Wetlands provide rich environments for wildlife as well as agriculture. This frequently results in a conflict between wetland conservation and agricultural development. This, in turn, means that research into the interplay between development decision making, agricultural productivity and ecological sustainability in wetlands is crucial. This study from Vietnam has looked into just such a situation. It investigates the impact of proposed changes to the dyke system of the country's Mekong Delta. These changes are designed to benefit the area's wildlife, especially birds, but they will also affect farmers' rice crops.