Early action in response to desertification and drought

In the climate change context, protecting and restoring desertified and degraded lands is crucial while minimizing the harmful effects of drought. Mr. Nguyen Song Ha emphasized that addressing these challenges, which profoundly impact people's lives, especially in rural Vietnam, requires active collaboration with national partners and stakeholders. FAO is dedicated to this collaboration to improve the sustainable management of land and water resources.

FAO is implementing a comprehensive approach focusing on modern technology, water management, and regenerative agriculture. This approach aims to strengthen food production capacity, protect the ecosystem, improve soil and water quality, ensure food security for Vietnam, and promote the prosperity of rural communities.

Additionally, FAO is working with the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) and rural communities to implement initiatives that enhance community resilience to the impacts of drought. These projects include forecasting, early action, and warning systems in Ben Tre, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, and Gia Lai.

“We also contribute to comprehensive land, water, and energy solutions by providing technical and institutional support to manage land and water resources more effectively in the face of climate change. Action is needed today to protect the environment and promote sustainable and innovative solutions in land use. The participation of the government, community, and social organizations is key to achieving significant progress in combating erosion and drought,” said Mr. Ha.

Mr. Duong Van Dung from the Department of Crop Production discussed the state of soil health under the impact of desertification, highlighting several challenges in agricultural land management, such as pollution, population growth, and the consequences of climate change. These factors lead to serious repercussions for crop productivity and efficiency. Despite Vietnam's issuance of the Land Law, Environmental Law, and Crop Law, there remain gaps in practical management.

According to 2022 statistics, approximately 40% of the world's land area is degraded, causing global economic losses estimated at 43,000 billion USD. In Vietnam, the agricultural land area covers about 28 million hectares, with 1.14 million hectares severely degraded and 3 million hectares slightly degraded.

Mr. Dung noted that land distribution across ecological regions varies in terrain and crop structures, leading to diverse changes in soil quality. Agricultural land on sloping terrains is particularly at risk of rapid degradation, yet no major project has been undertaken to periodically and systematically investigate the quality of land for production.

Managing and improving soil quality requires comprehensive solutions, including enhancing management efficiency, applying new technology, and raising public awareness. Key strategies involve investing in irrigation systems, maintaining soil fertility, and adopting sustainable agricultural practices.

Responding with early action

Mr. Tran Quang Dai from the Department of Dyke Management and Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) highlighted that Vietnam has faced three severe episodes of drought and saltwater intrusion in recent years: 2015 - 2016, 2019 - 2020, and 2023 - 2024.

The Department has been monitoring and assessing drought indicators to implement early actions under the project "Strengthening capacity and expanding the scale of early action implementation, along with connecting to the social protection system," in collaboration with FAO.

The project has identified heavily affected areas, including Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang, with Ca Mau experiencing the most severe impacts. Here, there were 730 locations of subsidence and landslides totaling 19 km, 2,620 households facing water shortages, 3,000 hectares of agricultural land affected, and a risk of forest fires in 4,500 hectares. The project provided direct financial aid to affected households, with each household receiving between 2 to 6 million VND depending on family size.

"The cash assistance enables people to proactively respond to drought and saltwater intrusion, while promoting awareness about water conservation. Feedback after distribution indicates that most households used the funds to purchase food, drinking water, and essential items, thereby sustaining basic livelihoods during challenging times," Mr. Dai emphasized as one of the crucial response strategies.

However, the implementation encountered challenges such as inadequate coordination among stakeholders and the necessity to enhance communication and collaboration among project units. Insights gained from this experience will inform future improvements, ensuring the efficacy and scalability of early actions to mitigate risks and minimize the adverse impacts of natural disasters.

FAO contributes to organizing national consultations and developing projects to implement the UNCCD Convention

In June 1992, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was introduced at the Summit on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

To promote best practices in Sustainable Land Management (SLM), the UNCCD Secretariat collaborates with the World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) to maintain a database where experts can share their best practices in technology and methodologies.

FAO contributes to this effort by promoting and supporting WOCAT with suitable methods and technologies, integrating WOCAT into its projects. In the Asia region, FAO further supports WOCAT by fostering partnerships, including its collaboration with the Center of Excellence in Soil Research in Asia (CESRA).

Furthermore, FAO launched the Drought Initiative in 2018. This initiative aims to transform drought management from reactive and crisis-driven approaches to proactive strategies that prioritize prevention and preparedness.