Critical Wetland Loss in the Mekong Delta Threatens Biodiversity and Millions of Livelihoods
Recent Developments
012024 DSI event impacted over 40,000 ha of land and 200,000 households with water shortages (mid-March 2024)
02Mekong countries lost 991,801 ha of tree cover in 2024, including 220,000 ha primary forest, with over 30% in protected areas
03Annual land erosion doubled compared to five years ago, reaching 600-800 ha/year
Interventions
- Local dike reinforcement and reforestation efforts in erosion hotspots like Tra Vinh and Thanh Long Islet, though outpaced by losses
- Calls for comprehensive plans to prevent erosion and subsidence by Can Tho University's Climate Change Research Institute
What Works
- Alternative housing designs reducing sand use for elevation to lessen riverbank pressure
How to Help
- Support IUCN and Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative for wetland conservation
- Donate to organizations addressing Mekong sediment and erosion issues
Make an Impact
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Verified Organizations
Organizations Helping(13)
In the Colombian Amazon, Conservation International implements climate adaptation programs for Indigenous communities, including early warning systems for droughts and floods, restoration of degraded areas to enhance water regulation, and capacity building for sustainable water management to address the transition from drought to flooding and hypertropical risks.
Investigates and publicizes mangrove forest loss in the Mekong Delta caused by upstream dams, sand mining, erosion (2.3 sq km coastline/year), and sea level rise; raises awareness on human-induced threats to advocate for policy changes and sustainable practices to halt wetland degradation.
WWF tackles Mekong Delta wetland loss through integrated conservation and sustainable development programmes: they map and monitor wetlands and freshwater biodiversity, promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture practices, pilot habitat restoration and mangrove reforestation to reduce coastal erosion and saltwater intrusion, and engage policy advocacy on hydropower planning and sediment management. WWF combines field projects with community-based livelihood alternatives (e.g., sustainable aquaculture, agroforestry), capacity building for local resource management, and regional policy work to influence transboundary river governance and dam planning that affect sediment flows to the Delta.
Conducts research on riverbank erosion, coastal erosion, land subsidence, and sediment loss due to upstream dams in the Mekong Delta; provides data on annual land loss (600-800 ha), identifies over 1,000 erosion hotspots, and proposes long-term solutions like sustainable housing designs to reduce riverbank pressure and conserve sand resources.
