Wetland Restoration Revives Ecosystems and Strengthens Community Resilience

Vietnam is restoring large areas of wetlands in the Mekong Delta, boosting climate resilience, protecting biodiversity and creating safer, more sustainable livelihoods and tourism opportunities.

“Restoring wetlands is not just about nature, it is about securing the future of communities that depend on these ecosystems,” said Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, programme manager at WWF-Vietnam.

Efforts across provinces, including Đồng Tháp and Trà Vinh, focus on rehabilitating mangroves and floodplains that buffer storms, store carbon, and regulate water flows. The Mekong Delta contains about 250 significant wetlands, with 41 in the region, and current programmes aim to restore more than 5,800 hectares by 2029. By linking conservation with community-based tourism, the initiatives are helping residents develop guiding, hospitality and environmental stewardship roles, strengthening incomes while reinforcing long-term ecosystem protection.