Impact of Climate Change and Natural Disasters on Livelihoods in Northern Mountainous Regions of Vietnam: A View from Dien Bien Province
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study examines impacts of climate change and natural disasters on livelihoods in Dien Bien province, located in Northern Mountainous Region of Vietnam. Based on meteorological data, household surveys, interviews, and focused group discussions conducted across four communes, the research finds that Dien Bien is experiencing more frequent and intense extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, landslides, and droughts. These changes are severely impacting agriculture-dependent ethnic minority communities, with over 60% of households reporting arable land and crop productivity losses of 40-65% in 2022 alone. Income losses are the most pronounced in remote areas, where 62% of households lost over half of their annual income. While social welfare and climate-smart agriculture programs exist, the coverage and adoption rates vary widely across communes. The findings highlight the disproportionate impacts on marginalized populations and the need for tailored, culturally-sensitive adaptation strategies. The study recommends promoting multipurpose tree planting, establishing community-based nurseries, diversifying livelihoods through small-scale family activities, and expanding inclusive financial mechanisms to enhance resilience. Findings from this study provide new insights into the complex vulnerabilities of ethnic minority communities in mountainous regions and offers targeted interventions to safeguard their livelihoods under accelerating climate change.
Keywords:
Climate resilience, Ethnic minority communities, Northern Mountainous Vietnam, Sustainable livelihood, Adaptation strategies.
References
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[18] UNDP-Climate Change, Growth and Human Development, Asia-Pacific Human Development Report, 2012.
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[20] Vietnam Nation Assembly, Decision No. 896/QD-TTg: Approving the National Strategy for Climate Change Until 2050, 2022 (in Vietnamese).
[21] Vietnam Nation Assembly, Decision No. 150/QD-TTg: Approving the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategies for the Period 2021-2030 with A Vision Toward 2050, 2022
(in Vietnamese).
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[29] N. Q. Tan, F. Ubukata, N. C. Dinh, Paradoxes in Community-based Tourism Initiatives: Insights From Two Case Studies in Central Vietnam, SN Social Sciences, Vol. 2, No. 71, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-022-00370-3.
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[34] R. Lacassinm, H. Maluski, P. H. Leloup, P. Tapponnier, C. Hinthong, K. Siribhakdi, S. Chuaviroj, A. Charoen, Tertiary Diachronic Extrusion and Deformation of Western Indochina: Structural and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar Evidence from NW Thailand, Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol 102, 1997, pp. 10013-10037, https://doi.org/10.1029/96JB03831.
[35] V. P. Lo, Online Teaching and Learning Challenges in A Mountainous and Remote Area of Vietnam, 17th International Conference of the Asia Association of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (AsiaCALL 2021), 2021, pp. 121-127.
[36] K. B. Sik, K. H. Soo, Estimation of the Flash Flood Severity Using Runoff Hydrograph and Flash Flood Index, Journal of Korea Water Resources Association, Vol. 41, pp. 185-196, https://doi.org/10.3741/JKWRA.2008.41.2.185.
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[40] H. N. Son, A. Kingsbury, Social Vulnerability, Climate Change, and Ethnic Minority Communities in the Northern Mountainous Region of Vietnam, The International Journal of Climate Change: Impacts and Responses, Vol. 16, No. 1, 2023, pp. 21-44, https://doi.org/10.18848/1835-7156/CGP/v16i01/21-44.
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[43] World Vision-Environmental Stewardship and Climate Action Handbook, 2022.