriously affects safety of the dams and water resources with changeable flow from +4% to -19%; large discharge of flood crest and evaporation and more serious flood and drought. The flash flood and landslide occur regularly and extraordinarily. Due to changeable raining regime as well as industrialization and modernization, demand of water consumption suddenly increases then many irrigational systems dissatisfy with requirements of water supply Sensitive regions (1). Mekong Delta The Mekong Delta is an extremely important region. Agricultural development and food security in the recent centuries has been under rather strong impact of climate change, 5

6 including different flood changes in the high and low flood years, stronger storms, more serious drought, forest fire and riverbank slide and whirlwind which appear more dangerously. For only 10 past years, Mekong Delta had high floods in 2000, 2001 and 2002 including the historic high flood in 2000; under-average flood for 5 consecutive years including water level 4.00m in Tan Chau in 2006; drought for 4 successive years, especially drought combined with exhausted flow in Mekong River in 2004; 02 strong storms (Linda storm in 1997 and Durian storm in 2006); whirlwinds causing serious consequences; forest fore in many places, particularly in U Minh Thuong National Park in 2002 and riverbank slide with a lot of times, positions and high intensity. Through results of hydraulic model, it shows that: - Almost terrain in Mekong Delta is less than 1.5 meters high. If the sea level rises up to 0.69 meters and 1.00 meter plus tide crest is meters higher than average water level, the tide crest will be 1.7 meters meters with 0.69 meters and ( ) meters with 1.00 meter rise sea level, terrain of Mekong Delta will be 0.2 meters - 0.7meters lower than the tide crest with 0.69 meters rise sea level and meter with 1.00 meter rise sea level. Thus, the coastal region risks flood by rise sea level. - In flood season, especially the high and extremely high flood years such as the flood, the flood will become more serious under the impact of rise sea level because it is difficult to discharge floods into the sea. The flood level in the flooded region increases from 0.2 meters to 0.5 meters correlative to 0.69 meters rise sea level and from 0.3 meters to 0.7 meters correlative to 1.00 meter rise sea level. - Due to impact of rise sea level, tide crest and high flood in Mekong Delta, many regions are flooded and it is difficult to separate the flooded limit. - Salty area of 4grams/liter is now 1,303 thousand hectares and increase up to 1,493 thousand hectares with 0.69meters and 1,637 thousand hectares with 1.00 meter rise sea level. (2). Red River Delta Total natural areas of Red River Delta is about 1.3 million hectares, including 1.15 million hectares protected by a system of seadykes and riverdykes. For the impacts of climate change, although the water reservoirs are used to regulate and supply water for the lowlands, the salt penetration still transgress into the interior part (salty limit 4% is kilometers from the estuary). Impact of rise sea level and the highest rainfall with an increase of 25% due to climate change, the flooded area in Red River Delta can be 550,000 hectares with an increase of 0,69 meters (nearly 1/4 of area lower than the sea water level) and 650,000 hectares with an increase of 1.0 meter (nearly 1/3 of area lower than the sea water level). The water level in rivers will rise higher than as usual (about meter) and most exceed warning of 3 rise water levels and approximate the dyke top. (3). Central coastal delta - Impact on water supply and salt penetration High rise sea level brings about deep salt penetration into the coastal estuaries without unsuitable salt prevention works. When the sea level rises more 0.69 meters and 1.0 meter high, the salty limit 4% will penetrate deeply about kilometers into the estuaries in the dry season. Therefore, many regions will lack irrigational water beacause the cannals are unable to supply salty water, especially the lowlands with 24-28% of land salty effected. - Impact of flood by rise sea level 6

7 Upon rise sea level, total flooded and semi-flooded area in the Central coastal regions can be 400,000 hectares with a 1.0 meter increase of sea level and 210,000 hectares with a 0.69 meters increase of sea level. - Impact on flood prevention and safety of irrigational work system High rise sea level leads to high flood level in the areas near the estuaries (average kilometers from the estuaries). The rivers of Central region has no flood control dyke system or has dyke with height equivalent to the flood creast. So, it needs to take measures to raise altitude and reinforce the dyke. (4). Big coastal cities Some big cities such as Ho Chi Minh city, Hai Phong city, Hue city, Can Tho city, Ca Mau city and others in Mekong Delta are flooded by impact of rise sea level and climate change. The main impacts of climate change on this area are rise sea level, flood drainage, flood, salty penetration and flood control works. The 0.75 meter-rise sea level will limit flood drainage of the whole irrigational work system in the coastal region and increase flood in the cities. And the high rise sea level makes deep salt penetration impact on daily actitivities and production. The system of irrigational works and flood control works must be improved and repaired according to new conditions. III. ACTION PLAN FRAMEWORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE FOR ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION OF THE ARGICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR PERIOD Objectives (1) General objective - To enhance capability of climate change (CC) mitigation and adaptation to minimize its adverse impacts and ensure sustainable development of the agriculture and rural development sector in the context of climate change. Of which, focuses are given to: - Ensuring the stability and safety of residents in cities, different zones and regions, especially the deltas of Mekong and Red rivers, the central and mountainous areas; - Ensuring the stable agriculture production and food security with the stable area of 3.8 million ha of two seasonal rice crops; - Ensuring safety of dyke and infrastructure systems to meet requirements in disaster prevention and mitigation. (2) Specific objective 1. Develop a policy system integrating climate change in sectoral development programme, define responsibilities of relevant agencies as well as funding sources and management mechanisms of implementation of the action plan (AP) on CC adaptation and mitigation; 2. Develop an AP and propose support policies to the CC affected regions to ensure the sustainable development of different sub-sectors of agriculture and rural development sector; 3. Strengthen capacity of research and forecast of CC impacts in agriculture, water resources, forestry, salt production and rural development to provide scientific foundation for formulating policies, strategies and solutions for CC mitigation and adaptation in agricultural and rural development sector; 7

8 4. Strengthen international cooperation, promote the linkage with international and regional region programme and receive technical and financial assistance from international communities in CC mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and rural development sector; 5. Develop human resources for implementing the CC mitigation and adaptation; 6. Enhance awareness of government officials, staff and communities in CC mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and rural development sector; 7. Ensure equal benefit sharing for rural communities in implementing CC mitigation and adaptation Main tasks (1) Conduct the communication and information programme to disseminate knowledge and experiences to enhance people s awareness on CC impacts and mitigation and adaptation activities of the sector. - Disseminate and guide the implementation of government s and sectoral policies to officials, staff and communities in mitigation and CC adaptation; - Formulate plans for disseminating the government s and sectoral commitments with the international communities on CC mitigation and adaptation activities; - Develop an information system and a website of the Steering Committee for Climate change Adaptation and Mitigation in agricultural and rural development sector to disseminate information, forecast and answer enquiries on CC to the agencies under ministry, localities and businessmen and orientation for implementation of CC mitigation and adaptation solutions; - Organize thematic workshops, conferences and training courses on CC, its impacts and solutions for mitigation and adaptation for staff and officials from central to local levels (2) Develop human resources and conduct studies to develop and consolidate scientific foundation for providing solutions to mitigate and adapt to CC - Apply information technology in collecting, maintaining and processing information; Develop and operate the database system for the development and implementation of CC mitigation and adaptation activities; - Develop and implement study programme on CC impacts in the agriculture and rural development and recommend the mitigation and adaptation measures; - Train human resources, raise awareness and strengthen scientific research, recommend CC mitigation and adaptation; (3) Develop policy system, integrate CC in sectoral development programme - Develop a strategic vision for the sector in adaptation to CC; - Develop a policy and mechanism system integrating CC in planning and development programme of the sector; - Screen and review system of legal documents and sectoral policies, then recommend necessary amendments and issuance of new legal documents on CC mitigation and adaptation; - Develop a collaboration mechanism among ministries, sectors, between central and local levels and the mechanism for management of programme and projects in implementing the CC mitigation and adaptation; (4) Promote international cooperation in CC mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and rural development sector 8

9 - Develop and recommend projects, seek for funding from international communities for mitigation and adaptation to climate change of the sector; - Strengthen cooperation and promote the relationship with international and sectoral programme through information sharing, develop a network of bilateral and multilateral cooperation for implementing sectoral climate change activities; - Organie training of human resources; experience and technological transfer on mitigation and adaptation to climate change in the sector; - Study to develop mechanisms for mobilization and utilization of AID funds in the most effective way as well as set up a fund for implementation of the CC adaptation programme; - Promote the cooperation and integration of CC actions in programme and plans implementing multilateral commitments on environment protection. (5) Some priority activities for implementing climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and rural development sector - Strength capacity for the standing office of the steering committee for climate change adaptation and mitigation (OCCA) of MARD; - Develop national standards (TCVN), national technical procedures (QCVN) in planning, designing and constructing infrastructure of sectors of water resources, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, salt production and rural development in the context of climate change; - Carry out scientific research programme and planning programme of agricultural and rural infrastructure; systems of cultivation, forestry, fisheries and salt production, natural prevention and mitigations, etc towards strengthening adaptation capacity to climate change, of which special attention will be given to the issues of temperature increase and sea level rise, focusing on: a) The research programme and solutions for ensuring safety of residents in the Mekong delta, the central region, the Northern river delta, the mountainous area for their stable lives in the condition of temperature increase and sea level rise; b) Research programme and solutions for ensuring an stable area of two seasonal rice crops of 3.8 million ha to ensure national food security; c) Research and master planning of water resources in Mekong River in the context of climate change and sea level rise; d) Research and planning programme for flood prevention and control in the Red, Thai Binh and Mekong rivers, rivers in the central regions from Thanh Hoa to Khanh Hoa, Central South Southeast region to enhance climate change adaptation; e) The research and planning programme for protection and development of forests to protect sea-dyke and river-dyke; f) Research and planning programme of salt production infrastructure and natural disaster prevention and mitigation infrastructure, etc towards enhancing climate change adaptation, of which special focus is paid to the temperature increase and sea level rise; g) The research and planning programme of the food and industrial crop production areas in climate change adaptation; h) Research and planning programme of the aquaculture and fisheries to adapt to climate change. j) Programme on strengthening natural disaster management ability and scientific technology application 9

10 k) Programme on checking, upgrading and building works of natural disaster prevention and mitigation in accordance with design standards and natural disaster features in each region and each locality to adapt to climate change. l) Programme on building water reservoirs and setting up managerial processes of water reservoirs to effectively exploit water resources and flood prevention. m) Programme on enlarging span of bridges and sewers on the road and railway system to ensure flood drainage. n) Programme on building works of landslide prevention o) Programme on upgrading the dyke system and the sewers under the dyke and concreting the dyke surface of level 3 and over. p) Programme on building the anchor areas for ships and boats to avoid storm. q) Programme on building complex of population routes to prevent flood and storm. r) Programme on enhancing forecast and flood warning for Red River Delta, Mekong Delta and rivers in the Central, Tay Nguyen and Southeast regions; strengthening forecast and warning of storm, flood, flash flood, drought, salt penetration, earthquake and tsunami in the coastal region as well as flash flood in the mountainous provinces Organization for implementation (1) Main solutions - Mobilize experts from relevant ministries, sectors, research institutes, professional associations with technical assistance of international experts to develop a detail action plan of the sector to implement the programme effectively and timely; - Assign tasks among agencies under MARD and localities in formulation and implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation; - Systematize legal documents related to the integration of climate change issues in planning and development of agriculture and rural development; - Promote international cooperation in mitigation and adaption to climate change; - Train human resources, consultants, especially the leading scientists, government management officials to have better capacities in implementing the climate change adaptation and mitigation in the agriculture and rural development sector; - Ensure financial support for implementation of the action plan sourced from Government budget together with mobilizing ODA, the international cooperation support programme, and other sources of international and national individuals and organizations at all economic sectors; - Strengthen guiding, reviewing, monitoring and evaluating the objectives, tasks and outputs of the sectoral action plan by period; (2). Organization for implementation - Leaders of MARD s departments and units; General directors of companies, directors of companies enterprises under MARD, directors of provincial departments of agriculture and rural development belonging to the central authority, based on this Action Plan framework, within their own functions, shall take responsibilities in directing the formulating plan and organizing the implementation; concretize objectives and tasks under the period plan as well as annual plan; report to the MARD the progress of implementation of the action plan by periodically. The reports are required to submit through 10

11 the standing office of steering committee for climate change adaptation and mitigation by 15 October annually. - Assign the OCCA to synthesize comments and proposals of all unities and agencies, recommend financing structure and annual financing needs, policies, mechanisms and solutions for implementation of tasks under the action plan framework than submit to the MARD leaders for approval; - Assign the department of science, technology and environment, based on the task list under the action plan framework, to coordinate with department of planning and department of finance to allocate state budget and other funding sources for the AP implementation; - During the implementation of the action plan framework, in case of any need of amendment or addition of new contents, the agencies in charge are responsible for actively report to the Minister for his consideration; - Assign the OCCA to chair and coordinate with Department of Science, Technology and Environment and other relevant units to guide, supervise and synthesize the implementation; supervise and synthesize the implementation of the whole sector then report to the Minister through the Steering Committee for CC adaptation and mitigation annually before 30 October. IV. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTION PLAN FRAMEWORK AND SUGGESTIONS 4.1. Tasks have to be implemented to adapt to climate change Under the guideline of the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has been organizing and implementing many programmes and projects to mitigate and adapt to climate change: - Announce the Action Plan Framework, set up and instruct implementation of the Action Plan Framework on climate change adaptation for the units under the Ministry and localities; - Gradually study and intermix establishment and completion of law documents as well as create legal corridor for prevention and mitigation of natural disaster and climate change adaptation; - Gradually consolidate the organizational machinery and reinforce capacity, equipment and facilities for guiding flood prevention, natural disaster mitigation and rescue search from the central to localities; - Set up and implement the socio-economic development related to flood prevention and natural disaster mitigation in the context of climate change in each stage as follows: + Check and support the programme of sea-dyke improvement from Quang Ninh to Quang Nam; + Set up and submit the sea-dyke programme from Quang Ngai to Kien Giang to the Prime Minister for approval and consideration in the climate change and rise sea level, including 500 meters-1,000 meters protective forest in front of the dyke and the transport system within the dyke and system of tide, salt and đất lưu prevent to heighten the dyke upon the rise sea level; + Build up the river-dyke upgrading program in the new situation; + Carry out the overall irrigation planning of Mekong Delta, Red River Delta and the Central region in the climate change and rise sea level; 11

12 + Set up and submit the flood prevention planning for some big cities such as Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi city to the Prime Minister for considering climate change and be implementing the flood prevention planning for Can Tho city, Ca Mau city and Hai Phong city. in the climate change and rise sea level including two big cities (Hanoi city and Ho Chi Minh city) approved by the Government. + Set up the project on salt penetrated prevention and rise sea level for the North of Ben Tre province. + Up to now, besides rice variety adaptive to the intensive cultivation, Vietnam has sets of rice variety adapting to the flood condition (sets of rice variety adaptable to flooded condition U17, U20 and U21 of Food Crops Research Institute, halophytic varieties such as M6 and bau tep ; varieties adaptable to alum condition such as Tep lai ; xerophilous varieties such as CH2, CH3, CH5 and CH133 (Food Crops Research Institute), varieties of series LC of Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Institute of Plant Protection Research Institute There are a few varieties but they are a premises for the variety selectors to continuously study and cross varieties adaptable to conditions of climate change. - Project on enhancing commodity awareness and management approved by the Government and pushing up the education propaganda in natural disaster prevention and mitigation as well as climate change adaptation; - Programme/ Project related to the mechanism of Kyoto post-protocol on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation; Project on Clean Development Mechanism attached with pilot programme on paying Forest Environment Service, promotion of coastal protective forest, watershed forest and afforestation in the bare hills. - Check and amend technical standards and specifications to construct the irrigational works for climate change adaptation Suggestions Natural disasters and unusual process of climate, weather and natural disasters by impact of climate change will be more increasing and unanticipated. At the same time, rapid industrialization and modernization nationwide creates comprehensive development but increases calamity before natural disasters. On other hand, exploitation and impacts by illegal human activities against Natural Resources Law, poor management and limited control of resources and environment, population pressure ect. step up unsafe risk upon the natural disaster, drastically influencing on sustainable and environmental destruction. In the present context: - Advanced science and technology in the world has been developing and experiences of the worldwide countries can be transferred through cooperation in climate change adaptation and mitigation; - The United Nations, countries and organizations all over the world consider climate change adaptation and mitigation as a priority, global and vital duty of human beings; - Support sources from countries and international organizations are given priority to objective of natural disaster prevention and mitigation and climate change adaptation and minimization; - The Party and the State as well as the levels and sectors has paid special attention to climate change; signed and participated in the conventions and international commitments relevant to climate change such as bio-diversification convention, anti-desert convention and RAMSAL convention ; - Experiences in natural disaster prevention from the people and the levels and sectors are drawn and promoted; 12

13 - Facilities of the State and the sectors for natural disaster prevention are considerably strengthened. In order effectively implement climate change adaptation as well as natural disaster prevention and mitigation in the next years; it is required to intensify performance of the main contents as below: - Increase investment expenses of natural disaster prevention and mitigation as well as climate change adaptation; - Reinforce international cooperation of natural disaster prevention and consequence remedy as well as negative impact of climate change adaptation and mitigation; - Train human resource and develop science and technology in natural disaster prevention and consequence remedy as well as negative impact of climate change adaptation and mitigation; - Continue to combine factors of natural disaster prevention and consequence remedy as well as negative impact of climate change adaptation and mitigation with strategies, programmes, planning and projects of socio-economic development in the sectors, regions and localities; - Suggest 30% of climate change expenses for natural disaster prevention and mitigation. - Boost up implementing, constructing and upgrading a system of reservoirs, seadykes and river-dykes together with preserving and developing mangrove forest to prevent impacts of rise sea level and salt penetration; - Continue to check, plan and construct the irrigational works, transport infrastructure, flood and storm prevention, appropriate migration and resettlement, flooded and drainage works in the cities and the coastal region. - Suggest the Poliburo to approve the Instruction on natural disaster prevention and consequence remedy as well as negative impact of climate change adaptation and mitigation with a view to mobilizing strength of the whole political system to participate in the plan. Reference (1) National Strategy on natural disaster prevention and mitigation by 2020 (Decision No. 172/2007/QD-TTg dated November 16 th, 2007 of the Prime Minister); (2) National Target Programme on climate change adaptation (Decision No. 158/2008/QD- TTg dated December 2 nd, 2008 of the Prime Minister); (3) Draft submitted to the Poliburo Plan on prevention and remedy of natural disaster consequences and bad impact of climate change adaptation and mitigation (chaired and prepared by Communist Board under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Resources and Environment); (4) Action Plan Framework on climate change adaptation of the agriculture and rural development sector in period (Decision No. 2730/QD-BNN-KHCN dated September 05 th, 2008 of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development); (5) Annual report in of Center for Sustainable Rural Development; (6) Human development report in of UNDP Fight against climate change: Human solidarity in a separated world; (7) Report on impact on rise sea level, flood and salt penetration in Mekong Delta in 2008 (Southern Institute for Water Resource Research); (8) Report on impact on rise sea level, flood and salt penetration in Red River Delta and the Central coastal area in 2008 (Southern Institute for Water Resource Research); 13