© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. CLIMATE VULNERABILITY AND CAPACITY OF ETHNIC MINORITIES in the northern mountainous region of Vietnam

© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. Presentation Outline 1. Research overview 2. Key findings - Climate context - Analysis of vulnerability and adaptive capacity of EM - Underlying causes of vulnerability to climate change - Enabling environment for adaptation to CC - Coping strategies 3. Recommendations

© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. Overview Location: Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thanh Hoa and Yen Bai EM groups: Tay, Dao, H’Mong, Thai and Cao Lan (Yen Bai), Tay and Dao (Bac Kan), Thai (Thanh Hoa), Nung, Tay, Hoa, Dao, San Chi and H’Mong (Lang Son) Methodology and analytical framework: CVCA handbook

© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. Climate context: Climate science and local knowledge  Changing average temperature  Changing temperature extreme  Rainfall patterns and extremes: Later onset of summer rain, and more intense rain, contribute to DROUGHT and FLASH FLOODING  Tropical storms

© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. Vulnerability and adaptive capacity of EM  Restricted access to natural and agriculture resources  Existing vulnerability to natural disasters  Women’s work is often not recognized or valued  Limited access to appropriate government services  Existing social exclusion and ongoing limited access to markets

© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. Underlying causes of vulnerability to climate change  Lack of secure access to productive land: low quality with rocky and low-fertility soils, physical location (water source)  Limited local participation in planning and targeting of appropriate government services  Remoteness contribute to a lack of access to markets  Enduring reliance on traditional methods and some existing practices as barriers to adaptation  EM women and men are affected differently

© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. Enabling environment  National and local programmes policies and íntitutions  Vietnam government programmes - Kinh languages - Limited participation

© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. Coping strategies  In dry seasons, villagers asked to pump water from the river to the fields. However water was polluted  Sometimes they pay for hire a pump if available from village or for fuel to pump  financial burden  Villagers stored water in jars or pots  Villagers build cages to save animals with straw, stored food from the cold spells  Use of fertilizers and pesticides  Family members moving out for work  Unsustainable but absence of alternatives

© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. Adaptation potential  Existing commitment within community  Disaster response capacity at government level  Motivation to change and awareness of some damaging practices  Traditional knowledge and skills

© 2005, CARE USA. All rights reserved. Recommendations  Ensure gender is fully and effectively integrated  Promote climate resilient livelihood  Strengthen DRM, structures and capacities  Facilitate access to timely, accurate and useful climate information  Make resources available for implementation of national policies at local level  Promote integrated planning processes – across multiple level  Improve service provisions to ethnic minority communities