CCOP-VIETADAPT-SEADPRI Workshop on
“Geoscience supporting risk management, water and food security”
30th of October 2016, The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Bangkok, Thailand
Organized by GTK, SEADPRI & CCOP
The CCOP-VIETADAPT-SEADPRI Workshop on “Geoscience supporting risk management, water and food security” was held on 30th of October 2016, at the Berkeley Hotel Pratunam, Bangkok, Thailand, in conjunction with the 50th CCOP Annual Session. The half-day afternoon workshop aims to presents the results of some ongoing projects that have assessed such risksas the anthropogenic impact on natural resources (i.e. water) and agriculture (i.e. soils) from that of climate change. The applied modelling and assessments and methodologies are explained in the presentations – with the aim to trigger constructive discussions. The goal of the workshop is to identify possibilities for geosciences to support South and South-East Asian societies in safeguarding water and food resources.
The workshop was jointly organized by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), the Southeast Asia Disaster Prevention Initiative of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (SEADPRI-UKM), the Vietnamese Sub-Institute of Hydro-Meteorology and Climate Change (SIHYMECC), the Vietnamese Centre for Water Resources Warning and Forecasting (CEWAFO), Asian Network on Climate Science and Technology (ANCST) and the CCOPTechnical Secretariat. A total of 26 participants representing CCOP member countries of China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, CCOP cooperating country of the Netherlands and CCOP TS attended the workshop.
The workshop programme started with an Introductory Remarks by Dr Schmidt-Thome Philipp (GTK) and Official Opening by the CCOP TS Director, Dr Adichat Surinkum, followed by seven paper presentations and discussion sessions. The presentations were made under three main topics:
Topic 1) Geoscience and food security;
- Enhancing geoscientific applications to secure food production by Dr Schmidt-Thome Philipp (GTK)
- Introduction to climate science research network – Asian Network on Climate Science and Technology (ANCST) by Dato’ Yunus Abd Razak & Lim C.S (SEADPRI)
Topic 2) Vulnerability analyses for water supply;
- Vulnerability assessment related to natural hazards and adaptation measures for Hau Loc District (Vietnam) by Nguyen Thai Son (SIHYMECC)
- The possibilities for using managed aquifer recharge by Jaana Jarva (GTK)
Topic 3) Climate change adaptation for water resources and disaster risk management;
- Impacts of climate change on the groundwater water resources in Hau Loc and Tan Tanh districts (Vietnam) by Dr Nguyen Thi Ha (CEWAFO)
- Climate-induced disaster risk resilience by Dr Fashareena Mohamad & Lim C.S (SEADPRI)
- Prioritization of flood risk resilience investments-coping with uncertainty and cooperating with natures by Kees Bons (Deltares)
The workshop successfully highlight issues that land and socio-economic development plus population increase and climate change pose emerging challenges to secure food production and safeguarding of water resources. What next? is summarized in the discussions as listed below:
- GTK: Offers to work together with CCOP member countries on the subject
- Deltares: Building with nature-use natural elements
- Thailand: Human resources development crucial
- Issue of project funding if the project were to continue
- Publication of workshop material in listed journal
