Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar on the inclusion of natural capitalin planning infrastructure development was held in Hanoi on February 7.

The event was co-held by the Institute of Strategy and Policy onNatural Resources and Environment of Vietnam (ISPONRE), the Hanns SeidelFoundation of Germany and the German Agency for International Cooperation(GIZ).

Participants discussed how to integrate natural capital in policy developmentin the most efficient and economical manners. They also stressed the need ofmechanisms to encourage the inclusion of natural capital in localities’long-term development.

ISPONRE Director Nguyen The Chinh said the event offered opportunitiesfor Vietnam to understand the significance of natural capital and its relationwith development activities, especially in infrastructure building.

On February 6, the ISPONRE and the GIZ held a conference to review aproject using official development aid (ODA) of the German government topromote ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to climate change in Vietnam.

Speaking at the event, the ISPONRE head said the three-year project hassuccessfully helped integrate EbA solutions in policies and set updemonstration models in Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces. The project’s outcomewill be an important foundation to build a more comprehensive cooperative programmeto help Vietnam respond to climate change.

Ivo Litzenberg from the GIZ said the project focused on improving knowledgeand sharing experiences on EbA activities through various training courses. Underthe project, EbA pilot models have been launched since 2016 in coastal areasvulnerable to moving sand and erosion in Quang Binh central province, whichcombined the planting of protection forest with developing sources oflivelihood such as cow raising, fish farming and vegetable growing.

Meanwhile, models in mountainous areas of Ha Tinh province piloted theplanting of indigenous trees along with those of high economic values such aslocal specialty orange and pineapple in combination with bee keeping.

Participants also discussed measures to raise public awareness aboutEbA, along with approaches and methodologies for national ecosystem assessmentand building of assessment index.-VNA