Environment
Mekong Delta erosion worsens
  • By Nguyen Duong | dtinews.vn | June 20, 2018 03:21 PM
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Van Thang held a meeting on land erosion in Mekong Delta on June 18 with representatives from 13 cities and provinces.

     

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hoang Van Thang held the meeting on June 18

The map of coastal and riverbank erosion showed that 786km of coastal and riverbanks are being threatened by erosion. Of which there are 55 severely dangerous locations that are 173 kilometres long and 140 dangerous locations that are 97 kilometres long. It's necessary to build erosion prevention constructions along with a database about coastal and riverbank erosion to monitor the situation and ensure residents' safety.

Nguyen Thien Phap, head of Tien Giang Province Department of Irrigation, said the erosion rate was alarming. Since 2000, they have lost over 6km of coastal line and protective forests. Tien Giang is building more embankments as it is forecasted that by 2020, they will continue losing 3 kilometres of coastal line. They hope to build 1,800 metres of embankment this year and 1,400 metres in the next two years.

"This is only a temporary fix. We must plant more protective forests and wetlands," he said.

Statistics from the Mekong River Commission show that the alluvium level in the Mekong Delta also has been badly affected as it is losing 70% of the alluvium due to new hydropower plants upstream of the Mekong River. Sand over-exploitation has also led to severe erosion in the region.

According to Thang, they should utilise the map of coastal and riverbank erosions to predict and give out warnings on time. Despite the limited budget, Thang said the government still prioritises funds to minimise the impact from erosion.

Thang said, "We are facing the consequences from both climate change and unsustainable development. We can use sediment traps and plant more trees to restore the ecosystem. We should build more erosion prevention works and use coastal areas more wisely."

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