Coastal erosion and flooding coastal lowlands, estuaries ... are the challenges of climatic changes that Baria-Vungtau will face. This is a warning of the scientists at the Center for Social Development and Regional Environment under the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Association.

WARNING FROM THE SCIENTISTS

According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Hoe, a researcher of the Center for Social Development and Regional Environment, Vietnam is one of the countries severely affected by climatic changes, in which Baria-Vungtau is the area that is subjected to the most impact. Sea level rising and erosion will be a disaster for the coastal areas. According to an analysis of environmental scientists, by 2050, sea level will raise an extra of 33cm. Meanwhile, the width of sandy beach eroded will be 330m – 3.300m, which means that a large part of Eastern coastal lowland strip of the province - where the high concentration of tourism infrastructures, farming and processing aquatic products, the residence of ten thousands of households will be destroyed by waves. The situation will be more dangerous if the sea level rising 1 meter in accordance with the prediction of British scientists. If that happens, the lowlands along Thi Vai River, where the concentration of the provincial industrial parks will be threatened seriously by a phenomenon of geological drop.

The scientists of the Center for Social Development and Regional Environment brought out the warning: The success in poverty-alleviation field of Baria-Vungtau may have been decreased by climatic changes, even be eliminated. Moreover, emigration and resettlement for ten thousands of households is a big challenge not only for land funds becoming limited and large expenses but the emigration also disorders the livelihoods of about 50% of the provincial population residing in coastal areas, many of them become poor again. If having no action promptly, to 2050, coral reefs will be destroyed on the global scale due to climatic changes. That would be a disaster, because if had no coral the aquatic product resources - the strong position of the province and also means of existence of ten thousands of people living in Baria-Vungtau will be in a serious crisis.

EROSION HAPPENED COMPLICATEDLY

According to statistics of the Department of Science and Technology, in recent years the phenomenon of erosion in the province took place rapidly. The areas from Nghinh Phong Cape (Vungtau City) to Binh Chau Commune (Xuyen Moc District) have had six coastal areas, estuaries which were strongly eroded and raised the level including: Thuy Van beach, Paradise, Cua Lap estuary, Loc An estuary, Ho Tram and Binh Chau. “During recent 13 years, the phenomenon of erosion of the coast at Loc An has made a disappearance of the whole sand bar over 10m height, 50m in width and most southern sand bank of Loc An” – Dr. Truong Thanh Cong, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, said.

The area of Trai Nhai which is located in the estuary of Cua Lap River, Ward 12, Vungtau City is an evidence for the phenomenon of erosion. According to figures of the People' + char(39)+ N's Committee of Ward 12, from 2002 up to now, the sea has entered into the land approximately 100m in this area, especially in recent times this speed took place quickly. Previously, the state of erosion has still occurred, but the speed is very slow, only about 1-2m/year. “I have been here for 15 years, but there is no high surged tide and erosion as strongly as this year. In just four days, the sea has encroached upon the shore to 15m. Six months ago, northeast wind season encroached only 3-5m of coastal land” – Mrs. Nguyen Thi Anh Tuyet (No 134, Do Luong Street, Ward 12), that her house was “swallowed” by the sea in November 2009, said. Or Mr. Nguyen Chinh Tinh (No 132, Do Luong Street, Ward 12) said, as the sea encroached on land, so his house has been moved six times and most recently (in November 2009) his house was swept away by the erosion. “My family meets with difficulties because housing area now is in the sea, so we have to live in the house of other people. I have been living in here for 17 years, now I have just seen the speed of erosion so fast”- Mr. Nguyen Chinh Tinh groaned out. To enterprises trading in coastal tourist at Xuyen Moc District, in order to protect their assets, the enterprises have had to invest billions VND to build embankments against waves, preventing erosion. The spontaneous works have caused the situation of preventing in this place but causing erosion in somewhere else.

According to an analysis of environmental scientists, climatic variation is not only a challenge but also an opportunity when Baria-Vungtau finds the international financial support programs for protection and development its forest. In the short term, to limit these risks, the province has to plan the economic industries such as maritime transport, maritime services, marine tourism ... appropriately in order to exploit the coastal land effectively and strongly.