Public Awareness and Participation in Canal Environmental Protection: Case Studies in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

Raising public awareness and participation of the local communities in the environmental protection has become a major objective of sound development programs. In the framework of the canal environmental protection program of Ho Chi Minh City, we had developed 32 public awareness meetings for 14 districts with about 2,726 participants from year 2012 to 2015. The program had been organized in various forms such as training, brochure, leaflet, poster, propaganda gifts, face-to-face discussion, study visits, survey questionnaire. The results of the program can add substantial value to the canal environmental protection program of the city. The information gained through public comments can help identify key issues and solutions for the authorities as district and city levels. It was determined that most important outcomes from the public participation were educating the public, incorporating public values, assumptions and preferences into decision making process.

Public Participatory Role in Urban Flood Risk Management of Ho Chi Minh City - Vietnam: From Awareness to Action

“…Among the main causes of flooding the habit of many citizens to dump tons of garbage to the streets or water ways, which chokes the drain water outlets. Besides, land subsidence, sea level rising and heavy rain due to climate change contribute significantly to the already existing difficult situation [9].…”