The Hoi An World Heritage site in Vietnam has faced increasing coastal erosion as a result of both natural and anthropogenic causes since the 2010s. Main drivers are the construction of hydropower dams on the Vu Gia and Thu Bon Rivers, illegal sand mining in the South China Sea, and sea level rise along the Central Coast Vietnam. Coastal erosion affects the tourism attraction of this area. A challenge for both the national government and the local authorities is understanding the nature of the contemporary coastal erosion; this includes the beach erosion and tourism relationship. This study deals with the damage valuation of the beach erosion in relation to the tourism revenue based on the hedonic pricing method. Cua Dai beach of Hoi An is structured into 23 beach sectors along the shore, each of which shows a relative homogeny in physical characteristics, anthropogenic activities, and socioeconomics. The beach value is function of morphological variables such as beach width and distance to the city center, and tourism variables such as tourist area, coastal businesses, the number of hotels, and the number of hotel rooms. The two-stage least squares (2SLS) of the custom-log model is the most accurate approach. The total projected revenue losses are more than an estimated 29 million US dollars by 2040. The present values of the total annual revenue losses in 2020, 2030, and 2040 are about 29.6, 21.4, and 14 million US dollars, respectively, at an interest rate of 5%. The results suggest mitigation strategies and policy recommendations. The proposal includes improving the adaptation capacity to coastal erosion using innovative, smart, and wise solutions. Beach nourishment and coastal defense structures can be sustainable management tools combating coastal erosion only if the multicausal coastal processes are properly considered and a detailed cost-benefit analysis is performed.

Ecosystem-based approach for planning research and capacity development for integrated coastal zone management in Southeast AsiaCoastal ecosystems contribute significantly to socio-economic development in the Southeast Asia Region. The emerging question is how to achieve sustainable development through innovative thinking, smart planning and better insights derived from an ecosystem-based approach (EbA). Based on experience gained while implementing the Sustainable Management and Governance of Coastal Ecosystems (ENGAGE) project funded by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), we contribute to addressing this question by proposing an emerging EbA as a complementary concept for implementing Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). A strong emphasis on strengthening the capacity of development actors and local communities remains pertinent in formulating this eco-centric policy for resource governance. This synthesis is described in three sections presenting an overview of EbA and ICZM in selected countries in the region. The first section reflects the review of coastal management frameworks and institutions, with a focus on policy strengths and gaps in the integration of EbA, particularly in the context of climate change adaptation. The second section explains different procedures adopted or proposed in the region for sustainable development of coastal ecosystems. The third section demonstrates how regional-scale initiatives like ENGAGE can facilitate the exchange of data, information, and knowledge, and stimulate cooperation for realizing the 2030 Agenda for Transformation, and the coastal zone-related SDGs and targets.

Vietnam was ranked 6th among countries deemed vulnerable to climate change based on

In near-shores of Vietnam, there are increasing spatial conflicts among different fishing gear operators as a result of declining and overfishing of small-scale fisheries recently. A challenge facing both small fishers and local governments is identifying more appropriate marine resource governance and public policies to deal with conflicts in the interests of short-term economic feasibility as well as long-term sustainability. This study presents perceived spatial conflicts and priorities in the near-shore seascape of Hoai Nhon district (Binh Dinh, Vietnam). Participatory GIS and questionnaires for local fishers were used to collect data on fishery resources, spatial seascape, spatial conflicts and priorities. Likert scale's weighted mean (wMean), and consensus measure (CnS) were applied to rank spatial conflicts and priorities. The results show that, conflicts among fishing gear operators were ranked at the high level, and no conflict was really serious. The highest conflicts were between trawl operator and others, particularly with baby lobster trap in rocky-reefs. Trawl operations were ranked the lowest priority because of its serious negative impact on fishery resources and other fishing gears. Sustainable fishery management for study area requires the comparative analyses about spatial conflicts before making implementation. A marine spatial planning (MSP) or an integrated spatial planning (ISP) at local scale is considered essential for the study area by focusing on the result of ranking priority of fishing gear operators over each small spatial marine area.