Concept "ecosystem-based approach to climate change adaptation" is understood as promoting the conservation and restoration of ecological processes and habitats that build both ecosystem and community resilience to climate changes, by maintaining ecosystem services that protect and support livelihoods and infrastructure. Father more, "ecosystem-dependent activities" refers to community activities that depend on ecosystems and the services they provide.

The rapid integrated vulnerability and adaptation assessment (RIVAA) to climate change is an analysis tool based on the ecosystem and water resource focused vulnerability assessment methodology. The overall purpose of this study is to apply RIVAA for strengthening the resilience of Ben Tre province to the impacts of climate change, through ecosystem-based adaptation in order: i) to assess the vulnerability of ecosystems and to climate change, and to development-related activities, within three communes of Ben Tre?s coastal area; ii) to develop a set of prioritized integrated adaptation strategies at ecosystem and community level, that draw on ecological, social and institutional linkages; and iii) to identify potential adaptation linkages with Vietnam National Target Program to Respond to Climate change and the Climate change Action plans and Socio-economic Development Plan of Ben Tre province.