Background

This project consists of three sub-projects:

• Accelerating poverty elimination through sustainable resource management in coastal lands protected from salinity intrusion: a case study in Vietnam (2000-2003)
• Increasing water productivity by managing land-water interface: effective water control for solving conflicts among agriculture-fisheries-aquaculture in coastal zones, a case study in Vietnam (2003-2005)
• Managing water and land resources for sustainable livelihoods at the interface between fresh and saline water environments in Vietnam and Bangladesh (2004-2007).

The research questions

• What are the processes that govern the changes in environmental (soil, water and aquatic habitat), socio-economic conditions (migration, job opportunities, income and sources of income, access to and utilization of resources) and in resource base utilization brought about by the prevention of salinity intrusion to the coastal area?
• conflicts result from salinity protection among different stakeholders and what are the trade-offs among different resource users?
• What farm level technologies can be developed to accelerate the benefits and minimize the negative impact of salinity prevention measures to small farm holders?
• How best can the technologies and guidelines for resource management practices be evaluated and disseminated in areas being

Sub-project 2

• What land-water management strategies can be derived for solving conflicts among agriculture-fisheries-aquaculture and improving the livelihood of the poor in the coastal zones?
• Can a detailed investigation at the proposed study site and a multi-site synthesis of other case studies with similar conditions and problems be achieved during this study?

Sub-project 3

• How can we enhance our understanding of livelihood changes resulting from regional resource management and farm-level technological intervention?
• What are the impacts of agricultural and aqua cultural land and water uses on water quality, aquatic biodiversity, and inland fisheries?
• What ecologically friendly and socially acceptable techniques can be developed for rice and rice-aquaculture production systems for domains with different soil and water quality characteristics?
• What decision-support tools and an institutional framework can be developed for integrated multipurpose management of a dual fresh- and brackish-water regime to meet the needs of diverse water users, without an adverse impact on users and the environment outside?

Objective

The overall objective of this project is to carry out an integrated natural resource management (INRM) research for development programs to increase land and water productivity for improved food security and livelihoods, in a manner that is environmentally sustainable and socially acceptable to various resource users at two coastal sites in the Mekong River Delta (Vietnam) and Gangetic Delta (Bangladesh).

Methods

The following approaches were adopted for the three sub-projects: Examine specific NRM problems at appropriate scales. This was carried out through

• assessment of impact of salinity protection intervention completed with reports of data and knowledge from survey work on perception of change
• Quantification of effects of salinity protection interventions - using reports arising from analysis of time-series secondary data, monitoring data and interpretation of remote sensing data
• Research tools and methodologies for forecasting impact of salinity protection interventions were completed using new version of VRSAP (Vietnam River System and Plains) model. This model was applied in analyzing different options in the operation of existing sluices to control water salinity in the Ca Mau peninsula were water managers and provincial authorities have approached to manage the conflicting demands for water between rice farmers and shrimp farmers
• Farm level technologies -identified with a set of new technologies including the Leaf Color Chart (LCC) and new rice varieties
• Formulation and dissemination of guidelines for resource management strategies for coastal areas protected from salinity intrusion was completed by farmer participatory field testing of technologies, training of farmers and extension workers on improved rice cultural practices, meetings of resource users/stakeholders for tested option appraisal, workshop on regional strategies for resource management.
• Apply interdisciplinary approaches, taking into account biophysical, socioeconomic, and policy dimensions. This mainly involved an international workshop organized around the coastal- land interface where many presentations were made around conflict issues. The second part of the project focused in the compilation of the papers presented which was published as a peer reviewed book by CABI.
• Involve stakeholders at different levels of social organization. The project is still ongoing.

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