The ESAR project, with a budget of more than VND 2 billion funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark and implemented by World Vision International in Viet Nam, will help put sustainable agroforestry and climate change adaptation strategies into practice in the area.
Quảng Ngãi Province, located in central Viet Nam, is severely affected by climate change, with extreme weather events such as storms, floods, droughts and landslides. Traditional farming practices, especially slash-and-burn agriculture, have worsened environmental degradation, causing deforestation, soil erosion and declining agricultural productivity. Over the past decade, Quảng Ngãi has lost more than 3,000 hectares of forest, which has had a strong impact on ethnic minority communities who depend on agriculture and forestry for their livelihoods.
The launch workshop of the project "Sustainable Agroforestry Model to Strengthen Climate Change Resilience in Quảng Ngãi Province" (ESAR).
Against this backdrop, the project "Sustainable Agroforestry Model to Strengthen Climate Change Resilience in Quảng Ngãi Province", also known as ESAR, will promote sustainable agroforestry models and build community capacity so that people can better adapt to climate change. Specifically, the project focuses on training local government officials, mass organisations and farmers in sustainable agroforestry techniques and climate change response strategies. Community groups will also be set up to promote knowledge exchange and support sustainable agricultural practices. These interventions are also in line with the Danish Government's development cooperation strategy for 2021–2025, which focuses on strengthening climate resilience and sustainable development in vulnerable areas.
Dr. Ngô Thọ Hùng, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Programme Specialist at World Vision International in Viet Nam, said: "World Vision International in Viet Nam is currently implementing Area Programmes in four districts of Quảng Ngãi, namely Minh Long, Trà Bồng, Sơn Hà and Ba Tơ, to help improve child well-being in these localities. Through this dedicated ESAR project, we aim to restore and protect landscapes, strengthen climate change resilience and ensure sustainable natural resources for future generations."
Specifically, the project will be piloted in Ba Tô Commune of Ba Tơ District, Long Hiệp Commune of Minh Long District, Sơn Giang Commune of Sơn Hà District and Sơn Trà Commune of Trà Bồng District. A total of 120 farming households in these four project communes will receive support to plant native tree species, helping to improve forest land and create livelihoods for farmers.
Mr Lữ Đình Tích, Vice Chair of Ba Tơ District People's Committee, said: "World Vision International in Viet Nam has been implementing effective models in Quảng Ngãi Province. The ESAR project, to be implemented in the coming period, will help improve community livelihoods while contributing to reforesting bare land and denuded hills in the four districts. On behalf of the local authorities, I highly appreciate the organisation's efforts to mobilise additional resources. We are committed to working together to achieve the best results."