Detail Abstract

Summary and outcomes of integrated flood and sediment managment project

Abstract

Climate change poses great threats from disastrous floods and drought to the world, of which Japan, Vietnam and Philippines are among the most affected countries. Human interventions such as deforestation, dam constructions, and expansion of irrigation system have magnified the impacts of climate change. The project aims at assessing the impacts of climate change and human interventions on reservoir sedimentation, flood inundation, agricultural practices, and river and coastal erosion in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon and Cagayan river basins. Then, we establish integrated flood and sediment management schemes for sustainable development. The ultimate goal of the proposed project is to transfer the projects results to the stakeholders and policy-decision makers to implement into the national laws. We also organize some training courses, seminars and workshops to train young researchers, stakeholders, policy makers, local communities and to expand our collaborative network with other ASIAN countries and global change programmes.</br> The detailed objectives of this proposed project are to assess climate change/climate variability and its impacts on the rainfall-runoff and sediment yield in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon and Cagayan river basins; to quantify the consequences of changing climate on floods, droughts, agriculture activities, and river and coastal erosion; then to propose appropriate countermeasures; to investigate, analyze, and evaluate reservoir sedimentation in the Vu Gia-Thu Bon (e.g., Song Tranh 2 dam) and Cagayan (e.g., Magat dam) river basins. Then, to develop an indicator for reservoir classification based on sedimentation rate and reservoir longevity; to propose potential technical solutions for removing accumulated sediment in reservoirs (a case study in Song Tranh 2, Vietnam, and Magat dam, Philippines); to develop an integrated flood and sediment management for sustainable development; and to establish an association where the results from cooperation among scientists, stakeholders, decision makers, local communities, and private sectors can be transferred to the central government in implementing “integrated river basin management”.