Living with change. Local knowledge, institutions, livelihoods and coastal resources in Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon system under context of institutional and global climate change

The major objectives of this research are two-fold, first it traces the history of natural resource management in Tam Giang Cau Hai lagoon. Second, it explores implications for policy and management of the couple social-ecological system in the coastal zone in Central Vietnam.;Using a mixed research methods focus on local ecological knowledge, livelihoods and institutional analysis, the research draws several broad conclusions. (1) Local people have developed substantial knowledge of local ecological systems through their livelihoods and adaptation process to social political contexts and natural environment. Local people's knowledge has been a critical capital of households' livelihoods. It has also strongly influenced local institutions. (2) Throughout history, the State and communities have worked together to manage the lagoon through a co-governance system which based on interactions between households and their natural environment. This system had been influenced by several nested institutions and households capabilities. (3) Doimoi (renovation) policies and climate change have strongly influenced local livelihoods and natural resources. Without the necessary capacity and knowledge, intensive aquaculturalists became more vulnerable to external factors such as market and climate change. Groups with appropriate ecological knowledge and supporting institutions adapted well to changes. (4) Current challenges of managing coastal resources in the region are due to the lack of local people participation, knowledge for sound decisions and livelihoods vulnerabilities. This research suggests that Central and Provincial Government of Vietnam should develop a knowledge and trust based adaptive governance system for resilience of social ecological system in the coastal region within context of interconnected uncertainties.