The event was held as part of the National Action Programme to combat desertification in the 2006-2010 period, with a vision to 2020, which focuses on four priority regions including the central coastline; the northwestern Da River riverhead; the Long Xuyen quadrilateral zone and the Central Highlands.

The workshop discussed developing practical strategies to improve sustainable land management; step up international co-operation and information exchanges; and mobilise substantial financial resources to prevent and halt the impact of land degradation on the national economy.

Addressing the seminar, Deputy Head of the General Department of Forestry Nguyen Ba Ngai said that desertification in Vietnam is not concentrated in specific areas but it is widespread across the country. To complicate matters, climate change is causing increased droughts land and erratic water availability.

‘Vietnam is one of the countries in the Asia-Pacific that is implementing anti-desertification programs. However, in order to be more successful in its efforts, the country needs to boost financial resources and clearly specify the anti-desertification programmes and projects that need investment’, said Ms Camilla Nordheim-Larsen, GM-UNCCD program co-ordinator for the Asia-Pacific.