KienGiang (VNA) – A project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to conserve coastalhabitat in the Mekong Delta region was launched ata ceremony in Kien Giang on March 15.

The event was jointly organised by the mission of the US Embassyin Vietnam, through USAID, the leadership of the Directorate of Fisheries underthe Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), local authorities in theMekong Delta region, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World WideFund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF Vietnam).

Addressing the event, TranDinh Luan, General Director of the Department ofFisheries, underlined the orientation to develop the fisheries sector towardsmarket-driven approaches; environmental friendliness; protection, regeneration,and sustainable development of fisheries resources; biodiversity conservation; and climate change adaptation.

Theproject aims to protect important coastal ecosystems in Mekong Delta, focusingon activities in Kien Giang and Soc Trang provinces, to address challenges andenhance the effectiveness of marine resources management, thus improving resilience toclimate change and conserving biodiversity.

The Mekong Delta and its coastal ecosystems arehome to 70% of Vietnam’s mangroves and 90% of its seagrass beds. Fed by thesediment and nutrients from the Mekong River, these habitats support Vietnam’srichest fishing grounds, create livelihoods for coastal communities and providecrucial protection for them from natural disasters.

However, they andmany commercially important species are under growing threats, causing long-term impactson livelihoods and the lives of the local population. Coastal areas in Vietnamare also facing pressure from overexploitation and unplanned development.

The project is expected to strengthen themanagement of marine resources to reduce illegal, unreported and unregulatedfishing activities, and conserve and expand coastal and marine biodiversity ofthe Mekong Delta, which will also strengthen the coastal resilience of localcommunities. 

Witha total budget of 2.9 million USD, the project will concentrate on reducingthreats to coastal biodiversity and fisheries, and strengthening coastalresilience in the Mekong Delta, in partnership with the Vietnamese Government,local authorities, businesses, management boards of marine protected areas, developmentpartners, and fishing communities. 

According to Director of USAID Vietnam Aler Grubbs, the projectis expected to advance the shared priorities of USAID and Vietnam in strengtheningresilience to climate change in the Mekong Delta region, which plays a crucialrole but is increasingly vulnerable to threats; and contribute to the Vietnam –US Comprehensive strategic partnership.

Dr. Andrew Wyatt, Director of the project and Deputy Head of IUCN Lower Mekong Sub-region, stated that the projectwill pilot measures to conserve and restore natural resources in the region, then scaling up nationwide. Through the project, USAID will support Vietnam in restoring andconserving biodiversity in coastal areas, enhancing marine resource managementtowards sustainable fisheries development./.