Title:
Nature-based Livelihood Solutions for Adapting to Climate Change: The Case of an Giang Province, Vietnam

Authors:
Trinh Phuoc Nguyen, Pham Xuan Phu*, Viet Nam

Abstract:

Climate change severely impacts lowland areas and agricultural communities dependent on natural resources in Vietnam, mainly An Giang province in the Mekong Delta region. Nature-based solutions (NBS) are being implemented as an effective and sustainable approach to address the challenges of climate change. This study focuses on evaluating NBS livelihood models currently being applied in An Giang, including the "two rice crops and lotus" model, the "rice-fish" model, and the "Natural fish with sesbania" model. The results show that the "two rice crops and lotus" model increases farmers' profits by up to 25% compared to traditional rice farming due to reduced fertilizer costs and increased economic value from lotus. The "rice-fish" model also brings significant benefits, with a 40% increase in income through the combination of fish farming and rice cultivation during the flood season, helping to improve water quality and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The "Natural fish with sesbania" model also demonstrates great potential in enhancing resilience and diversifying farmers' income sources during the flood season. Based on these findings, the study highlights several challenges, including financial, technical, and community awareness issues. However, nature-based livelihood models hold great potential for expansion and sustainable development, contributing to climate change adaptation strategies in An Giang province and the Mekong Delta region. The study proposes specific measures to support local communities and enhance the implementation of these solutions on a larger scale.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijaemr.2024.9606