Environmental research

The project Developing a model in applying technologies to reduce vulnerabilities and to increase adaptive capacity in addressing natural disasters/extreme weather (flash flood and droughts) in Cam Tam Commune, Cam Thuy District, Thanh Hoa Province aims to strengthen the preservation and sustainable use of natural resources to reduce impacts of droughts and flash flood on agricultural production at Cam Tam Commune. Cam Tam Commune is a poor and typical commune of the midland mountainous area of Thanh Hoa in terms of topography, soil conditions, social custom, culture and agricultural practices. This project has been derived from the real need of the local community and being in line with the socio-economics objectives and programmes of Cam Tam Commune and Cam Thuy District respective People s Committees. Specific objectives of the project: 1) To promote the awareness and understanding of the local government authorities and inhabitants on the impacts of climate change on local sustainable development; 2) To build a model for applying scientific-technological advances so as to limit damages caused by droughts and flash floods through reinforced protection and sustainable use of water resources, land and agricultural biodiversity; Major activities: 1. Develop and implement an awareness-raising programme on the threats of climate change through community-level communication activities. 2. Design and test flash flood limiting model applying freuch drains forming 45o angles with contour lines to create vegetation (8 hectares). 3. Build a water reservoir dam; 4. Establish rainwater-harvesting model at household level to address shortage of water supply for domestic and production use. 5. Experiment rotating farming model using suitable droughts-toleranct varieties; Restore and develop 1-2 endemic drought-tolerant mountainous rice varieties that have been lost. 6. Monitor and distil lessons learnt from the models, research and make recommendations to the local government; Major outcomes: i. The awareness and understanding of related partners on the impacts of climate change and adaptation measures enhanced; ii. Model of protecting and using sustainably water resources (harvesting and storage of surface water and rainwater) successfully established, with 30 households provided with support to build (or improve) water-harvesting 50 m3 tank to supply water for domestic and agricultural production use. iii. The model of conserving and using land resources and biodiversity sustainably successfully established (with 20 ha of rice-planting land established on a model at Areas 1 and 2 of the commune with drought-resistant varieties and an appropriate rotating scheme to increase crop productivity and minimise risks and difficulties potentially caused by droughts, 1-2 endemic mountainous rice varieties restored and developed; 8hectares of flash-limiting model tested; 10-12 training courses and workshops organized with 500 participants;

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