Under the severe impact of climate change, desertification has been occurred in many areas throughout Vietnam. It can be seen clearly in two provinces of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan. Therefore, the scientists and the State have paid particularly interests and proposed strategic forecast to cope with the current situation of desertification.
1. Climate change scenarios
According to the medium scenario (B2) on Climate Change of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, by the end of the 21st century, annual mean temperature may increase about 0.4oC in 2020, 0.90C in 2050 and 1.90C in 2100 in the South Central relative to the baseline period of 1980 – 1999.
- The rainfall may increase, relative to the period of 1980 – 1999, 0.7% (2020) 1.7% (2050) and 3.2% in 2100 respectively in the rainy season. Rainfall in the middle of the dry season in the South may decrease up to 10-15%.
- The average sea level rise around the coast of Vietnam may rise 0.12 cm (2020) to 30 cm (2050) and 75cm by 2100.
2. Forest cover
The situation of forest cover in Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan for high riskof desertification districts is as follows:
A. Districts facing high risk of desertification in Ninh Thuan province
Unit: ha
| District | Land area | Forest area | Đất không có rừng QH cho LN | Other land | Forest cover (%) | |||
| Natural forest | Plantation forest | |||||||
| Total | ≤ 3 years | |||||||
| Province | 336,000 | 147,536 | 139,657 | 7,879 | 598 | 76,864 | 111,600 | 43.7 |
| Ninh Hai | 57,122 | 15,140 | 12,221 | 2,919 | 359 | 16,676 | 25,306 | 25.9 |
| Ninh Phuoc | 90,802 | 22,096 | 19,094 | 3,002 | 107 | 30,038 | 38,668 | 24.2 |
Sources: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2006
B. Forest cover in districts facing high risk of desertification in Ninh Thuan province
Unit: ha
| District | Land area | Forest area | Đất không có rừng QH cho LN | Other land | Forest cover (%) | |||
| Natural forest | Plantation forest | |||||||
| Total | ≤ 3 years | |||||||
| Province | 783,55 | 319,353 | 291,688 | 27,665 | 8,854 | 86,091 | 377,811 | 39.6 |
| Bac Binh | 182,310 | 83,852 | 82,205 | 1,647 | 852 | 12,403 | 86,055 | 45,5 |
| Ham Thuan Bac | 131,803 | 52,792 | 50,064 | 2,728 | 1,019 | 16,978 | 62,032 | 39.3 |
| Tuy Phong | 53,491 | 7,055 | 4,318 | 2,738 | 2,169 | 1,976 | 44,460 | 9.1 |
Sources: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 2006
The statistics showed that there are only 25ha of forest covering 0.3% in the sandy coastal area in Ninh Thuan province. It is far below the threshold of ecological safety. So, with poor vegetation, destroying casuarina forests and expansion of shrimp farming are potential risks promoting desertification process. It is forecasted that by 2020 the salt water in the dry season will intrude 10-15km and 20-25km in 2050 into the mainland. It needs to have urgent solutions in order to protect and plant more new forests as well as watershed forests, coastal forests. If the forest cover will be over 60% of total area of the province, the desertification process will be limited.
3. Irrigation
The main task of water reservoir in Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan province is toreduce flood and serve irrigation and living in the dry season because the terrain in this area slopes to the sea. There are a number of water reservoirs in two provinces such as Tan Giang, Song Sat, Song Trau, Lanh Ra, Tra Van, Ra Ranh…Moreover, Ham Thuan – Dami Hydropower plant plays a great role in preventing and mitigating desertification in this area. Based on the natural terrain, climate and the current situation in two provinces of Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan, the possibility of desertification is quite high while the climate change causes serious effects to Vietnam nowadays.
LE MAI
Đăng ký: VietNam News