Relationship between poverty and Relationship between poverty and environment issues in Tam giang –environment issues in Tam giang –

TT Hue provinceTT Hue province Lam Thi Thu SuuLam Thi Thu Suu

Centre of Social Sciences and Humanity Centre of Social Sciences and Humanity (CSSH)(CSSH)

Hue College of Science Hue College of Science Supported by RCSD Supported by RCSD

Thua Thien Hue mapThua Thien Hue map

ObjectivesObjectives

To investigate the actual relationship between To investigate the actual relationship between poverty and environment issues in Tam poverty and environment issues in Tam Giang lagoon Giang lagoon

To map out the practical measures to improve To map out the practical measures to improve livelihood and reduce povertylivelihood and reduce poverty

Methodology Methodology

Sustainable Livelihood Analysis, to Sustainable Livelihood Analysis, to understand livelihood and poverty as well understand livelihood and poverty as well as the interrelateness of the factors as the interrelateness of the factors

PRA, CBCRM : PRA, CBCRM :

- Put people in the centre Put people in the centre

Livelihood activities Livelihood activities

Natural fishing and shrimp farming Natural fishing and shrimp farming

Assets to sustain fishing Assets to sustain fishing

Credit: Banks, Women’s Union, rich Credit: Banks, Women’s Union, rich individuals, unofficial saving practice (saving individuals, unofficial saving practice (saving game)game)

Social connection within community Social connection within community (neighbors, women in market..)(neighbors, women in market..)

Human resource : Human resource : - experience in fishing,experience in fishing,- bad health (gynecological inflammation, bad health (gynecological inflammation,

worm, intestine)worm, intestine)

Natural assetNatural asset

(OECD 2005) Natural stock from which (OECD 2005) Natural stock from which resource flows useful for livelihood resource flows useful for livelihood

Vinh Ha: 6.300 ha (half land, half water Vinh Ha: 6.300 ha (half land, half water ground)ground)

many fish and shrimp move in and down to many fish and shrimp move in and down to the lagoon the lagoon

Sediment, sand, mud, vegetation cover for Sediment, sand, mud, vegetation cover for development of aquatic habitatsdevelopment of aquatic habitats

>100 species found in VHa, >100 species found in VHa,

Shrimp farmingShrimp farming

Big programme, Early 90s : 150.000 ton for Big programme, Early 90s : 150.000 ton for 10 year export worth 1.5 billion USD10 year export worth 1.5 billion USD

Many ponds constructed down in the Many ponds constructed down in the lagoon, rice fields converted into pondslagoon, rice fields converted into ponds

Borrow loan from bank for shrimp, rich Borrow loan from bank for shrimp, rich family selling seedling, buying product family selling seedling, buying product shrimps, shrimps,

Be provided with technical trainingBe provided with technical trainingdisease, failure – dilemma? disease, failure – dilemma?

Shrimp ponds Shrimp ponds

Environmental problemsEnvironmental problems Natural resource degrading seriously Natural resource degrading seriously ““before 1975 catch fish by hands because they swim under before 1975 catch fish by hands because they swim under

legs and around boats” now 1-2 kg/night/family”legs and around boats” now 1-2 kg/night/family”Pollution – also a cause of resource degradationPollution – also a cause of resource degradationDecrease of bio – diversity (species disappear) because no Decrease of bio – diversity (species disappear) because no

habitats due to pond and dike construction...habitats due to pond and dike construction...Climate change : too many floods and typhoon happening Climate change : too many floods and typhoon happening

in a year with serious impacts (floods cause fresh water in a year with serious impacts (floods cause fresh water in the lagoon, no marine fish migrate in, in the lagoon, no marine fish migrate in,

Poverty Poverty

World bank’s measurement and definition World bank’s measurement and definition

VN Gov’s measurement : 200.000 – 280.000 VND/month/ VN Gov’s measurement : 200.000 – 280.000 VND/month/ person,person,

ADB (2007): (General poor) not only income and ADB (2007): (General poor) not only income and expenditure expenditure

But also ability to get access to resource and service, level of But also ability to get access to resource and service, level of empowerment, participation of decision makingempowerment, participation of decision making

Vinh Ha’s measurement: no more than one fishing gear, no Vinh Ha’s measurement: no more than one fishing gear, no house on land, three dependent children, debt >10 million house on land, three dependent children, debt >10 million VNDVND

Poverty situation in Vinh HaPoverty situation in Vinh Ha =>701/2010 hh are poor:=>701/2010 hh are poor: Temporary house, or on boat Temporary house, or on boat No toilet, furniture, gas cooker, motorbike No toilet, furniture, gas cooker, motorbike Income : 20.000 VND = 1.3 USD Income : 20.000 VND = 1.3 USD Debt : 15-50 million VND Debt : 15-50 million VND No land No land No clean waterNo clean water Little education Little education Difficult to access to healthcare Difficult to access to healthcare

Poverty and environment link Poverty and environment link

Environmental problems are the main cause Environmental problems are the main cause of povertyof poverty

The poor tend to have less ability to deal The poor tend to have less ability to deal with pollution,with pollution,

They are less resistant to the problems They are less resistant to the problems caused by pollution such as health problem, caused by pollution such as health problem, resource degradationresource degradation

=> What do you think is the key to improve => What do you think is the key to improve their livelihood?their livelihood?

Empowerment ?Empowerment ? To have capability to To have capability to - manage resources in sustainable ways manage resources in sustainable ways

=>Better natural resource management is a key for =>Better natural resource management is a key for livelihood improvement and poverty reduction. livelihood improvement and poverty reduction.

In addition, when they have capability , they will be In addition, when they have capability , they will be able to able to

- deal with shock and stress in vulnerability context deal with shock and stress in vulnerability context

- get access to services to build livelihood- get access to services to build livelihood

Thank you Thank you

My work will continueMy work will continue