Sand Dunes and Mangroves for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the Coastal Zone of Quang Nam Province, Vietnam

Abstract

Ecosystem-based measures to reduce the risk of coastal hazards and adapt to climate change have attracted increasing attention in science, policy, and planning. In the coastal zone of Quang Nam province in Central Vietnam, natural ecosystems such as coastal dunes and mangroves can serve as natural buffers against typhoons, storm surges, waves, and even small tsunamis and protect the shoreline from coastal erosion and sea-level rise. Apart from these protective ecosystem services, intact dune and mangrove ecosystems perform various other regulating services, such as carbon storage and sequestration and groundwater protection, as well as a variety of provisioning and cultural services. Moreover they support a high biological diversity, which forms the basis for secure livelihoods of coastal communities. However, important ecosystem functions and services have already been lost or diminished due to overexploitation and a lack of integrated coastal management approaches. In this chapter, we (1) provide an overview of the current distribution and status of dune and mangrove ecosystems in the coastal zone of Quang Nam province, (2) analyze the actual and potential ecosystem services of and threats to these ecosystems in selected study sites, (3) assess the awareness and preparedness of coastal communities to coastal hazards, and (4) discuss the potential for conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of coastal dunes and mangroves.