The CRxN project, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and implemented by WWF-Viet Nam since 2022, is focused on developing flood-adapted and environmentally friendly livelihoods, as well as restoring ecosystems and biodiversity in the upper Mekong Delta. Long An province and the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve were selected as key project sites, given their crucial role in safeguarding water resources and the ecological health of the entire downstream region.

Following his visit to Cat Tien National Park, Mr. Dermot O’Gorman visited the 3-Clean Straw Mushroom Cultivation Model at the household of Mr. Tran Thanh Tam. This is a circular livelihood model that utilizes rice straw left over from rice fields cultivated under the “One Must, Six Reductions” (1M6R) method. By strictly controlling environmental factors and eliminating all chemical inputs, the model not only protects the health of producers but also reduces agricultural waste and prevents environmental pollution. Through market linkages supported by the CRxN project, the straw mushrooms produced under this model have secured market access, enabling local families to develop their livelihoods in a sustainable manner.

The delegation also visited the home of Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Thuy, a member of the Vinh Chau A Commune Women’s Union and a beneficiary of the project’s revolving fund. With this support, Ms. Thuy and a group of local women have developed a water hyacinth weaving initiative—transforming an invasive plant species into valuable handicrafts. This model not only increases incomes for rural women, but also fosters community cohesion and raises environmental awareness by making use of available natural resources.

A highlight of the visit was the assessment of the lotus cultivation model—one of the region’s most prominent nature-based livelihood solutions, highly valued in the floodplains of the Mekong Delta. According to research conducted by WWF-Viet Nam in collaboration with Can Tho University, this model helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, replenish soil nutrients, and enhance biodiversity compared to conventional triple-crop rice farming. The model also makes a significant contribution to the Government’s One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice initiative.

After the field visit to the Mekong Delta, Mr. Dermot O’Gorman is scheduled to meet with leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the People’s Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM), and the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam to discuss and explore future opportunities for conservation collaboration.