Water protection area
The planned water supply system of Hoa Bac depends on surface water. The water shed that produces the water for the water supply system is mountainous and mainly covered by natural forest. However, driven by the currently very good world marked price for Robusta coffee, local farmers continue to cut down forest to grow more coffee. Decreasing forest coverage and higher use of fertilizers and pesticides in the river basin may threaten the water supply of Hoa Bac in the long term.
Establishing a water protection area where agriculture practice is regulated and the extension of cultivation areas is limited is therefore a high priority for integrated water resources management in Hoa Bac. A discussion process with the responsible authorities has already been initiated. The objective is to develop a solution that guarantees the safety of the water supply for Hoa Bac while maintaining a sound living basis for the local farmers.
Watershed with young coffee plantations in Hoa Bac
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