Integrating Ecosystem-based Approaches into Flood Risk Management for Adaptive and Sustainable Urban Development in Central Vietnam

Central Vietnam is experiencing rapid urbanization, particularly in small and medium-sized coastal cities. Concurrently, the region is grappling with increased precipitation and heavy rainfall due to climate change, combined with land use changes, leading to more frequent and intense flooding. In response, the FloodAdaptVN research project assesses flood risk reduction and adaptation measures, focusing on their impact reduction, cost-efficiency, and sustainability. The study area centers around the City of Huế and its hinterland in the Thua Thien Huế province. The primary objective of FloodAdaptVN is to mitigate current and future flood risks by implementing targeted ecosystem-based adaptation strategies within the flood risk management frameworks in Central Vietnam. Specific objectives include: 1) Gaining a better understanding and assessing drivers, spatial patterns (including hotspots), and dynamics of present-day and future flood risks (2030, 2050, 2100). 2) Investigating entry points and barriers for the implementation of disaster risk reduction (DRR), risk transfer (insurance), and adaptation solutions, with a strong focus on ecosystem-based approaches. 3) Developing a decision support tool for risk-informed spatial planning and prioritization among different DRR, risk transfer, and adaptation measures. 4) Fostering capacity development.