For a number of years now, one of the concerns confronting the Mekong Region of Vietnam is mismanagement of land use and natural resources, often associated with inappropriate agricultural management practices and disparity of land quality with land use. Restoration of ecological values and formulation of long-term land use options had therefore been a major concern.

Native vegetation being replaced by shrimp farms

To address land use management issues therefore, interventions must be formulated based on land suitability and socioeconomic analyses to secure the rural livelihoods and restore the native ecosystems. This could be realized if the awareness of both concerned institutions and farmers on land use and land use management can be improved through agricultural extension and better rural credit services. (RCDikitanan, RDD)