Rừng ngập mặn, Sinh kế và biển đổi khí hậu tại Hoành Bồ, Quảng Ninh

Abstract

Traditionally, local people in Vietnam have exploited natural resources in the coastal mangrove areas for many years and their livelihoods depend on the mangrove resources to a certain extent. The mangroves also play an important role in helping minimize the impacts of natural disasters. In recent years, rapid socio-economic development in the coastal areas has contributed to improving living standards of the population, including of poor people, but this development also causes major pressure on the coastal and marine environments and ecosystems. Resource management in the coastal regions has inadequacies that cause unnecessary losses of natural resources. The problem of potential conflicts between the interests of conservation and the development of coastal communities’ livelihoods has not been resolved satisfactorily, resulting in difficulties in management and conservation. In the context of climate change, which is leading to an increase in the intensity of natural disasters and sea level rise, good protection and manage- ment of mangrove forests is becoming an increasingly urgent problem in coastal areas. In recent years, community participation in the wise use, management and conservation of coastal resources has been given attention to by Government agencies and NGOs. To har- monize mangrove protection and sustainable utilization, solutions must be found that address the local reality including local people's livelihoods and living conditions. Stakeholders’ involvement in managing the mangroves also should be discussed. Therefore, in order to ana- lyze these relationships, and the role of mangrove ecosystems in sustaining local people’s livelihoods and adapting to climate change, research was conducted on the exploitation of mangrove resources in Hoanh Bo District in Quang Ninh Province. In this context, this research has been conducted to help understand: l The existing situation of mangrove forests and production processes and livelihoods within mangrove areas and their social, economic and environmental impacts; l The perception of local people on the role of mangrove ecosystems in sustaining local people’s livelihoods and supporting their capacity to adapt to climate change; l Constraints, challenges, root causes, and potential opportunities for promoting man- grove forest management that supports sustainable livelihoods that are resilient to cli- mate change; l Needs of local people to help them generate sustainable livelihoods through mangrove management, and potential solutions that could at the same time support them in adapting to the impacts of climate change. Based on these findings, recommendations for further activities for developing sustainable livelihoods, adapting to climate change and promoting natural resource management in the mangrove region have been developed.