EWATEC-COAST: Technologies for Environmental and Water Protection of Coastal Regions in Vietnam

The project "EWATEC-COAST" (Technologies for environmental and water protection of coastal zones in Vietnam under climate change conditions) started in autumn, 2012. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as a part of the funding programme "CLIENT" and by the Vietnam National University of Ho-Chi-Minh City (VNU-HCMC). Study areas are the highly polluted inland water and estuary system of the Thi Vai river and the adjacent Can Gio mangrove forest. Both areas are located south-east of Ho-Chi-Minh City. In the past, various companies, which are mostly situated in industrial zones along the river, discharged wastewater without treatment into the river system. The Thi Vai river was therefore considered as ecologically dead. Most recently, the water quality of the river has been slightly improved because first control initiatives have been realized. A comprehensive strategy for the sustainable rehabilitation is still missing. EWATEC-COAST will significantly contribute to find ecologically and economically sound solutions for the rehabilitation of the affected water bodies, the fauna and the flora with focus on mangroves. Furthermore climate change impacts will be considered. Main task is the development and application of a model-based "management system" for sustainable water and environmental protection of the affected coastal zone. The system will serve for decision making. Components of the integrative system are meteorological data series for the past, present and future including climate change, and data on the quantity and quality of surface water and ground water systems, the mangrove ecosystem, aquatic organisms and coastal protection.