The world's plains are under threat.

At the 2013 World Plains Dialogue conference, international experts warned that many of the Earth's large plains are threatened by climate change and a range of human activities.

The world's two largest river systems, the Mekong and the Mississippi, were the focus of the Delta Conference 2013, held in late May in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. There, experts raised concerns about the serious threat to the deltas. Dialogues and discussions aimed to find solutions to revitalize the rivers and bring sustainable development to the delta regions.

In Vietnam, the Mekong River basin covers an area of ​​approximately 71,000 km2, accounting for more than 8% of the total basin area. The Mekong Delta alone covers over 40,000 km2, representing 12% of the country's total natural area, encompassing 13 provinces and cities with 17 million inhabitants. This region contributes 27% of Vietnam's GDP annually, accounting for 90% of its rice exports and nearly 60% of its seafood exports. However, this fertile delta is becoming the most sensitive and vulnerable region.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Thai Lai warned: "The Mekong River has been ranked among the top 5 major river basins in the world with the most significantly reduced flow due to drought. Saltwater intrusion has now reached Tan Chau and Chau Doc in An Giang province. This is something that has never happened before."

According to climate change scenarios in Vietnam, by 2100 sea levels could rise by 1 meter, resulting in the loss of 40% of the Mekong Delta's area. These challenges are seriously affecting the region's ecosystem. Agricultural and fisheries production, the lives of millions of people in the Mekong Delta, as well as food security and the well-being of related countries, are also significantly impacted.

Given the transboundary nature of these challenges, Vietnam has enacted numerous policies on water security and climate change mitigation. "The government also advocates for strengthening regional and international cooperation, supporting the sharing of information and experiences, and close coordination with other countries and stakeholders to ensure the sustainable development of delta basins," Mr. Lai emphasized.

Similar to the Mekong, the Mississippi is also entering a critical phase. Representing the US Mission in Vietnam, the US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Le Thanh An, stated: "In the US, the Mississippi River delta is experiencing rapid erosion."

Mr. An explained that the sediments and nutrients that normally support a thriving delta ecosystem are now being blocked by the system of dams designed to control flooding. The American wetlands are also eroding at a rate equivalent to a football field every hour. The ecosystem, which plays a vital role in agriculture, storm protection, and flood control, is under serious threat.

If this ecosystem continues to be devastated, the support it provides to shipping lanes and dams will also be lost. "We are facing a thorny problem: how to balance utilizing all the resources of a river while maintaining its long-term stability," Mr. An emphasized.

According to R. King Milling, president of the American Wetlands Foundation, land loss in the Mississippi River Delta is occurring at the fastest rate on the planet. This is not a problem unique to any one country, and therefore, a common solution must be found quickly. Because if we lose the delta, all the economic benefits it provides to the upstream areas will also be lost.

Over the past 10 years, the American Wetlands Foundation has delved deeply into delta and coastal issues. Experts have studied how to adapt to climate change, more intense sea level rise, and larger storms over longer periods. They have also sought solutions to subsidence in the face of upstream dam construction and river channeling.

Mississippi River Delta. Photo: NASA

This American expert emphasized that creating a healthy future for the delta requires genuine compromise and the will to sustain it. All efforts must be directed towards addressing short-term impacts to prevent the collapse of the entire system and the permanent loss of natural, economic, and social assets.

Martien Beek, First Secretary for Water and Nature at the Dutch Embassy in Hanoi, commented that the two major river systems, the Mekong and Mississippi, offer the world a glimpse into the future. Efforts are needed to protect and maintain their sustainability.

According to this expert, the Netherlands has over 800 years of experience in water management and is ready to share it with other countries. One of the most important lessons learned is that society needs to create space for rivers and build (these spaces) using natural methods.

Representing the World Bank, Ms. A. Acharya urged governments to commit to international cooperation to address the problems facing the world's two largest deltas. She emphasized the useful lessons from the Netherlands and stressed the need for rapid technology transfer. Countries should identify applicable lessons to ensure sustainable development for these deltas. "This is a massive and complex undertaking, requiring significant funding. Therefore, the role of international donors must be strongly promoted to save these threatened deltas," Ms. A. Acharya stated.

International scientists also agree that governments play a crucial role in leading these projects with enormous impact. Each country needs to be determined to translate policies into action. Realistic and flexible models regarding water resources, sedimentation, saltwater intrusion, etc., are needed and should be quickly incorporated into master plans. Regarding funding, projects protecting the sustainable development of the delta require mechanisms to attract long-term, sustainable capital.

The most suitable scenario for the deltas is agricultural specialization, prioritizing specific areas to focus on flood control, regulating freshwater levels, and constructing canal and dike systems. "Agricultural activities in the deltas require a harmonious combination of exploitation with aquaculture, forest protection, and ecosystem maintenance," said expert Van De Groep.

According to VnExpress - VT