Vulnerability Assessment of Local People Living in and near Ramsar Site to Climate Variability and Change

A Stung Treng Ramsar (wetland) Site was established on 23 June 1999. It extends along 41 km of the Mekong River and is under the management of the General Department of Administration for Nature Conservation and Protection, Ministry of Environment (MoE). It comprises 21 villages within four communes of two districts, Thalaboriwat and Stung Treng. 

While some partial research on climate change impacts has been done in the Ramsar site, there is no comprehensive vulnerability assessment for the three zones of the site, and no adaptation plan for affected communities. The project will focus on addressing this gap, and help design adaptation activities in the context of a protected wetland. 

To assess vulnerability of those who live in and near the Ramsar site to climate variability and change and based on the assessment results, to propose adaptation options to minimize sensitivities and increase adaptive capacities so as to respond to climate change. 

Information and knowledge on vulnerability, Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) options and testing options for people in the Ramsar site produced.

Stung Treng Ramsar site, Stung Treng Province 

Livelihood vulnerability index (LVI)-IPCC framework will be employed for the vulnerability assessment. The framework is used to assess vulnerability through exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity by looking at natural disasters and climate variability/change for exposure; health, food and water for sensitivity; and socio-demographic profile, livelihood strategies and social networks for adaptive capacity. After the vulnerability assessment, the project team will identify the adaptation options , and proceed with testing of high priority activities.

• Collection of primary data through household survey in the target commune 
• Data processing, analyse and report writing
• Review literature on vulnerability assessment tools
• Community workshop to present assessment results and to identify and prioritize  adaptation options
• Testing adaptation options
• Capacity building workshop on admin and financial management in Stung Treng Province
• Capacity building workshop on climate change and vulnerability assessment 
• Capacity building workshop on data processing using SPSS in Stung Treng Province