Vietnam, US launch climate change project

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on January 16 launched a US$26 million climate change project in Nam Dinh province.

The project, entitled “Vietnam Forests and Deltas,” supports Vietnam’s goals for sustainable development, low carbon emission, and adaptation to climate change by improving land-use planning, forest and natural resource management and mobilizing communities into developing action plans addressing the impact of climate change.

It will expand into three more provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Long An.

USAID Vietnam Mission Director Joakim Parker said that the project will support national-level coordination on implementing policy related to climate change.

It also helps support the Red River Delta in its efforts to reverse environmental degradation and adapt to climate change, he added.

Delegates visited Nam Dinh’s Quat Lam town where the project is implemented. The town, in Giao Thuy district, bore the brunt of recent storms.

They also made a fact-finding tour of mangrove forests in Giao Phong commune, Giao Thuy district, to examine the livelihood of local coastal people.