Agriculture and Environment Magazine hosts seminar to promote sustainable water use and transboundary water protection

Friday, 10/7/2026, 16:53 (GMT+7)

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On July 10, the Agriculture and Environment Magazine, in coordination with the Lai Chau Department of Agriculture and Environment, held a seminar titled "Communication and public awareness on sustainable use of water resources and transboundary water environment protection" in Tan Phong ward, Lai Chau province.

The event attracted more than 100 participants, including representatives of agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, scientists, water resources experts, officials from the Lai Chau Department of Agriculture and Environment, and representatives of organizations and businesses from northern mountainous provinces.

Dr. Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief of the Agriculture and Environment Magazine, highlighted the magazine's commitment, as the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment's scientific publication, to promoting communication on water resources, environmental protection and sustainable development as a core priority

The seminar featured presentations on the legal framework for water resources management, water security and water environment protection, as well as the application of science and technology to the management, development, use and protection of water resources.

Throughout the event, delegates and experts focused on three key issues: the current status of and challenges facing national water resources, particularly in the northern mountainous region; technological and policy solutions to promote circular and water-efficient resource management, together with international cooperation mechanisms and implementation of the 2023 Law on Water Resources to protect national interests in shared water resources; and innovative communication strategies, especially the use of digital technologies and multimedia platforms to improve outreach to ethnic minority communities in remote, mountainous and border areas.

Photos from the event:

Dr. Dao Xuan Hung, Editor-in-Chief of the Agriculture and Environment Magazine, chaired the workshop and said many water resource challenges stem not only from natural conditions but also from human awareness and behavior. He stressed that communication should serve as a bridge between policy and practice, government agencies and the public, and scientists and local communities, helping foster a culture of water conservation, protect the water environment, and reinforce the responsibility of organizations and individuals for protecting water resources

The workshop brought together government officials, scientists, water resources specialists, environmental experts and communication professionals, providing a platform to exchange practical experience and discuss emerging challenges

Delegates shared experiences and discussed solutions to enhance communication efforts in support of effective implementation of the 2023 Law on Water Resources, sustainable use of water resources and transboundary water environment protection

Vu Xuan Tinh, Head of the Irrigation and Water Resources Sub-Department under the Lai Chau Department of Agriculture and Environment, said Lai Chau Province has identified the development of a green, circular and sustainable economy as a long-term goal, with water resources at the center of that strategy

Tran Thi Thanh Tam, Deputy Head of the Administration and General Affairs Division at the Center for Water Resources Information, Economics and Monitoring under the Department of Water Resources Management, said water resources remain economically undervalued because they are often regarded as a free natural resource. She noted that this perception has contributed to wasteful water use and limited public awareness of water conservation

Nguyen Tien Quang, a lecturer at the Faculty of Hydrometeorology, Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, said transboundary water resources are of strategic importance. He emphasized that digital transformation is essential to improving forecasting, early warning and operational management, paving the way for smart, transparent and sustainable water governance.

Tran Bao Chung, Head of the Engineering Technology Division at the Institute of Water Resources Science, said protecting transboundary water resources requires three key elements: data sharing, risk communication and science-based decision-making

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to exchange practical experience, examine challenges and propose measures to strengthen communication efforts in support of the 2023 Law on Water Resources, sustainable use of water resources and transboundary water environment protection

Van Thi Hang, of the Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology, Environment and Marine Sciences, presented issues related to the protection, development and use of transboundary and domestic river water resources

Vi Van Chung, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Lai Chau Water Supply Joint Stock Company, said that as a water utility operating in a mountainous province, the company relies primarily on rivers and streams for its water supply. He noted that climate change, fluctuations in water quantity and quality, and socio-economic development require businesses to shift from a mindset of "extracting water for production" to one of "managing water resources for sustainable development"

During the discussion session, delegates explored ways to improve public awareness of sustainable use of water resources and transboundary water environment protection. Dr. Dao Xuan Hung said the recommendations and discussions from the workshop would provide an important basis for improving the effectiveness of communication efforts, strengthening state management of water resources, safeguarding national water security and supporting sustainable development

Delegates posed for a group photo at the workshop on "Communication and public awareness on sustainable use of water resources and transboundary water environment protection."