Traditional ecological knowledge is under threat in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta

Rural communities in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta are losing traditional ecological knowledge due to climate change, agricultural modernisation, and migration, which are reshaping local livelihoods.

Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is a dynamic body of knowledge that develops through experimentation, learning, and interaction with environments, playing a crucial role in supporting resource-based livelihoods of rural communities.

TEK shapes ways of life, norms, values, and the ‘living with floods’ cultures of rural communities.

Local narratives of adaptation demonstrate how TEK has evolved through communities' interactions with water environments and their everyday livelihoods, with examples like fish trap making illustrating this process.

Author's summary: Climate change threatens traditional ecological knowledge in the Mekong Delta.

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East Asia Forum East Asia Forum — 2025-10-18

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