The NAFOS project, supported by AIT and APN, emphasizes the potential of Nature-based solutions in enhancing food security within the Lower Mekong Basin
On July 18-19 2024, the Water Engineering and Management (WEM) at the School of Engineering and Technology at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) successfully hosted the Final Workshop and Training Event for over 40 participants for the project entitled “Safeguarding the Regional Food Security under Climate Change Impacts via Mainstreaming Nature-based Solutions-centered Adaptation Strategies (NAFOS)”, financially and scientifically supported by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN). The project targets the mainstreamed adaptation strategies for climate change that are nature-based solution-infused to safeguard Lower Mekong River Basin’s food security. These objectives align with the various Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG1 (No Poverty), SDG2 (Zero Hunger), SDG6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG13 (Climate Action).
This event concludes the international collaboration between AIT, Nanyang Technological University, Institute of Technology of Cambodia, Kasetsart University – Chalermphrakiat Sakon Nakhon Province Campus, An Giang University, and Stockholm Environment Institute that has taken place in the past two years. During the event, the research team presented details on key findings of the project, facilitated in-depth discussion among participants, enhanced research capacity of more than 30 graduate students at AIT through comprehensive and hand-on exercises on the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) program, and implementation of a multi-criteria analysis framework.
On July 18, 2024, the event was opened with Opening Remarks from Dr. Mohana S. Shanmugam, Faculty Member and Chair of the Water Engineering and Management program, who praised the collaborative nature and implementation of project NAFOS, and expressed support for further cooperation between WEM, AIT, APN, and other partners.
Dr. Shanmugam commended the initiative for its success in advancing Nature-based solutions within the Lower Mekong River Basin, which contribute to the transformation of local and regional strategies, policies, and research. These insights and experiences are highly relevant to the mission of the Asian Institute of Technology, which aims to cultivate “highly qualified and committed professionals who will play a leading role in the sustainable development of the region and its integration into the global economy.”
The Principal Investigator of project NAFOS, Dr. Ho Huu Loc, Faculty Member of WEM program, delivered a summary of the project background, objectives and overall findings. The key messages were that the research team successfully identified the most suitable NBSs to support food security within the basin, built an applicable MCA framework, and that applying the most preferred NBSs can enhance food security-related ecosystem services, despite climate change.
This was followed by detailed presentations of key project findings, presented in turn by Mr. Fahad Ahmed, Ms. Sreejita Banerjee, and Mr. Hoang Minh “Thomas” Nguyen, PhD candidates from the WEM and Disaster Preparedness and Manaagement programs at AIT.
Dr. Ho Huu Loc’s summation of the project’s deliverables and outputs, presented during the first day’s morning session, closed the session.
The afternoon session was kickstarted by Mr. Hoang Minh “Thomas” Nguyen, a doctoral student of WEM, who led the training on applying the InVEST program to quantify ecosystem services. The research team welcomed more than 30 students from various programs at AIT, all enthusiastic about exploring new modeling tools and data resources.
On July 19 2024, Mr. Hoang Minh “Thomas” Nguyen led the training focused on the implementation and application of MCA framework to assess food security conditions in selected provinces in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
This was followed by the in-depth panel discussion, led by Dr. Ho Huu Loc and joined by representatives from all four countries of the Lower Mekong River Basin.
Dr. Boeut Sophea from the Institute of Technology of Cambodia reckoned that training that she undertook in the workshop is particularly valuable as “the production in agricultural land is low and not consistent. If we know the exact movement of the nutrients and soil, and select the appropriate crops that can adapt to climate change, the agriculture sector in Cambodia can be directly benefited from the increase in crop production.”
The participating delegations also presented the results of the InVEST and MCA training sessions.
This event marks the successful conclusion of the NAFOS project, which has effectively demonstrated that Nature-based solutions are viable and can be implemented across all nations in the Lower Mekong River Basin. These solutions aim to enhance and sustain food security while also addressing the requirements of the basin’s ecosystems.
