MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION – VIETNAM NATIONAL MEKONG COMMTTEE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

FINDINGS FROM WETLANDS CLASSIFICATION AND INVENTORY OF WETLANDS/AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

IN THE MEKONG BASIN VIETNAM

HO CHI MINH CITY, 2003

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MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION – VIETNAM NATIONAL MEKONG COMMTTEE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM

FINDINGS FROM WETLANDS CLASSIFICATION AND INVENTORY OF WETLANDS/AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

IN THE MEKONG BASIN VIETNAM

PHAM TRONG THINH

HO CHI MINH CITY, 2003

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION 13

1. WETLANDS IN THE MEKONG DELTA OF VIETNAM 14

1.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MEKONG DELTA 14

1.2 CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 14

1.3 HYDROLOGICAL CONDITION 15

1.3.1 Salt control works 15

1.3.2. Irrigation and drainage system 16

1.3.3 Flood control system 16

1.3.4 Water quality 16

1.4 THE PRINCIPAL SOIL TYPES 17

1.4.1 Acid sulfate soil 18

1.4.2 Saline soil 18

1.4.3 Alluvial soil group 18

1.4.4 Peat soil 19

1.5 LAND USE STATUS IN MEKONG DELTA 19

1.6 DOMINANT VEGETATION 20

1.6.1 Mangrove forest ecosystem 20

1.6.2 Melaleuca forest ecosystem 21

1.7 FAUNA 23

1.8. VALUES OF WETLANDS 25

1.8.1. Economic values 25

1.8.2 Ecological values and function 25

1.9. IMPORTANT WETLAND TYPES IN THE MEKONG DELTA 27

1.10 DISTURBANCES AND THREATS 28

2. WETLAND RESEARCH, INVENTORY AND MANAGEMENT 30

2.1. THE CONCEPT OF WETLANDS 30

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2.2. WETLAND INVENTORY 31

2.3 WETLAND CLASSIFICATION AND MAPPING 32

2.4 SATELLITE IMAGERY, LAND-USE GIS AND AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL FOR WETLANDS RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT 35

3. LAWS AND INSTITUTION FRAMWORK FOR WETLAND MANAGEMENT 36

3.1 RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS REFERRED TO WETLAND CONSERVATION IN THE MEKONG BASIN VIETNAM 36

3.2. NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF WETLANDS 38

3.3 NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTES 40

3.4. REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS 42

3.5. PROVINCIAL AND SITE LEVELS 46

3.6. NONE GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 46

4. IMPORTANT WETLAND SITES IN THE MEKONG DELTA 48

4.1. U MINH THUONG NATIONAL PARK 48

4.2 TRAM CHIM NATIONAL PARK 49

4.3 LANG SEN NATURE RESERVE 50

4.4 THANH PHU NATURE RESERVE 50

4.5 TRA SU NATURE RESERVE 51

4.6 TINH DOI FOREST FISH ENTERPRISE 52

4.7 HA TIEN GRASS PLAINS 52

4.8 LUNG NGOC HOANG NATURE RESERVE 53

4.9. VO DOI NATURE RESERVE 54

5. REVIEW OF EXISTING DOCUMENTS, PAPERS ON WETLANDS IN MEKONG BASIN OF VIETNAM 55

5.1. NATIONAL WETLAND CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS 56

5.2. PROTECTING VIETNAM'S COASTAL WETLANDS 56

5.3. FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INCEPTION STAGE OF THE "WETLANDS APPROACH" 57

5.4. LOWER MEKONG BASIN UNDP-GEF DRAFT PROJECT DOCUMENT 60

5.5 FIVE MILLION HECTARES REHABILITATION PROGRAM (5MHRP) 61

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5.6. SUMMARY OF LATEST DRAFT PAPER OF VIETNAM STRATEGY ON WETLAND MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 61

5.7. COASTAL WETLANDS PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT, SOUTHERN MEKONG DELTA 63

5.8. BIO-DIVERSITY ACTION PLAN OF VIETNAM (BAP) 63

5.9. HIGH VALUABLE WETLANDS IN VIETNAM 65

5.10. CONSERVATION OF IMPORTANT WETLANDS IN THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM 65

5.11 INVENTORY OF WETLANDS IN VIETNAM 65

5.12 CHARACTERISTICS OF WETLANDS IN THE MEKONG DELTA AND CURRENT LAND USE STATUS 66

5.13 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND WETLAND PROTECTION IN THE MEKONG DELTA 66

5.14 BRIEFING ON THE INLAND AND COASTAL FISHERY RESOURCES IN THE MEKONG DELTA OF VIETNAM 67

5.15. WETLAND CLASSIFYING AND MAPPING IN THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM 67

5.16 MAPPING OF WETLANDS IN THE MEKONG DELTA 67

5.17. THE INFORMATION SHEET ON RAMSAR WETLANDS FOR THE TRAM CHIM NATIONAL PARK 68

5.18 THE INVESTMENT PROJECT FOR MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF TRAM CHIM WETLAND CRANE NATIONAL PARK 68

5.19 THE INVESTMENT PROJECT FOR MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE THANH PHU ESTUARY RESERVE 68

5.20 THE INVESTMENT PROJECT FOR MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE LUNG NGOC HOANG WETLAND RESERVE 69

5.21. THE INVESTMENT PROJECT FOR REHABILITATION OF U MINH THUONG NATIONAL PARK 70

5.22. WETLAND CLASSIFICATION AND MAPPING OF VIETNAM 70

5.23. RESTORATION OF WETLANDS IN TRAM CHIM NATURE RESERVE 71

5.24 STATUS, BIODIVERSITY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE U MINH WETLANDS 72

5.25. THE DARWIN MELALEUCA WETLANDS PROJECT 72

5.26 MEASURES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE INLAND WETLAND AREA IN THE MEKONG DELTA 73

5.27. MULTI-TAXA BIOTIC INVENTORIES OF THREE UNPROTECTED FORESTED ECOSYSTEMS IN VIETNAM 75

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5.28. SETTING SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION FOR PLANNING WETLAND NATURE CONSERVATION IN VIETNAM 76

6. CONCLUSION AND FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES 77

TABLES

Table 1. Some data of Mekong Basin In Vietnam 13

Table 2. Land use status in the Mekong river delta, in 1998 19

Table 3. Land use planning of the Mekong delta by 2010 20

ANNEXES

Annex 1. Wetland Classification for Wetland Mapping of Vietnam at scale of 1/1.000.000

Annex 2. Important wetland types according to the criteria of EP of MRCS

Annex 3. Identifying what agency has information on and/or active in working with important wetland types

Annex 4. The Ramsar, biodiversity and conservation sites identified within the Mekong Basin, Vietnam

Annex 5. List of participants in the National Meeting on Inventory of Wetlands/Aquatic Ecosystems on 3rd March 2003, Ho Chi Minh City

Annex 6. List of peoples contacted FIGURES

Figure 1. Wetlands and People in the Mekong delta

Figure 2. Map of Wetlands in the Mekong delta, 2002 5 Figure 3. Variation of Mangrove area in the Mekong Delta since 1950-2002 20

Figure 4. Melaleuca swamp forest in the Mekong delta Vietnam 21

Figure 5. Values of Wetlands in the Delta 26

Figure 6. Threaten on wetlands in the delta 30

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We have met many people during the time to carry out our mission. They contributed to conservation and sustainable uses of wetland in the Mekong delta through their knowledge and experience. The names of many of these people appear in annex 5 and 6. Some papers and documents of them are reviewed in this report; we would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of them. Particularly, we would like to express our thanks to Mr. Hans Gutman, Mr. Chin Samouth, Mr. Meng Monyrak in MRCS; Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan (VNMC Secretary General), Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ky Nam (VNMC), Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh ( Director of Sub-FIPI) for their valuable comment and support.

Our mission was fully funded by Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS) in Phnom Penh and we would also like to extend our sincere gratitude for MRSC support.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Environment Program has a mission to promote co-operation and collaboration among the member states in the use, conservation, management and maintenance of the Mekong River Basin’s environmental assets and ecological balance.

The purpose of Component A2 of the Environment Program - People and Aquatic Ecosystems is to provide timely information on trends and changes in the dynamics of aquatic habitats to prevent or minimize harmful effects particularly on the rural poor who are highly dependant on the Basin’s aquatic productivity.

A large proportion of the Lower Mekong Basin consists of permanent wetlands, lakes and annually inundated areas, comprising several million hectares. They play a vital role in the lives of the rural communities. The wetland generates important products such as food, firewood, medicines, building materials and water. They also perform valuable functions such as food control, nutrient retention, and recharge of ground water, water purification and water transport.

In addition the wetlands have valuable ecosystem attributes such as unique biological diversity and cultural heritage. Rural, low-income people have used and depended on these wetlands for centuries. It is important to know the extent and distribution of the wetlands, finalization of the inventory and take into account the values, functions and product of wetlands as well as the social and economic valuation.

In order to compile data on wetland/aquatic ecosystem with particular reference to wetland importance, types, functions, values, ecology, threats and economic valuation of wetland types, Mekong River Commission Secretariat and Vietnam National Mekong Committee assigned Pham Trong Thinh, as a National Wetland Expert (NWE), to carry out the task.

Main Duties and responsibilities of NWE are:

i. To produce a review of existing information on wetlands in the country with particular reference to wetlands within the Mekong River basin. The review should incorporate:

• Existing documents from both refereed journals and technical reports to government departments and NGO’s. Wherever possible copies of these reports should be obtained for inclusion in the MRC document center.

• Satellite imagery, land-use GIS and aerial photographs which have been used at the national level for wetlands research and management. Copies of images should not be obtained but full identification details should be provided.

• Government agencies involved in wetlands activities and their roles

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• NGO’s and UN organizations conducting wetlands activities, particularly activities on inventory, classification and valuation activities, with a list of the organizations and the activities being conducted or planned by each.

• A list of Ramsar, Biodiversity and conservation sites identified within the MRB area of the country.

ii. After discussion with relevant government agencies and other stakeholders, to produce a draft list of the important wetland types that should be given priority in inventory and valuation activities.

iii. To collaborate with the International Wetland Expert to identify core data required in wetlands inventories to facilitate the completion of inventory activities

Draft reports of this compiling process have submitted to EP Coordinator and wetland officer. On 3rd March 2003, Mekong River Commission Secretariat organized the National meeting on inventory of Wetlands/Aquatic ecosystems in Victory Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City to review the report.

This report is finalized on base of all comments of MRCS’s EP Co-coordinator and wetland officer and national meeting.

Total area of Vietnam country is about 329,241 km2, the coastline unwinds about 3,260 km and the sea consists 1,000,000 km2. The Mekong Basin of Vietnam is about 73,255 km2 that accommodates about 20 million people. In the wetland context, Mekong delta is most important wetland region, It constitute 3,900,000 ha of the southern tip of Vietnam. Specific climate of the delta is tropical monsoon. Physical environment of the Mekong delta is strongly controlled hydrological regimes of Mekong river and by tidal.

Since 1980s, series of state funded projects on water resource development have been implemented in Dong Thap Muoi, Long Xuyen Quadrangle, and west of Hau River bringing about new perspective for agricultural development. Water resources development works in Mekong delta can be divided in to 3 main groups, salt control works, irrigation and drainage system and flood control system.

The principal soil types in the Mekong Delta are acid sulfate soil (1,600,263 ha), alluvial soils (1184857 ha), saline soil (744,547 ha), they are equally about 40.69%, 30%, and (18.93%) total area of the delta, respectively.

In 1998, almost 94% of delta natural area has been utilized. Of which, 73.44% is used for agriculture and aquaculture, 7% for forestry, 5.17% for special use, 2.59% for residential purpose, unused land is 5.69%, and the rest is rivers and streams, canals.

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The Mekong delta consists a variety of natural landscapes, ranging from tidal flats, sandy ridges and tidal back swamps in the coastal plains, estuaries at river mouths, to river flood plains, broad depressions, peat swamps, alluvial levees and terraces further inland. They are also fragile to the effects of development processes. Mangrove and Melaleuca are the most important wetland ecosystems in the Mekong delta.

The fauna of the delta includes 23 species of mammals, 386 species and subspecies of birds, 35 species of reptiles, six species of amphibians and 260 fish species.

Wetlands are disturbed due to rapid growth in the human population, lacking of adequate mechanism for integrated management, alien invasive species, un-sustainable use of natural resources, limited resources and impact from upstream constructions.

Many domestic and overseas research institutions have conducted scientific research on the wetlands, and have initiated projects for their exploitation and utilization. However, no proper scientific base has ever been established for these activities in term of wetland context, owing to the lack of satisfactory basic inventories. Those inventories, which have been carried out were not sufficiently comprehensive and did not take into account all field of wetland function and values.

Since joining the Ramsar Convention in 1989, the Wetland Ramsar definition has been officially used in Vietnam. Since 1990, under framework of the project” Inventory and Management of Wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin”, Vietnamese Wetland Team applied wetland international classification (Ramsar, IUCN, MRC) to establish wetland maps of the delta and of pilot areas. Satellite imagery (Landsat, TM) some time have been used by Sub-FIPI and Care international for inventory and monitoring Melaleuca and mangrove, It is applicable on large scale survey. Other satellite photos (Eros-A pan; IKONOS XS; IKONOS PAN, etc.,) are advertised, but they are still very expensive so cannot be popular used in Vietnam. Wetland conservation and management are under responsibility of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Ministry of Resources and Environment (MOSTE), Ministry of Fishery (MoF). There is no single entity in charge of wetland management and conservation.

Several institutions have been doing research and study in wetlands are Sub-Institute of Geography (SIG), Sub-Inst for Water Resources Planning (SIWRP), Can Tho University; Institute of Tropical Biology (ITB), IUCN; Sub-FIPI; Sub-NIAPP; RIA-2; SIWRP; SRHMC; UAF, Care International.

In the national meeting on inventory of wetlands/aquatic ecosystems, 3rd March 2003, in Victory Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, 5 important wetland types were reconfirmed. Those are (i) Seasonally/permanently freshwaters swamp (woodlands

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or grasslands), (ii) Mangrove forests (coast or estuary), (iii) Rivers and canals, (iv) Permanently/Temporarily flooded grasslands, (v) and Rice fields. What are importance of each wetland type are recognized and presented in annex 2.

Ten wetland sites are very high values of biodiversity in the delta. They are Uminh Thuong, Tram Chim and Mui Ca Mau national park; Lang Sen, Thanh Phu Nature Reserve, Tra Su Nature Reserve, Tinh Doi Forest Fish Enterprise, Ha Tien Grass Plains, Lung Ngoc Hoang Nature Reserve, and Vo Doi Nature Reserve. Major information of each wetland site presented in this report About 30 documents and papers are reviewed in this report. These materials described physical features, environment, resources, management status, on going programs or projects of wetland in Mekong delta Vietnam. Follow up activities for inventory of wetland/aquatic ecosystem are (i) formulate database of wetland on base of available information/data, (ii) classifying and mapping of wetland with lasted remote sensing information, (iii) evaluation of the values of flood, and (iv) appraisal for Tra Su study site. Since 1990, Sub-FIPI used to a co-ordinator for wetland activities; sub-FIPI will play this task for Environment Program of MRCS in the next period.

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LIST OF ABBREVIATION

5MHRP 5 Million Hectares Rehabilitation Program BDP Basin Development Planning CRES Center For Resources and Environment Study CTU Can Tho University DARD Department of Agriculture and Rural Development DFMP Department of Forest Management and Protection DLA Department for Land Administration. DOSTE Department of Science, Technology and Environment DOSTE Department of Science, Technology and Environment DPI Department of Planning and Investment EP Environmental Program EPA Environmental Protection Agency FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations GO’s Government Organizations ICF International Crane Foundation IEBR Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature MARD Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development MD Mekong delta MoF Ministry of Fishery MORE Ministry of Resources and Environment MOSTE Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment MRC Mekong River Commission MRCS Mekong River Commission Secretariat NEA National Environment Agency NGO’s Non-Government Organizations NP National Park NWT National Working Team R&D Research and Development RIA No.2 Research Institute of Aquaculture No.2 SFE State Forest Enterprise Sub-FIPI Sub-Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning Sub-IWRMP Sub-Institute of Water Resources Management and Planning Sub-NIAPP Sub-National Institute of Agriculture Planning and Projection UAF University of Agriculture and Forestry UNDP United Nation Development Program VNMRC Vietnam National Mekong River Committee WB World Bank WUP Water Utilisation Planning

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Figure 2. Map of Wetlands in Mekong delta Vietnam in 2002

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INTRODUCTION

Total area of Vietnam country is about 329,241 km2, the coastline unwinds 3,260 km and the sea consists 1,000,000 km2. The country possesses a great diversity of wetland habitats including large estuarine and delta systems with extensive mangrove swamps and tidal mudflats, vast areas of seasonally inundated plains with rice paddies and Melaleuca forest, numerous small offshore islands, mangroves, large coastal brackish and saline lagoons, large areas of salt pans and aquaculture ponds, many freshwater lakes and water storage reservoirs, numerous rivers and streams. Important wetlands distribute in Mekong river basin, Red river basin and along the coast.

The Mekong Basin of Vietnam is about 73,255 km2 that accommodates about 20 million people, including catchments basin of 5 headwaters of Mekong River (Nam Rom, Seban Hieng, Sekong, Srepok, Sesan), and Mekong delta. Nam Rom River distributor belongs to Lai Chau provinces in the Northern-west of Vietnam. Se Ban Hieng and Sekong catchments belong to Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue provinces. These distributors originate in the Truong Son mountain range and flow into Mekong River through Lao territory. Serepok and Se San river system are located in the northern part of Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Dac Lac Provinces, high plateau in the middle part of Vietnam territory.

In the wetland context, Mekong delta is most important wetland region not only it is vastest plain of Vietnam but also because of it’s various benefits and functions, and economical values contribute to the development of country. Wetlands in other distributors are valuable in term of hydropower supply and irrigation. For that reasons, Mekong delta was being investigated long times ago. This report, therefore, will focus in the Mekong delta.

Table 1. Some data of Mekong Basin In Vietnam (1)

Distributors Provinces Area

(km2) % Population

(1000 persons)

%

Nam rom Lai Chau 1,392 2 99.7 0.50 Se Bang Hieng Quang Tri 1,435 2 40.3 0.20 Sekong Thua thien hue 1,128 2 30.4 0.15 Srepok Dac Lac 18,200 25 1,200.0 5.99 Sesan Gia Lai – Kon Tum 11,450 16 650.0 3.25 Mekong 12 provinces 39,650 54 18,000.0 89.91 Total 73,255 100 20,020.4 100.00

1 Trinh Hoang Ngan, 2002.

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1. WETLANDS IN THE MEKONG DELTA OF VIETNAM

1.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MEKONG DELTA

The delta of the Mekong River from the border with Cambodia to the sea, including the provinces of Long An, Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, An Giang and Kien Giang provinces. It is southernmost ecological zone of Vietnam, located in 8 o33'-10 o 55'N, 104 o 30'-106 o 50'E. Approximate area is 3,900,000 ha.

The Mekong River is one of the great rivers of Asia, ranking twelfth in the list of longest rivers of the world, and sixth in terms of mean annual discharge. It rises at about 5,000m in the Tanghla Shan Mountains, on the northeast rim of the great Tibetan Plateau, and flows for 4,160 km through or along the borders of six countries: China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Kampuchea and Vietnam. The lower Mekong exhibits pronounced seasonal variations in flow, reflecting rainfall patterns. The river starts to rise shortly after when the snow melting on the top of headwater in China and the onset of the monsoon rains in late May. It attains maximum level in September or October, then falls rapidly until December and slowly thereafter to reach its lowest level in April and early May.

The Mekong delta is generally regarded as beginning at Phnom Penh in Kampuchea, where the river divides into two main distributors, the Mekong (Tien) and the Bassac (Song Hau Giang). The Mekong (Tien) subsequently divides into six main channels and the Bassac into three to form the nine "dragons" of the outer delta in Vietnam. The delta comprises a vast triangular plain of approximately 5.5 million ha, almost entirely below 5m above sea level. It extends for about 270 km from its apex at Phnom Penh to the coast, and has a coastline of about 600 km.

Approximately 1,600,000 ha of the inner delta lie within Kampuchea; the remaining 3,900,000 ha constitute the southern tip of Vietnam. The delta is the result of sedimentation and erosion, the sediments varying in depth from at least 500m near the river mouths to only 30m at some places in the inner delta. At the nine mouths of the Bassac and Tien branches, interactions of river deposition and the sea has produced a coastal belt of slight higher elevation. Deposition in the delta continues to extend the Ca Mau Peninsula south and west at a rate of about 100m per year in some places.

1.2 CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

Specific climate of the delta is tropical monsoon regime with a pronounced dry season from December to March or April and a pronounced rainy season during the southwest monsoon from May to October or November. The average annual rainfall ranges from less than 1,500 mm in the central region and northwest to over 2,350 mm in the south, with some 70-80% of the precipitation concentrated into four months at the height of the rainy season. The mean annual temperature is about 26oC throughout the delta, the

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difference between the mean monthly minima and maximum being only about 5C. The relative humidity remains high throughout the year.

1.3 HYDROLOGICAL CONDITION

Physical environment of the Mekong delta is strongly controlled by hydrological regimes of Mekong River and tide. A diurnal tide is dominant in the Gulf of Thailand, whilst a semi-diurnal tide is dominant in the east sea. Generally, there are two high waters and two low waters per day, but the two low waters are sometimes very different in level. The average daily tidal range varies between 3.5m and 4.5m in the East Sea and between 0.5m and 0.8m in the Gulf of Thailand.

The tidal effects extend throughout the delta area in Vietnam. Resulted by several salted prevention construction, at present only about 1,100,000 to 1,200,000 ha are affected by seawater intrusion during the dry season. Salinity penetration lengths into various branches of the Mekong vary from 20 to 65 km. Because of the large inflow of fresh water from the Mekong, salinity along the eastern coast of the delta is very low, particularly during the flood season. The maximum salinity of 4.0 p.p.t. occurs at the end of the dry season, in April. Towards the end of the rainy season in September and October, the combination of floodwaters from the rivers, local rainfall and tidal inundation can result in the flooding of 1,400,000 ha to 1,800,00ha in the delta.

More than 100 years in the past almost all of Mekong delta was not reclaimed. By the end of 19th century, several canals were constructed for hydro-transport such as Vinh Te, Bao Dinh, Thu Thua, Cai Co, Long Khot. During French colony until 1975 canal network was developed though mainly concentrated along main roads, main rivers and in densely populated areas such as Ba Rinh, Cai Con, Tiep Nhat, Ba The, Dong Tien Lagrange, Nguyen Van Tiep.

Since 1980s, series of state funded projects on water resource development have been implemented in Dong Thap Muoi, Long Xuyen Quadrangle, and West of Hau River bringing about new perspective for agricultural development. New production structure of 2 –3 crops per year with high yielding varieties has been applied to many places increasing food production of Mekong delta from 4.7 mil. tons in 1976 up to 9.5 mil tons in 1990, 13.5 mil. tons in 1995, and 16.2 mil. tons in 1999, 18 mil. tons in 2002.

Water resource management works in Mekong delta can be divided in to 3 main groups as follows:

1.3.1 Salt control works

During the last decades, several salt control works have been constructed for agriculture development that make changes the livelihood of people in coastal areas. At present, only 1,100,000 – 1,200,000 ha in the delta are salted, mainly distribute in the South of Ca Mau peninsula, and narrow sub-tidal strips along the coast from Xoai Rap to Ganh Hao, and from Cai Lon to Ha Tien. In the coming years, a large saline area of about 100,000 ha

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along the coast of west sea will be protected. In framework of Quan Lo- Phung Hiep project another 100,000 ha in Southward of delta will be improved to increase fresh water area. In addition, about 200,000 ha of Nam Mang Thit project will also being desalinated.

1.3.2. Irrigation and drainage system

Currently, Mekong delta has quite a dense canal network at all levels which is sufficient for irrigation and drainage demand.

The axial canal networks (i.e. main or primary canal), density of 2 –3 m/ha, directly conduct water from main rivers into the fields.

Secondary canal networks have been expanded in many places of Mekong delta, especially in intensive rice cultivation areas along Tien and Hau rivers. In these areas, density of secondary canals might reach 5 – 10 m/ha, meanwhile only about 2 – 5 m/ha in other areas. Secondary canal network serves as water supply and drainage for each area in field.

Tertiary canal networks, in-field canals, are the smallest canal but very important for water control, because these canals take water in and bring surplus water away from fields. Density of these canal networks are 8 – 10 m/ha for 3 rice crop areas or 2 – 4 m/ha for 1 rice crop areas.

1.3.3 Flood control system

Flood is the biggest constraint for agricultural development and people’s livelihood. To assure stable agricultural production with 2 rice crop per year, before 1996 a small scale embankment system was developed in many places in flooded area to protect Summer-autumn rice from August flood.

In other hand the flood also bring big benefit to people surrounding wetland areas, and nutrient to agriculture, however these benefits are still un-quantified.

Since 1996, parallel with the flood control projects, some technical items with higher flood stand level were constructed in the Long Xuyen quadrangle and the Plain of Reeds. Those provide local communities adaptable condition to stable and sustainable development both in agriculture and socio-economy of flooded area.

1.3.4 Water quality

Nguyen Ngoc Anh (2000) cited that annually, Mekong river carries about 150 mil tons of alluvial to Mekong delta, of which 138 mil tons to Tien river (at Tan Chau), and 12 mil. tons to Hau river (at Chau Doc), mainly concentrated in flood season. Average content of alluvial in Tien River in flood season is 500 g/m3, and 200 g/m3 in Hau River. In 1996, alluvial content mounted up to 1,660 g/m3 at Tan Chau, and 1,220 g/m3 at Chau Doc. When flood flow runs into fields through canals, most of alluvial sedimentation accumulates within 10 – 20 km from riverbanks; therefore the banks tend to rise higher.

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Recent survey by Nguyen Ngoc Anh (2000) pointed out that sedimentation volumes are about 65 – 70% accumulated along canal network within 10 – 15 km from riverbanks and only 5 – 10% of it were transferred into the distance of 30 – 40 km from the main river.

Average annual flow volume of Mekong River is 10,117 m3/s (319.3 bill. m3) in Pakse, 13,708 m3/s (432.6 bill. m3) at Kratie and 14,555 m3/s (459.36 bill. m3) in Lower Phnom Penh.

Tong Le Sap lake can regulate flow in Mekong delta by reducing peak flood from the beginning to mid of flood season (July – September), and supplying water during this period from January to April.

For Mekong River Delta if including estuary, the average flow of Mekong River is about 15,200 m3/s equivalent to the total flow discharge of 480bill.m3. Generally, flood season begins in June/July and lasts to Oct./Nov. with 85 – 90% of total annual flow discharge. Flood peak occurs by the end of September and early October.

During flood season, only 70 – 75% of flood runs through Tien and Hau rivers then flows into the sea, the rest 25 – 30% over spills into Plain of Reeds and Long Xuyen Quadrangle.

According to water quality standard from domestic use in Vietnam, water quality of Mekong River is still good. Bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD) varies from 10 – 375 mg O2/l in both Tien and Hau rivers. It is a bit higher than EEC standard for drinking water by 5mg O2/l.

Content of solid suspensions (TSS) is very low during dry season (10 – 30 g/m3), but rather high in flood season 200 - 300 g/m3, and highest can be 500 g/m3). Content of soluble solids like Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg), Zinc (Zn) is lower than 0.005 mg/l.

In Dong Thap Muoi, total nitrogen (TOT-N) varies from 0.20 – 0.70 mg/l during dry season, and 1.00 – 1.70 mg/l in flood season. The total Phosphorus varies from 0.020 – 0.060 mg/l in dry season, and 0.030 – 0.060 in flood season. In Long Xuyen Quadrangle, TOT-N sometimes mounts up to 3.5 mg/l.

In the beginning of rainy season, pH reduces to 4.0 – 4.5 in some places. According to microbiological standards, most of water faces in urban areas of Mekong delta (at Long Xuyen, Cao Lanh Town, etc.) are not drinkable without treatment.

1.4 THE PRINCIPAL SOIL TYPES

Pham Quang Khanh (2000) listed several soil groups in the delta. Confined to wetlands, main soil types should be concerned are acid sulfate soils, saline soils, alluvium and peat soils:

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1.4.1 Acid sulfate soil

This soil group has the largest area (1,600,263 ha, occupying 40.69%) and most complicatedly varied in Mekong delta. Acid sulfate soil concentrates in Plain of Reeds, Ca Mau Peninsula, and Long Xuyen quadrangle. This soil combines of (i) Potential acid sulfate soil subgroup (PASS). The area of this soil is 421,867 ha. (ii) The active acid sulfate soil subgroup (AASS) occupies very large area (1,178,396 ha). Acid sulfate soil contains much acidic toxic, average content of toxics in sulfuric horizon (Bj) varies depending on soil oxidization. When soil is strongly oxidized, sulfuric horizon appears, containing a lot of yellow jarosite mottles, and high toxicity. Comparison between AASS and PASS shows that topsoil of AASS is normally strongly acidified with high toxicity. So that based on depth of sulfuric horizon, these soils are classified into different types.

1.4.2 Saline soil

These soils are 744,547 ha, accounting for 18.93% of the total area of Mekong delta. Being formed on sedimentary rock in saline water environment, it is additionally impacted by saline tides. Based on duration and salinity of soil, saline soils group is divided into 4 soil-mapping units: saline mangrove soil (56,022 ha); strongly saline soil (102,103 ha); moderately saline soil (148,934 ha); slightly saline soil (437,488 ha).

Saline mangrove soil (or constant saline soil): soil texture is clay or clay mixed with sand. Dominant property of this soil is high salt content: pHH2O > 7; soluble Cl- : 0.65 – 0.79%; EC: 11 – 12 mms/cm. Therefore, main purpose for this soil is protecting and planting mangrove forest, or saline aquaculture.

Strongly saline soil (strongly saline during dry season) has heavy texture (clay – heavy loam). This soil is neutral. It is rather rich in humus, nitrogen, but poor in phosphorous (pHH2O= 6.7 – 7.3; OM= 2.12 – 4.9%; N= 0.11 – 0.21%; P2O5= 0.03 - 0.08%) and high salinity in dry season. Mg++ content is clearly higher than Ca++. This soil can be used for one rice crop during rainy season or shrimp farming in coastal areas.

Moderately and slightly saline soil (seasonal saline soil) has heavy texture (clay – heavy loam). The soil is neutral. It is rather rich in humus, nitrogen, but poor in phosphorous (pHH2O= 5.3 – 6.8; OM= 2.12 – 3.0%; N= 0.11 – 0.21%; P2O5=0.03 - 0.08%). Salinity is not high (Cl- in dry season: 0.09 – 0.14%, EC= 3.3 – 5.5 mms/cm). Since the salinity is not high, saline period is short, and it is easy to be desalinated. This soil can be used for 2 rice crops during rainy season in non-irrigated areas and 2 – 3 crops in irrigated areas.

1.4.3 Alluvial soil group

This soil group concentrates along and between Tien and Hau rivers occupy 1184857 ha or (30% of Mekong delta area). This soil is formed on river sedimentary material.

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Among alluvial soil group, gley alluvial and alluvial soil with yellowish-red mottles occupy largest area, concentrating in riparian provinces but not saline e.g. Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, and Can Tho.

1.4.4 Peat soil

This group is 24,027 ha, accounting for 0.6% of total Mekong delta area. It is mainly found in U Minh (Kien Giang and Ca Mau provinces) and sparsely in Long Xuyen quadrangle and Dong Thap Muoi. Thickness of peat horizon greatly varies from 30 – 40 cm, even up to > 100 cm in some places. Underneath peat horizon is sedimentary layer containing sulfate material. Therefore, in classification peat and muck soil is named peaty acid sulfate soil.

1.5 LAND USE STATUS IN MEKONG DELTA

Mekong delta is fertile area so it has been exploited quite intensively. In 1998, almost 94% of 3.9 mil. ha of the delta area has been utilized (the average countrywide is 70%). Land use of the Mekong delta in 1998 described in table 3.

Table 2. Land use status in the Mekong river delta, in 1998

Land uses Mekong delta Countrywide (ha) (%) (ha) (%) Agricultural land 2912174 73.44 8416634 25.59 Forestry land 308600 7.78 11985367 36.44 Special lands 205176 5.17 1377350 4.19 Residential land 102868 2.59 447470 1.36 Unused lands 225767 5.69 9940355 30.22 Rivers, streams 210729 5.31 727222 2.21 Total 3965314 100 32894398 100

Source: General Department of Land Administration, 1999

As compared to the whole country, Mekong delta occupies only 12.05% of the total country area, while its agricultural land accounted for 34.6%.

Majority of land is devoted to agricultural production. Out of 3.9 mil ha of natural area, agricultural land accounts for 73.44%, forest land – only 7.78%, unused land is still considerable with 5.69%, residential land – 2.59%.

Aquaculture land occupies considerable area and rapidly increased in the last decade. In 1998, the aquatic land was 208,206 ha accounting for 7% of agricultural land. It increased 176,206 ha as compared to 1985. Rapid increases of saltwater shrimp farming have been occurred in Ca Mau and coastal provinces. These activities are the main reasons to diminish mangrove forest area.

In planning, land use structure of the delta will be changed dramatically, until 2010 about 30,000 ha of one rice crop will be changed to shrimp cultivation in the coastal zone,

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about 188,000 ha of one rice crop will be converted into shrimp-rice crop, but 4,300 ha of shrimp ponds will be replanted by mangrove trees.

Table 3. Land use planning of the Mekong delta by 2010 Year 2005 Year 2010 Items Area (ha) (%) Area (ha) (%)

Total area 3976232 100 3976232 100 1. Agriculture land 2969355 74.7 2864470 72.0 1.1 Annual crop 1752291 59.0 1547354 54.0 1.3 Miscellaneous garden 53586 1.8 0.0 1.4 Aquaculture 708042 23.8 825706 28.8 2. Forestry land 369616 9.3 449738 11.3 3. Special land 266518 6.7 306838 7.7 4. Settlement area 122118 3.1 142254 3.6 5. Unused land 248659 6.3 212966 5.4

Source: Sub-NEAPP, 2003

1.6 DOMINANT VEGETATION

Standing forest in the delta is 280,480 ha (2002) or 7% total area of the delta. Mekong delta has lowest forest cover ratio in the country. Two natural forest systems exist in wetland of the delta are mangrove along the coast and Melalaleuca forest in the inland wetland. The delta has 88,530ha mangrove, and 121,861ha Melaleuca forest.

1.6.1 Mangrove forest ecosystem

Mangrove forest mainly distributes along the coastal saline swamps and estuaries in Ca Mau Peninsular, and partly in coastal areas of Tra Vinh and Ben Tre. Area of mangrove forest over periods was recorded as 250,000 ha (1950); to 126,000 ha (1983) and 88,530 ha at the present.

250,000

126,00093,000 72,000 71,841 88,530

050,000

100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000

1950 1983 1988 1995 1997 2002

Figure 3. Variation of Mangrove area in the Mekong Delta since 1950-2002 Source: Pham Trong Thinh, 2002

Before 1975, according to Phan Nguyen Hong (1999), much mangrove forest was destroyed by American chemical toxic substance since 1961 – 1973. During this period 52,000 ha of mangrove forest of Ca Mau peninsular was destroyed. After the reunification (1975) mangrove forest continues to be destroyed by human activities.

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Vegetation cover in mangrove include more than 40 salt resistant species belonging to genera such as Rhizophora, Avicenia, Bruguiera, Ceriop, Sonneratia, Xylocarpus, Aegiceras, Lumnitzera, Acanthus etc. Distribution of these species depends on their resistance to salinity. For instance, R. Mucronata, and A. marina can grow in highly saline area (20 –30%); R. apiculata, A. officinalis can grow in moderately saline areas. N. fruticans, K. candel grow in slightly saline or brackish water areas.

Composition of mangrove species depends on soil fertility, tide, salinity, etc. In river mouth of Mekong River, S. caseolaris species are dominant in the new deposit. These sites are slightly saline such at Cua Dai, Ham Luong, Co Chien river mouth. In other hand in highly site with low salinity, Exchocaria caceolaris or Phoenix paludosa were occurred. In Ca Mau peninsular A. alba, A. marina, A.officinalis and R. apiculata grow densely in muddy swampy areas along the coast, in less saline areas Lumnitzera and Ceriops are appeared.

1.6.2 Melaleuca forest ecosystem

Melaleuca forest naturally distributes in most of lowland on such acid sulfate, and peaty soils as in Dong Thap Muoi, Long Xuyen Quadrangle, and U Minh. M. cajuputii species is a dominant species in Melaleuca forest, which normally grows into dense stand in long inundated areas. Formerly, it covers half of acid sulfate soil in Mekong delta. In 1972, area of this forest was 174,000 ha. From 1972 – 1983, averagely, area of Melaleuca forest shrank by 5,000 ha/year. In 1985 area of Melaleuca forest was 110,133 ha. During the last few years, resulted from rehabilitation program 661, such barren, fallow, and strongly acid sulfate soils, not suitable for agricultural, have been used for Melaleuca plantation. The area of this forest is 121,861ha in 2002.

Figure 4. Melaleuca forest in the Mekong delta, Vietnam

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Apart from M. cajuputii, some other species appear in Melaleuca forest. Phung Trung Ngan (1987) had recorded 134 flora species in Vo Doi Nature Reserves. Le Kong Kiet (1996) also inventoried 130 flora species in Tram Chim National Park including 14 woody tree species, 2 shrub, 5 climber, and 109 herby plant species. Normally, M. cajuputii grows together with Alstonia spathulata Bl., Hex thorelii Pierre, Pharagmites karka in U Minh, Long Xuyen Quadrangle, Dong Thap Muoi. After cutting and destruction, many other plants stand like Eleocharis dulcis, Eleocharis ochrostachys Steud, Cyperus, Phragmites karka appear forming various successions.

In planning, Mekong delta has 3 categories of forest based on the objectives of use as follows:

(i) Special use forest, the forest used mainly for bio-diversity conservation, landscape reserve, is 67,364 ha, of which standing forest are 50,704 ha. All wetland conservation areas in the delta are belonging to this forest.

Important special use forests are inland wetlands including Tram Chim (7,588 ha) and U Minh Thuong national parks (8,038 ha) (in Dong Thap & Kien Giang provinces), Vo Doi (4,000 ha), Lung Ngoc Hoang 2,800 ha (Can Tho province).

Those are coastal wetlands including Dat Mui national park (46,000 ha), Thanh Phu nature reserve (4,300 ha in Ben Tre province).

In addition, several bird sanctuaries also classified in this category, their average area is some tens ha. The bird sanctuaries occur in of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, and Dong Thap provinces.

Other new special forests are in the process of establishment and construction such as Tra Su and Ha Tien area (Kien Giang province), Lang Sen (Long An province).

(ii) Protection forestland is 191,601 ha, of which standing forest is 82,017 ha, these forests used to protect coastal, riverbank, construction and other infrastructures. Specially, the coastal protection belt established in provinces of Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, and Ben Tre. The widths of these belts vary from 500 – 1000 m depending on specific conditions of the sites. Recently, government approved the project to borrow some tens million USD from World Bank for rehabilitation and protection of these wetlands.

(iii) Production (commercial) forest, the forest aimed to produce commercial products, is 268,867 ha, of which standing forest are 147,759 ha. These forests are Melaleuca for acid sulfate soil, Rhizophora, Sonneratia, and Bruguiera for saline soil in the estuarine and coastal areas. Those are indigenous species for Mekong delta. Some material forests for paper industry have been established in Kien Giang and Long An provinces with major species of Eucalyptus and Acacia auriculiformis.

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1.7 FAUNA

Le Dien Duc (1988 and 2000) reported that, the fauna of the delta includes 23 species of mammals, 386 species and subspecies of birds, 35 species of reptiles, six species of amphibians and 260 fish species.

Five species of dolphins have been recorded. Two of these, (Stenella malayana) and (Tursiops aduncus), are confined to the estuarine zone, but the other three, the Irrawaddy Dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), Chinese White Dolphin (Sotalia chinensis) and Black Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena phocanoides), occur upstream into Kampuchea. Other wetland mammals known to occur include the Crab-eating Macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Smooth-coated Otter (Lutra perspicillata) and Fishing Cat (Felis viverrina). The Clawless Otter (Aonyx cinerea) may also occur.

The avifauna includes variety of species associated with wetlands, such as the raptors Pandion haliaetus, Haliastur indus, Haliaeetus leucogaster, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus and Circus (aeruginosus) spilonotus, and about eight species of kingfishers (Alcedinidae). The delta is particularly important for its large populations of cormorants, herons, egrets, storks and ibises, which nest in huge colonies in the mangrove and Melaleuca forests.

Vo Quy (1984), estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 birds were nesting at the main colonies in the southern part of the delta in 1982. Seven large colonies are presently known, the largest being at Bac Lieu (Vinh Thanh), Dam Doi (Ngoc Hien) and Cai Nuoc (Tan Hung). A very large colony in the Ca Mau Melaleuca forests disappeared in the early 1980s, but two or three new colonies have recently become established in the Dam Doi and Cai Nuoc mangrove forests. The breeding species include three species of cormorants Phalacrocorax spp, Anhinga melanogaster, a wide variety of herons and egrets (notably Ardea sumatrana), seven species of storks and the ibises Threskiornis melanocephalus and Plegadis falcinellus.

All seven species of storks have, however, decreased markedly in recent years. Mycteria cinerea and Leptoptilos dubius are now very rare, and no breeding sites are known. Mycteria leucocephala and Anastomus oscitans still breed in small numbers at four and three colonies, respectively, while Ciconia episcopus, Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus and Leptoptilos javanicus occur in ones and twos at several sites. The pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus and P. philippensis were reported to be common in the 1960s (Wildash, 1968), but P. onocrotalus seems to have disappeared completely, and P. philippensis is now rare.

ICF recorded 198 bird species belonging to 49 families are found in Tram Chim National Park, 88% of which are found in dry season. According Collar et al (1994), of these 198 bird species, 16 are threatened globally. Regarding living environment, 42% of species use fresh water swamps, 10% use grassland, 8% use wetland forest, 2% use canals with shrubs, trees, and the rest 38% use all of the above environments. Typical species

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include Grus antigone sharpii, Lepototilos dubius, Leptotilos javanicus, Threskiornis melanocephalus, Platalea minor, Aquiloa clanga, Vanellus cinereus, and Charadrius pernorii.

Sarus Crane Grus antigone sharpii, which formerly nested in the area, disappeared during the war years but has returned in recent years as a non-breeding visitor; over 1,000 individuals were present in spring 1988. Three other endangered species of waterfowl, the White-shouldered Ibis Pseudibis davisoni, Giant Ibis Thaumatibis gigantea and White-winged Wood-Duck Cairina scutulata, still occurred in the delta in reasonable numbers in the 1960s (Wildash, 1968). However, none of the three has been reported since about 1980, although it is believed that the two ibises may still survive in very small numbers in the wetlands along the Cambodian border.

In addition to the colonial nesting waterbirds, there are many other resident waterfowl, which remain fairly common, such as Tachybaptus ruficollis, Dendrocygna javanica, Nettapus coromandelianus, Anas poecilorhyncha, Rallus striatus, Gallicrex cinerea, Porphyrio porphyrio, the two jacanas (Jacanidae), and several shorebirds (e.g. Rostratula benghalensis, Esacus magnirostris, Glareola maldivarum and G. lactea). The Masked Finfoot Heliopais personata and Indian Skimmer Rhynchops albicollis are also known to occur. Common passage migrants and winter visitors include four species of ducks (notably Anas querquedula), a large number of migratory shorebirds, and several species of terns.

Fischer (1983) gives some information on the migratory shorebirds. He observed large numbers of shorebirds of over 20 species in the eastern part of the delta in autumn 1980. The most abundant species were Himantopus himantopus, Charadrius dubius, C. leschenaultii, Tringa nebularia, T. ochropus, T. glareola, Actitis hypoleucos, Xenus cinereus, Gallinago stenura, G. gallinago, Calidris ruficollis, C. subminuta and C. teminckii. A flock of 22 Asian Dowitchers Limnodromus semipalmatus in Ca Mau Province was particularly noteworthy.

Dang Trung Tan (2002) list 28 migrate shorebird in the newly lands of Ca Mau tip, such as Egret eulophotes, Butorides striatus, Pluviaslis squatarola.

Reptiles include the monitor lizard Varanus salvator, the python Python reticulatus, four species of water snake Enhydris spp, the endangered River Terrapin Batagur baska and the Estuarine Crocodile Crocodylus porosus. In the brackish water and coastal zone, the fish fauna is dominated by Clupeidae, Scombridae, Sciaenidae, Tachysauridae, Polynemidae, Tachysuridae and Cynoglossidae. Most of the species are diadromous and some, particularly species of Polynemidae and Tachysuridae, seasonally ascend the rivers to spawn in the gradient or freshwater zone of the estuaries. In the freshwater zone, the fishes are dominated by species of Cyprinidae, Siluridae, Clariidae, Schilbeidae, Bagridae, Sisoridae, Akysidae, Chanidae and Ophicephalidae.

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Over 200 species of fishes contribute to the commercial fishery, along with many shellfish, mussels and clams (Mollusc), and prawns and shrimps, notably Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Penaeus monodon (Pantulu, 1986b).

Tran Thanh Xuan, et. al. (1998) identified 55 fish species belonging to 15 families, which include 24 species of Cyprinidae (43.6%), 17 species of Bargridae (12.7%), 5 species of Anabantidae (9.1%), and 4 of Siluridae (7.3%). Eighteen fish species of Tram Chim National Park are deemed to have economic value.

1.8. VALUES OF WETLANDS

1.8.1. Economic values

Recently, almost half of Vietnam's agricultural production comes from the Mekong delta, which generates more than 30 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), 40 percent of the country's overall agricultural production, and more than 80 percent of the country's rice export. There are around 30 million ducks raised annually in Vietnam, of which some 65% are estimated to be in the Mekong delta.

The delta is largest aquaculture area of Vietnam, annual fish production is about 55%, aquaculture area is 60% and cultivation production is 65%, the export benefits of aquaculture contributes 51% total national benefit from fish product export.

Estimated that the production of wetland-related products in the Mekong delta are 18.023 mill. tons of rice; 27.7 million ducks; 917 thousand tons of breeding fish and shrimp in the year 2005.

The mangrove and Melaleuca forests constitute important forestry resources, potentially capable of meeting the local demand for construction materials, firewood, fodder for domestic animals and other forest products. Timber Melaleuca plantation was estimated at 5000-7000 USD per hectare of at ten years old stands.

In addition, the Melaleuca forests provide a valuable harvest of honey from wild bees' nests, annually amounting to five or six liters of honey harvested per hectare in U Minh Melaleuca forest.

Inland wetlands also provide various products such as fish, grass, vegetable, lotus firewood to meet basic needs of local farmers.

1.8.2 Ecological values and function

Variety of natural landscapes, ranging from tidal flats, sandy ridges and tidal back swamps in the coastal plains, estuaries at river mouths, to river flood plains, broad depressions, peat swamps, alluvial levees occur in the delta. Each of them has its own essential functions and values, often not directly measurable in economic terms. They are also fragile to the effects of development processes.

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Figure 5. Values of Wetlands in the Delta

Coastal wetlands form the buffer between sea and land, trapping river-borne sediment that provides natural fertilization. They supply nutrient for aquatic organism, coastal protection and land reclamation. Mangrove species not only retard erosion due to tidal action (of vital significance in a region prone to typhoons), but also tend to accumulate soil around their root systems, thereby accelerating accretion of new land. They prevent storm and sea wave action and provide habitat for a large variety of wildlife, as well as spawning, nursing and feeding grounds for fish and crustaceans.

Inland wetlands play very important roles in soil conservation, especially in the prevention of soil erosion and soil acidification. Melaleuca forests maintain fresh water and prevent soil acidification process, particularly in peaty horizon. During dry season, top layer may be subject to oxidization creating soil toxins. When organic layer is destructed oxidization is accelerated creating ferric and aluminous acids. High toxicity will consequently, contaminate water that cause damage to people and animal.

a) Melaleuca timber b) Fishing

c) Market on river d) Ecotourism

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1.9. IMPORTANT WETLAND TYPES IN THE MEKONG DELTA

In the National Meting on inventory of wetlands/aquatic ecosystems, 3rd March 2003, in Victory Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City, what wetland types are important wetland were discussed as follows:

(i) Seasonally/permanently freshwaters swamp

These wetlands distribute in the Plain of Reeds, Long Xuyen and Ha Tien quadrangle, the importance of wetland are:

• Provide forest products (timber, fuel wood, vegetable, fish, honey),

• Eco-tourism sites for refreshment and entertainment,

• Rich in biodiversity (e.g. fish, waterfowl, rare bird and wildlife),

• Flood control, improvement of water quality, providing freshwater, storage water;

• Carbon sink; peat land and biomass production

(ii) Mangrove forests

The wetland found along the coast and Mekong river mouths, including intertial and sub-tidal mudflats or sandy ground. The importances of wetlands are:

• Providing forest products (timber, fuel, charcoal, shrimp, fish, crab),

• Eco-tourism, refreshment,

• Coastal protection (erosion prevention); acceleration of sediment accumulation,

• Providing nutrient ground for food web and aqua-cultivation,

• Protection of biodiversity (bird sanctuaries, feeding area for migration waterfowl)

• Carbon sink and biomass production.

(iii) Rivers and canals

These include main streams of Mekong River and dense canals in the Mekong delta. The importance of these wetlands are:

• Providing aquatic products (fish, shrimp, crab…),

• Production ground for aqua-cultivation (fishing, aquaculture),

• Freshwater supply, tourism, refreshments ,

• Water, nutrient, sediment transportation,

• Navigation of people and aquatic organisms,

• Aquatic biodiversity, including plants animal and riparian aquatic organism (migration fish).

• Flood control, dilution of pollutants,

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(iv) Permanently/temporarily flooded grasslands

These wetlands found in Ha Tien quadrangle, about some tens thousands hectares. The importance of wetlands are:

• Providing aquatic products (crab, snail, mollusc, vegetable…),

• Remnant feeding areas of rare birds, birds, amphibians; migration fish,

• Water storage flood reduction,

• Freshwater water filtration,

• Remnant of typical landscape in the Mekong Delta,

• Natural and biodiversity and accumulation,

• Biomass production,

(v) Rice fields

At present, Vietnam is second exporter of rice on the world. Yearly, about 80 percent of the country's rice export is generated from Mekong delta. So that, rice fields are also the most important wetland types, that provide product for export and maintain the food security situation of the country and the world.

In the National Meting on 3rd March 2003, the key institutions involved in administration, management, research and study of those prioritized wetland types are recognized and presented in appendix 4.

1.10 DISTURBANCES AND THREATS

Rapid growth in the human population and intensive development of the delta lands for agricultural purposes pose a major threat to the natural wetland ecosystems and their wildlife. Various proposed developments on the lower Mekong River are likely to conflict with wildlife and fisheries interests in the delta. These include large irrigation projects, other industrial development and flood control projects.

Dam construction upstream will change the hydrology of the delta, reducing seasonal flow peaks and the extent of flooding. This is likely to have a disastrous effect not only on waterfowl populations but also on those fish species, which utilize the floodplain wetlands for spawning. Changes in water quality and the timing of peak flows are likely to have adverse effects on fish migrations and spawning, and dams will create obvious problems for long distance longitudinal migrants. The dams will reduce sediment flow, particularly in the main channels, and thereby affect the nutrient regime in the delta.

Yearly, some ten thousand hectare of mangrove in the delta is converted in to shrimp farms plus about 500-700 hectare of the coast were collapsed by erosion. In addition

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some thousand hectares of in land wetland are disappeared from burning or by converting into agriculture land.

Several causes have been pointed out in the documents related to bio-diversity and conservation of nature resources of the Mekong delta. They are summarized as follows.

• There is no adequate institution to facilitate inter-sectoral collaboration with regards to wetland activities. Sector-driven land use planning for wetland management is also a major reason for the loss of wetland benefits. An adequate institution for inter-sector collaboration and comprehensive knowledge of wetlands and their functions are essential for making proper decisions on management of wetlands in the Mekong delta, as wetlands are usually viewed by each user as single product systems, precluding other indirect values.

• Lacking information on wetland benefits puts a heavy pressure on the scarce natural forests that remain in the delta. Canalisation, drainage and conversion to agriculture, new settlement constructions are often a result from insufficient awareness of people about benefit of wetland.

• The human population in the Mekong delta is rapidly increasing, and the livelihood of the majority of the rural population closely depends on wetland ecosystem. In many areas the supply of food for rural and poor people is inadequate. The population struggle to survive by first clear-felling the extensive forests and draining the wetlands and thereafter trying to make the living on the remaining barren lands. Demonstrations of wise use and another integrated measures could be the good solutions to transfer technologies of sustainable use of wetlands to local farmers in order to mitigate human pressures on the key wetland sites.

• Although various government organisations, such as Forest Enterprises or Forest Protection and Management Boards, Nature Reserve and National Park Management Boards have tried to keep unplanned development under control, their attempts are inadequate due to limited resources.

• Inadequate international co-operation with the riparian countries in the upper stretches of the Mekong River causes the loss of biodiversity throughout the catchments. During the past few years and in the next decade a number of infrastructure and industrial Projects will have been implemented in the upper Mekong River basin. Most activities, whatever their scale, will have an impact on the natural water flow and the aquatic natural resources, qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Some of these impacts are predictable while others need to be investigated and monitored in detail in order to identify mitigation measures.

• The threats to the habitats in the Mekong delta are not only caused by human activities but are also due to invasion of alien species such as Mimosa pigra, Golden

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snail and others. Some urgent actions and a monitoring system are an essential requirement for especially to the sensitive wetland areas.

Figure 6. Threaten on wetlands in the delta

2. WETLAND RESEARCH, INVENTORY AND MANAGEMENT

2.1. THE CONCEPT OF WETLANDS

Since joining the Ramsar Convention in 1989, the Wetland Ramsar definition has been officially used in Vietnam, that provides initial basis for wetland survey, research and management activities. According to Ramsar definition, wetlands are considered as “areas of mash fen, peat-land or water, either natural or artificial, permanent or temporary with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6 meters”.

Within the framework of cooperation program between Mekong countries, the project of “Inventory and Management of Wetland in the Lower Mekong Basin” has also employed this definition for its survey, research and management activities of wetlands in the Mekong delta.

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In general, “wetlands” should have either of the following properties:

• There is a certain period of time in a year supporting the growth of most of aquatic species;

• Soil substrate is almost not dry;

• Soil texture is not clear. It is water-saturated or inundated for certain period during annual growing season of the biota.

On the other hand, wetlands may be a transition from terrestrial upland to deep water of which submerged at the lowest tide is 6 meters. Whatever wetland with water depth of over 6 m, they are classified as depth water habitat.

2.2. WETLAND INVENTORY

Because wetlands are great potential for agricultural and fishery, many domestic and overseas research institutions have conducted several scientific research. A lot projects for their exploitation and utilization have been initiated long ago. However, no proper scientific base has ever been established for these activities in term of wetland context, owing to the lack of satisfactory basic inventories. Those inventories, which have been carried out were not sufficiently comprehensive and did not take into account all fields of wetland values and function.

Resulted from forest inventory from 1976-1981 by Sub-FIPI in collaboration with other agencies, some forbidden forests (full protected forests) were established in the Mekong delta such as Dat Mui, Vo Doi, Bac Lieu, Dam Doi, Cai Nuoc bird sanctuaries.

In 1982, the State Program on Rational Utilization of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection has involved a considerable amount of research on the ecology, flora and fauna of mangrove and Melaleuca forests in the Mekong delta, and has included surveys of the water-bird colonies in these forests. The Eastern Sarus Crane and several other rare bird species were rediscovered during these surveys.

Vo Quy, Le Dien Duc and their colleagues (1987), in Hanoi National University organized a short training course on the management of protected areas in Cat Ba National Park for directors of national parks and reserves and other key personnel. In addition, the Working Group on Wetlands and water bird within the Natural Resources and Environment Program has conducted short training programs at the water-bird colonies in Ca Mau Province and in the Crane Reserve in Dong Thap Province. An education center constructed at the Crane Reserve in 1989.

The first publication for wetlands in Viet Nam made by Le Dien Duc, and his colleagues in Ha Noi National University in 1998 “Inventory of wetlands of Vietnam”. The book described 40 important wetland sites among the country.

Since 1990, thanks to support by Mekong River Commission’s Secretariat, the project “Inventory and Management of Wetland in the Mekong Basin” launched, wetland team

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was set up to carry out inventory and management of Wetland in the Mekong delta Vietnam. In line-institution for implementing the Project, Sub-Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning (belonging to MARD) is leading agency. Another core institutions include Research Institute of Aquaculture No.2, Sub-Institute of Agriculture Planning and Projection, Sub-Institute of Water Resources Management and Planning, Southern Station of Hydro-Meteorology. The team established two pilot study sites for ecological monitoring and management practice. These pilot sites since than became conservation areas in delta. The team also did wetland classification and mapping of wetland in the Mekong delta.

At the same time, another institutions University of Can Tho, University of Ho Chi Minh City, Forest Agriculture University in Ho Chi Minh City, and international institutions IUCN, Birdlife International, Care International, Euroconsult (Netherlands) also carried out a lot survey and management activities in the Mekong delta.

In 1996, sponsored by World Bank and Vietnam Government, Euroconsult in association with Sub-FIPI prepared the project for Coastal wetland protection and development of the delta. Vietnam Government and World Bank approved this project and it has been implemented on the field since 2000 [World Bank, 2000]. Few years ago, the Biodiversity Conservation Project, prepared by IUCN and sponsored by GEF has been implemented in the Mekong Basin and Plain of Reeds of the delta was selected as a demonstration of the project.

2.3 WETLAND CLASSIFICATION AND MAPPING

Since 1990, under framework of the project” Inventory and Management of Wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin”, Vietnamese Wetland Team applied wetland classification systems of international bodies (Ramsar, IUCN, MRC) to establish wetland maps of the delta and of pilot areas.

In 1995, a classification suggested for wetland mapping at scale 1/250.000 in the delta base on four hierarchical stratums:

• First stratum is base on water (salt and fresh water)

• Second stratum is base on geomorphologic units

• Third stratum is base on inundation

• Four stratum is base on vegetation or land use

In this system, each wetland type is classified base on features of vegetation and current land use, flood levels, physiognomy and water quality. It is based on an ecogenesis understanding and can provide a uniform set of criteria for each classification level. It adapts the international and regional classification systems and appropriately represents the natural conditions and current land uses in the Mekong River Delta. The classification

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system is suitable for wetland mapping and can serve as a tool for surveying, monitoring and managing wetlands in the Mekong delta.

A wetlands map of the Mekong delta was produced following the collection and assessment of information on physiognomy, hydrology, vegetation and land use. Data from satellite images and topographical maps were validated by field surveys. The map is a useful tool in understanding wetlands and in the development of a management strategy. As a further step in this process, a database can be created from the information gathered during mapping.

In 1999, Wetland Team proposed the wetland classification system for Vietnam Mekong delta includes 4 hierarchical levels and made a wetland map of Mekong delta at scale of 1/250.000:

• First level is distinguished by water quality (Salt water and Fresh water)

• Mega classes are distinguished on base of geomorphology;

+ Salt water (Marine/coastal; Estuarine);

+ Freshwater (Riverine, Lacustrine; Palustrine);

• Macro classes are divided from each mega class, the macro class is distinguished on base of water inundation (Sub-tidal, tidal, non-tidal); and of permanent of duration inundation;

• Wetland classes are divided from macro class, each wetland class distinguished on base of land-use;

• 40 wetland classes were recognized; each wetland class reflects the characteristics of aquatic habitat. They are water quality, geomorphology, inundation, vegetation, and land use.

The wetland classification mapping is abiding by the Ramsar Convention’s image. It is corresponding to another international classification system (IUCN, MRCS, etc.). It is practical and suitable for inventory and management of wetland in the Mekong delta Vietnam.

For detailed maps in specific zones with a maximum area of several thousand hectares and at a scale from 1/25 000 to 1/10 000. The classification is described below.

Four Level Wetland Classification System for the Mekong River Delta 1999-2000.

Level: 1 Salt and Freshwater

Level: 2 Geomorphology

Level: 3 Inundation (permanent/duration)

Level: 4 Vegetation and land use Map scale: 1/250.000

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Thanks to support of Vietnam’s government, in 2001 and 2002 Vietnamese wetland team has been carrying out a program to set up a wetland classification for wetland mapping of Vietnam at scale of 1/1.000.000.

Wetland classification and mapping provide are base for wetland inventory so that much effort have been put into these activities. Major tasks for wetland classification have been determined as follows:

(i) Describing ecological units of homogenous properties.

(ii) Putting these units in a system to support decision-making process regarding natural resources management.

(iii) Determining classification units for inventory and mapping.

(iv) Providing homogenous terminology and conception for each wetland classification unit.

The classification is to put wetland units in a system to support resource managers and provide homogenous terms and concepts for each mapping unit.

The two basic issues manifested in the Ramsar Convention, “conservation” and “wise use” of values and properties of wetland ecosystem are also the ultimate objectives of wetland classification and studies. Therefore, the classification and mapping of wetland should support for these two objectives as the most important ones.

Wetland including biotic or non-biotic components such as soil, water, vegetation, and fauna is one of the most productive ecosystem on earth. Ramsar Convention (section 2.2) shows that the importance of wetland is determined on “ecological” “floral”, “faunal”, “catchments-basin” and “hydrological” basis. Therefore, classification of wetland should not be done basing on a single factor, but on a holistic conception of an ecosystem.

Classification system and map should be simple, easy and applicable for various sectors at different levels and users.

Wetland classification system should be hierarchical following eco-genesis view point, easy for grouping and further categorization in order to support decision making by management authorities and at different geographical regions. A hierarchical classification system is also convenient for setting up a database for wetland management, easy to link with regional and global classification systems, and at the same time, supporting detailed studies.

Information used for delineating boundaries of wetland units at each level should be measurable and/or identifiable in the field (especially by remote sensing method) in order to enable boundary demarcation and update when constructing maps of different scales. Wetland classification system should be the open-ended one to support updated categories.

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2.4 SATELLITE IMAGERY, LAND-USE GIS AND AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL FOR WETLANDS RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT

Up to now, satellite image is not common used for land use survey in the Mekong Basin Vietnam because procedure to buy it is some time complicated and take time to get it. Aerial photos are very useful for inventory and management natural resources, but they are very expensive. Rarely, aerial photos were used for forest survey in Vietnam. The GIS techniques are very commonly used in almost research institutes and land use management organizations. Followings are some information about satellite imagery, land-use GIS and aerial photographs which have been used at the national level for wetlands research and management:

a) For Construction Of Wetland Map Of Mekong delta (Scale 1/250,000), Vietnamese wetland team used integrated color satellite imageries LANDSAT – 5TM (Jan. – March, 1998), another support data got from following maps to categorize hierarchical classification of wetland formulated by MRC:

• USAMS, UTM topographic map (1/250,000) of Mekong delta.

• 1998 land use map (1/250,000) consolidated from provincial land use maps (1/100,000).

• Landform and sediment map of Mekong delta (1/250,000) constructed in 1989 during baseline survey of Mekong delta (60-02).

• Synthesis map of factors of water bodies (1/250,000) constructed in 1986 by 60-02 program.

• Map of flooded areas in Mekong delta (1/250,000) constructed by Southern Sub-institute for Water resource Management in 1984, 1994, 1996

b) CARE International in Vietnam is the implementing agency for the U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve Conservation and Community Development Project (1998 – 2003), which is funded by DANIDA. In 2001, expert of project had used satellite LANSAT TM, made in December 1998 to survey vegetation cover of U Minh Thuong National Park.

c) For monitoring land use in coastal belt along southern coast of Mekong delta, recently Sub-FIPI, January 2003 is using digital Satellite LANSAT TM 7 made in dry season, 2001 & 2002.

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3. LAWS AND INSTITUTION FRAMWORK FOR WETLAND MANAGEMENT 3.1 RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS REFERRED TO WETLAND

CONSERVATION IN THE MEKONG BASIN VIETNAM

Wetland management is addressed in many current laws and regulations. Some matters have been indirectly or separately regulated through policy on agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, aquatic resource exploitation and environmental protection.

The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam established public ownership of lands, forests, rivers, lakes, water heads and underground resources in Article 19, 1980 and in Article 17, 1992. Wetlands are publicly owned. This concept was reinforced in the Land Law (Articles 1 and 18, and 42 to 49, 1993), which uses the term ‘lands with water bodies’ (Article 48).

Doan Nang, (2000) reported that since 1976, authorities have passed more than 500 regulations relating to environment protection. Of these, about ten refer directly to wetlands, while the balance regulate indirectly through the protection of ecosystem components.

The Land Law does not establish a separate framework for wetlands management or specify the precise meaning of ‘lands with water bodies’, but includes wetlands as part of other specified lands (agriculture, forest). The Land Law affirms the need for environmental protection and unimpeded transportation on in-land waters, the need to implement measures for land protection, enhanced sedimentation, ecological protection and avoidance of any obstacles to national defense and sea traffic safety in coastal waters.

Wetland management issues are also referred to in sections of the Land Law relating to the protection and exploitation of aquatic resources. As in the case of land management, wetlands are defined as ‘lands with water bodies for aquaculture and aquatic resource exploitation’. Regulations are focused on encouraging economic exploitation of wetland resources and do not include a clear policy to address the protection, expansion or reduction of wetland areas.

Most of the current regulations are indirect and regulate wetlands through environmental protection, agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. A comprehensive framework is lacking. This has affected the protection and management of wetlands. Wetlands have been exploited to increase food production without adequate recognition of their other equally important environmental and economic functions.

Such legislation related to environment protection as National Plan for Environment and Sustainable Development (NPESD, 1991) comprised environmentally orientated national level development plans for various sectors including fisheries, barren lands, agriculture, and forestry. National Law on Environmental Protection (NLEP, 1993) and Decree 175/CP (1994) mainly concerned with discharges into the atmosphere and waterways;

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waste management and treatment of hazardous wastes; and the allocation of pollution control responsibilities between national and provincial level.

Vietnam Environmental Program and Policy Priorities for a Socialist Economy in Transition (WB, 1995) provides sets of strategic implementation plans, one of these, dealing with natural resources, includes “protect, rehabilitate and manage mangroves and inland marshes”, with a focus on the main components of the Mekong delta. Vietnam National Environmental Action Plan (VNNEAP, 1995) and Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP, 1994) form the basis for Vietnam's current and future activities in environmental matters.

In 1998, Government of Vietnam approved and implemented the proposed flood control and measures proposed in the plan. Many extension programs for improving the production of agriculture varieties have been developing in the provincial level. Those plans, however, mainly focused into the development action. The bio-diversity issues were not clearly addressed.

Currently, a National Strategy for Management and Sustainable Development of Wetlands is being drafted by the Ministry of Resources and Environment. This strategy is a result of several years of preparation and consultation, and will constitute the overall program for wetlands management in Vietnam. The action plan for conservation and wise use of wetlands in the Mekong delta, which is described in the present proposal, is the first concrete step to put the national strategy into practice. It is expected that a Decree for wetland protection and management will be passed by Prime Minister soon.

The Forestry Policy towards the year 2010 has as it’s main objectives: (i) conservation of natural resources: protection of watersheds, conservation of bio-diversity; (ii) sustainable forest development and land use: ecological sustainability, social sustainability, economic sustainability; (ii) long term benefits for rural population and country economy: improvement of living standards of rural population, development of mountainous areas.

Law of forest protection and development provides basic legal foundation for all fields related to forest conservation and use, in which wetland reserve is a category of special forests. Forestry Resource Protection and Development Act (1991) and Decree of the Council of Ministers No 264/CT (1992) encouraged investments for forestry development. Decision No 661/QD-TTg dated 29 July 1998 of Prime Minister regulated the objectives, responsibility, policy, and organization for implementing the Project to rehabilitate 5 million hectares of forest until the year 2010. According to this decision, first priority is paid for conservation and protection forests.

At regional level, major studies such as the Mekong delta Master Plan (1993), clearly defines guideline for the economically and environmentally sound and sustainable development of the delta, and puts high priority on the forestry and fisheries/aquaculture sectors. Environmental Profile of the Mekong delta (1993) proposes a regional environmental protection strategy and action programmes.

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The Inventory and Management of Wetland in the Lower Mekong Basin, co-ordinating by Mekong River Commission Secretariat, has been implementing since 1990 and ongoing to develop. Two pilot wetland sites (Tram Chim and Thanh Phu) are set up and given national conservation status. A well-trained squadron of scientists, the experiences of co-operation, database, digital wetland classification maps, management plans are precious output for conservation and management of wetlands in the Mekong delta Vietnam.

The Project of Coastal Wetlands Protection and Management, Southern Mekong delta, which initiated in may 2000, has main objectives are to restore, rehabilitate and improve the protection and economic use of coastal mangrove forest. Since August 1999, IUCN has developed the regional Project of Mekong River Basin Wetland Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use; the aims of Project are conservation and sustainable use of wetlands in the Mekong Basin. In Vietnam, Tram Chim and Lang Sen are selected to be demonstration sites of the Project.

Land use planning programs are carrying out at various levels of provinces, districts and villages. Those are strongly controlling wetland use and management of the Mekong delta in the next few years. Care International has been working in U Minh Thuong for developing sustainable use practices in the peat forest. Oxfam US and Can Tho University are developing community based Meleleuca replanting programmes in the Plain of Reed. Forest Science Sub-Institute in association with JICA developed the models for rehabilitation and sustainable development of Melaleuca forest in Tan Thanh, Long An.

Recently, the Mekong River Commission’s Secretariat has developing 3 comprehensive programs related to all fields of environmental monitoring and natural resources use of the Mekong Basin. They are Water Utilisation Planning (WUP), Basin Development Planning (BDP) and Environmental Program (EP). The Environmental Program comprises 5 components: (A) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment; (B) Environment Decision Support; (C) Strategic Networking and Co-ordination; (D) Capacity and Awareness Building; (E) Support Studies and Research Facilitation. In the framework of Environmental Program, the sub-component A2 (People and Aquatic Ecosystems) is closely referring to this proposed project. To prepare this proposal, it is assumed that the MRCS’s Environment Program will be developed smoothly and the program will solve significantly problem addressed.

3.2. NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION OF WETLANDS

Up to now, there is no a single entity in charge of wetland management and conservation. At national level, ministerial institutions closely involve in wetland conservation are Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), Ministry of Science Technology and Environment (MOSTE), Ministry of Fishery (MoF), Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), General Department for Land Administration. The

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wetlands are opened complicated ecosystems so the uses and potential uses of wetlands cover a wide range of activities and mandate of several department and ministries.

(1) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: has wide ranging powers in relation to the management of natural resources.

Since 1996, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was established on base of the mergence of three ministries, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Forestry and Ministry of Water Resources, facilitated stronger co-operation between line-institutions involved in wetland activities. Almost wetlands used for agriculture and irrigations are under controlling by MARD. Particularly, all wetland conservation sites are considered as special use forest except few marine protected areas. These special forests are under controlling and checking by Department of Forest Protection and Management.

The Function, Task and Authority, and Organization of MARD are defined in the Decree No. 73/CP, on 1st November 1995 and it was revised in July 2003.

Key departments are:

• Department of Forestry is responsible for all aspects of forest plantation management, timber and other forest production activities.

• Forest Protection Department is responsible for management of watershed forests and protected areas

• Department of Irrigation is responsible for the use of water resources for agricultural uses.

• Department of Water Management is responsible for the management of the national water resources.

(2) The Vietnam National Mekong Committee (VNMC) was established since September 1978 by decision 237-CP of the Government’s Prime Minister. Main duties of VNMC are:

• To cooperate with the MRC member countries in elaborating and implementing the Agreement on the Cooperation for Sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin.

• To surveillance, monitor and manage water and resources in the Mekong River Basin to protect national interests through the Basin Development Plan and Basin-Wide projects especially projects on the mainstream.

• To Cooperate with co-basin countries, other countries, NGO’s international organizations and the ministries, agencies at the ministerial level, the government’s organizations and local people’s committees concerned for

Deleted: Vietnam ¶

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proposing the Mekong Projects with the aim to protecting and developing the Mekong delta and the Central Highlands.

• To define, together with the member countries and Mekong Secretariat, procedures in managing and implementing the Mekong Projects.

At the present, VNMC joins in coordinating activities in the MRC through core programs: Water Utilization Programme, Basin Development Plan, and Environment Programme; other sector programmes are Fishery, Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme, Water Resources, Navigation, Tourism and Capacity Programmes.

Concerning to wetland inventory and management in the Mekong Basin, the National Mekong River Committee of Vietnam has mandate to co-ordinate all activities related to water use in the Mekong delta and international co-operation in the Mekong Basin wide.

(3) Ministry of Resources and Environment:

The Department of Environment Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for policy development and co-ordination of environmental action in Vietnam, but it has no role in the management of wetlands. The NEA is the contact agency for the International Convention on Wetlands (The Ramsar Convention), and is the focal point for the Convention on Biodiversity.

Recent years, EPA presides following programs:

• Biodiversity action plan, which was prepared in 1994;

• Towards A National Wetlands Program;

• Review of list of critical wetlands;

• Development of a Marine Protected Area;

• Mekong River Basin Wetland Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Program;

• Developing the national strategy for conservation and wise of wetlands;

• Formulation of Nation Wetland Program.

(4) Ministry of Fisheries: is responsible for the use of aquatic resources, both sea-fishing and freshwater fisheries, as well as fish farming and aquaculture.

Other agencies with a role in the management and use of wetlands include:

(5) Ministry of Planning and Investment: responsible for the overall development planning in the country;

3.3 NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INSTITUTES

(6). Forest inventory and planning institute (FIPI)

Deleted: ¶¶¶National Background – Strengthened National Capacity for Wetland Management¶¶¶¶¶NATIONAL NARRATIVE SUMMARY¶¶¶

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FIPI established on 9th September 1961, named Forest Inventory and Planning Department, in 1976 it is renamed “Forest Inventory and Planning Institute”. The roles and responsibilities of FIPI:

• Organizing for implementing and united managing forest inventory and planning activities;

• Monitoring forest resources variation and environment, establishing and managing database of forest resources;

• Basic inventory of forest fauna and flora, site and forest environment whole country, recurrently proclaiming forest data;

• Elaborating strategies for management and development of forest resources and environments;

• Basic study and applying research results on forest and forest environment management;

• Preparing norms and technical standards in forest inventory and planning;

• International co-operation in terms of forest inventory and planning, providing consultant assistance in forest inventory and planning program and development programs.

FIPI is technical assistant body to formulate management and investment plans of almost protected areas and forests that include wetland conservations in the country.

(7) Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR)

The Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR) was founded by the decision of the Council of Ministers (HDBT 65/CT) on 5th March 1990. Its function consists of studying biological resources and typical ecosystems in order to supply the needs of the population in foodstuffs, food grains, consumer goods, to recommend planning activities for socio-economic development and environmental protection and to carry out the education and training of scientists on ecology and biological resources.

Confined to wetland inventory, in 1999 IEBR had joined in co-operation with Birdlife International, in the framework of project No. VN015401, to survey wetlands in the Mekong Delta Vietnam Result of survey presented in Conservation report No.12 &13: Conservation of important wetlands in the Mekong delta.

The institute also carried out the research deals with aquatic ecosystems of the coastal littoral areas of North Vietnam. It pays special attention to aquatic resources such as mollusc, crustaceans (penaeid shrimps, shellfish, etc.) and to monitor cyclical processes and energetic ecology for the rational and optimal utilization of these ecosystems. The resultant data on soil, water, humidity, acidity, salinity, vegetation characteristics and bio-

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aquatic resources help to apply models for the optimal utilization of coastal areas and brackish water bodies.

3.4. REGIONAL AND PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Several institutes and universities have base in Ho Chi Minh city and in the Mekong delta involve in research and inventory of wetlands in Mekong delta.

In line-institution for implementing the Project of Inventory and Management of Wetlands in the Mekong delta, Sub-Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning is leading agency. This institute collaborate with Research Institute of Aquaculture No.2, Sub-Institute of Agriculture Planning and Projection, Sub-Institute of Water Resources Management and Planning, Southern Station of Hydro-Meteorology, setting a core team for inventory and formulating management plans of wetlands in the Mekong delta Vietnam.

University of Can Tho, University of Ho Chi Minh City, Forest Agriculture University in Ho Chi Minh City, BirdLife International also closely co-operate with above institutions and have carried out many wetland activities in the Mekong delta.

(8). The Sub-Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning II (Sub-FIPI)

The Sub-Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning II, so-called sub-FIPI is belonging to Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning (FIPI). This government institute established in 1976, base in Ho Chi Minh City, for study inventory and planning for forest conservation and development in Vietnam. The activity scopes of Sub-FIPI mainly focus in 21 provinces in the South of Vietnam. Sub-FIPI has qualified staff in the following aspects:

• Wetland ecology monitoring,

• Biodiversity assessment and monitoring,

• Inventory and monitoring the variation of forest resources,

• Forest silviculture inventory,

• Socio-economy inventory and assessment,

• Forest land evaluation and planning,

• Formulating the strategies and management plans of forest resources,

• Providing technical assistance for inventory and management,

• Assisting training, education and extension to local community,

• Analyzing aerial and satellite photos,

• Mapping, GIS and database designing and monitoring.

In term of International Cooperation sub-FIPI has involved in following projects:

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• Counterpart team to prepare the Mekong Delta Master Plan (UNDP/VNG/NEDECO), in 1992-1994.

• Leading counterpart agency to prepare the Project of Coastal Wetland Protection and Development;(WB/VNG/Euroconsult/Sub-FIPI/RIA-2), in 1996.

• Leading counterpart agency to carry out the Rehabilitation of Mangrove forest, Southern Mekong Delta; (co-operation project by Euroconsult with Haskoning and Sub-FIPI), from 1996-2000.

• Leading counterpart agency to carry out the project Forest based on development of the Long Xuyen Quadrangle, 1994-1997.

• Leading agency to carry out the Project of Inventory and Management of Wetland in the Mekong Delta, from 1990-2000 this project is transferred to sub-component of People and Aquatic Ecosystems in the Environmental Program of the MRCS since 2000.

Internal activities have been implemented by sub-FIPI in the Mekong delta since 5 year ago including:

• Formulating master plans and designing plans to development of forestry in almost of provinces in Mekong delta;

• Formulating the plan of development forestry in the focal ecological zone of Mekong river estuarial area and development plan of forestry for the Plain of Reeds;

• Formulating conservation projects for all wetland reserves and national park in the Mekong delta, the Tram Chim national park and Thanh Phu wetland nature reserve in the Mekong River estuary are examples.

(9). The Sub-Institute for Water Resources Planning (SIWRP)

SIWRP comprises two planning divisions for the Mekong Delta and the Dong Nai River Basin, a hydrological division, a topographic survey division, Center of Water Quality and Environment and other management offices. Functions and activities of (SIWRP) are:

• Preparing integrated plans for development and protection of water resources in river basins,

• Participating regional, provincial and sector master plans relating to water resources development,

• Preparing strategies for water resources and other sector development relating to water use and water environment,

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• Carrying out studies of water control projects, including pre-feasibility, feasibility and detailed design,

• Carrying out water resources and water environment surveys and research programs; and

• Monitoring the implementation of projects dealing with water resources and water environment.

(10). Research Institute of Aquaculture No.2 (RIA2)

RIA2 is a governmental institution assigned by the ministry of fisheries to be responsible for research activities on aquaculture development, post harvest technologies and management of environment and inland fisheries resources in the southern Vietnam. Functions and responsibilities are:

• Carry out survey on aquatic environment, coastal and inland fisheries resources and identify strategies for management, sustainable utilization and conservation of coastal and inland fisheries resources in the southern Vietnam;

• Assess impacts of water resources management on fisheries;

• Carry out research into technologies of aquaculture in marine, brackish and fresh water, including breeding, artificial propagation, grow-out farming systems of potential aquatic species, and other related issues such as: aquatic animal diseases, live food and formulated feed, etc…

• Study on post – harvest technologies, processing techniques of aquatic products;

• Provide extension and other services related to aquaculture development and fisheries resources management;

• Cooperate with universities/colleges in training and education of human resource in fishery sector;

• Build up cooperation with internal and external institutions to carry out research into concerned issues transfer of technologies and extension.

(11). Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center (SRHMC)

Southern Regional Hydro-Meteorological Center (SRHMC) was established according to Decision of Prime Minister No.133/TTg on 30th March 1993, on the basis of merging the Hydro-Meteorological stations in the Mekong delta. Main functions and responsibilities of SRHMC, confined to wetland inventory and management in the Mekong river basin, are:

• Managing, organizing, observing, calibrating measured database of meteorology, oceanography, environment;

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• Providing meteorological and hydrological forecasts (short, medium and long term) and dangerous weather, hydrological phenomena.

(12). University of Agriculture and Forestry (UAF)

Covering substantive educational programs and development projects, the UAF’s mandates can be classified as follows:

• To train experts in science and technology (agriculture, agriculture-related, engineering, foreign languages, education and economics) with high academic standards, morality and creativity;

• To carry out research supporting efficient and sustainable use of agricultural and natural resources;

• To create an information center disseminating appropriate, advanced knowledge and technology to communities;

• To cooperate with domestic and international organizations assisting research and development activities leading to economic improvement and sustainable natural resource conservation in the region;

In term of wetland inventory and management, recently UAF has joined with ICLARM to carry out the project “Framework for implementation of the inception stage of the "wetlands approach" program to be implemented by ICLARM in collaboration with national and regional partners (2000- 2003).

(13). Can Tho University (CTU)

Founded in 1966, Can Tho University (CTU) is among the leading universities in Vietnam. It has built, over the years, a broad network of international cooperation.

CTU offers training programs leading to Bachelor, Master and Ph.D. degrees in various fields. Under the strategic plan for the first decade of the new millennium, the projected number of full time students will increase annually by more than 2000 students. In the view of this forecasted increase, a comprehensive review has been carried out in order to allow any future growth on campus to be implemented at various stages.

Colleges and schools include Sciences, Agriculture; Technology; Information Technology. School of Education: 4 year high school teacher training programs; School of Economics and Business Administration; School of Medicine-Dentistry-Pharmacy; School of Law; Satellite Colleges in Mekong Delta provinces. Research institutes: Biotechnology Research and Development Institute (BIRDI) Research and development in applied microbiology.

Mekong Delta Farming System Research and Development Institute Research; Institute for Marine Aquaculture (IMA) Research on production of shrimps, fishes, crabs, artemia biomass and cysts are closely linkage with wetland conservation and management.

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3.5. PROVINCIAL AND SITE LEVELS

Institutions mainly control wetland activities in provinces are: Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Department of Forest Management and Protection (DFMP), Department of Science Technology and Environment (DOSTE), Department of Fishery (DoF), Department of Planning and Investment (DPI), Department for Land Administration (DLA).

Organisations directly manage wetland sites and implement wetland activities are Forest Enterprises (FE), Management Boards of Forest Protection Belt, of the Nature Reserve and National Park.

3.6. NONE GOVERNMENT AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

(14). Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (CRES) Vietnam National University in Hanoi

Established in 1985, CRES engages in environmental and resource management policy research and training related to Vietnamese upland, lowland, and wetland agriculture. CRES is structured as a research division of the Vietnam National University in Hanoi, itself a tertiary education unit governed by the Ministry of Education and Training.

CRES has become a prominent force in the fields of biodiversity conservation, human ecology research, mangrove ecosystem research, agro-ecosystems development, and environmental impact assessment. Through its publications, workshops, seminars, and training courses, CRES has also become an influential force in the promotion of environmental and cultural awareness. CRES research activities are carried out by research groups, including the Agro-ecosystem Group, the Upland Working Group, the Lowland Working Group, the Environmental Impact Assessment Group, the Biodiversity.

Conservation Group, the Mangrove Ecosystem Group, and the Geographic Information Systems Group. CRES also engages in education and training activities. A six-month course is offered in environmental studies focusing on ecological approaches to conservation, resource utilization, and land management; a ten-month course is offered in environmental impact assessment; and a three-month course focuses on the human dimensions of upland resource management. CRES plays a unique role in Vietnam as a bridge between national environmental research and training centers, state ministries, and international organizations. (15) International Union for Conservation of the Nature (IUCN)

IUCN – The World Conservation Union in the oldest international conservation organization in the world, with over 2,000 staff operating out of some 30 Regional and country offices.

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IUCN was instrumental in the drafting of the International Convention for the Protection of Wetlands of global significance, the “Ramsar Convention”, and we are one of the four partner organizations to the Ramsar Convention Bureau.

The IUCN Global Wetlands Program comprises specialists in the fields of delta management, mangrove rehabilitation, water quality management, legislation, planning, economics, and environmental assessment. We have successfully undertaken a great number of projects on all aspects of wetland conservation and management.

IUCN has an extensive breadth of experience with wetlands biodiversity conservation and natural resources management projects throughout Asia. These projects range from the introduction of guidelines for forest rehabilitation in the Mekong Region and buffer zone management in Vietnam to environmental impact assessments of major hydropower developments in Lao PDR. IUCN have assisted the Governments of Bangla Desh. Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam in developing environmental action priorities, policies and investments. Following projects have been implementing by IUCN in Vietnam few year ago:

• Towards a National Wetlands Program. The project aims to raise awareness about wetlands in Vietnam, by carrying out a number of strategic activities.

• Biodiversity Action Plan. IUCN was subcontracted by the World Wide Fund for Nature to write the Biodiversity Action Plan for Vietnam for the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, a task that was completed in late 1994.

• Review of List of Critical Wetlands. IUCN has been asked by NEA to review the list through its Commission of Ecosystem Management.

• Development of a Marine Protected Area. IUCN is developing a proposal for the establishment of the first Marine Protected Area in Hon Mun, Khanh Hoa Province.

• Mekong River Basin Wetland Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Program. IUCN has signed a contract with UNDP to develop a proposal for a large GEF funded project in the Mekong basin. The project will be implemented from June 1999 to June 2000.

(16). Birdlife International

Birdlife International is a global conservation federation with a worldwide network of Partner organizations, Representatives and committed individuals.

Birdlife International seeks to conserve all bird species on earth and their habitats and, through this, it works for the world’s biological diversity. It recognizes that the problems the problems affecting birds, their habitats and our global environment are linked inseparably with social, economic and cultural factors and that these can only be resolved

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if human societies function in an ecologically sustainable manner and if the needs, welfare and aspiration of people form a part of all conservation action.

Birdlife International pursues a program of:

• Scientific research and analysis to identify and monitor worldwide the most threatened bird species and the most critical sites for the conservation of bird diversity.

• Advocacy and policy development to promote the conservation of bird and biodiversity through sustainability in the use of all natural resources;

• Field action and country conservation program, ranging from community-based land-use and management project to species recovery program benefiting both wildlife and people;

• Network and capacity building to expand and strengthen the global partnership of conservation organizations and to promote worldwide interest in the conservation of bird and wider environment;

4. IMPORTANT WETLAND SITES IN THE MEKONG DELTA

In term of biodiversity and natural conservation ten wetland sites briefly presented in the following pages are regularly appeared in context of environmental protection of the Mekong delta. Full information sheet of two most important wetland sites (Tram Chim and U Minh Thuong) were presented in annex 4.

4.1. U MINH THUONG NATIONAL PARK

Province: KIEN GIANG

Geographic co-ordinate: 9o 31’- 9o 39’N 105o 03’ - 105o 07’E

Area: 8154 ha, and 13,000 ha surrounding the park are buffer zone

Wetland types: Peat land, swamp Melaleleuca forest, swamp, grassland and open water, water ways. Part of the site was severely destroyed by fire in dry season (2002). However 4826 ha is intact wetlands, of which more than 600 hectare of mature forest on peat-land can provide enough seedling for rehabilitation of the site. Now, the Melaleuca ecosystem is quickly revitalized.

Flora: Dominated by Melaleuca , and Trema orientalis in forest edge, ground flora comprised abundant fern: Stenoclaena palustris, Aplenium sp, and Phragmites vallatoria, Eleocharis dulsis, aquatic and sub-aquatic species such as Eichhorlia crassipes, Salvinia cullulata, Impomoe aquatica.etc. Mature

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forest supported relative high species richness of woodland bird.

Bird/Wildlife: About 185 bird species found in the site of which 8 species are globally threaten such as (Anhinga melagonaster), (Mycteria leucocophala) (Anastomus leucocephala), (Leptotilos javanicus). Typical reptiles are (Python molurus), (Bulgarus fasciatus).

Fishery: About 37 fish species found, comprising 9 valuable economical species, such as Anabas testudineus, Notopterus notopterus; Channa striata; Channa lucius; Channa micropeltes; Trichogastes pectoralis; Trichopterus trichopterus; Clarias macrocephalus; Clarias batrachus. Three fish species are in Red Book of Vietnam. Yearly, water gates in the core were opened to provide natural aquatic seedling for communities in the buffer zone. Natural fish production in the core was estimated as some hundred thousand Million Vietnam Dong per year. Local communities strongly depend on these resources.

Value of the site: Remnant of typical landscape, important habitat of bird and wildlife, storage of fish and aquatic product, historical site

Management Status: Natural park managed by provincial authority.

4.2 TRAM CHIM NATIONAL PARK

Province: DONG THAP

Geographic co-ordinate 10o40’-10o47’N 105o26’-105o36’

Area: 7588 ha

Wetland types: Inland wetlands: Melaleuca swamp, Seasonally inundated grassland, Lotus swamp

Flora: Seasonally inundated grassland, regenerating (Melaleuca) forest and open swamp, (Eleocharis) and wild rice (Oryza rufipogon), Melaleuca plantation, Lotus swamp

Bird/Wildlife: Large populations of water birds are found at the site, particularly in the winter when many thousands of waterfowl visit, particular importance is the population of Sarus Crane of the eastern subspecies (sharpii)

Fishery: High potential of fishery resources, local communities strongly depend on these resources

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Value of the site: Rare birds confined to the site: Sarus Crane, Bengal Florican, Grass Owl (Tyto capensis), Greater Painted-snipe, Intermediate Egret (Mesophyx intermedia), Shikra (Accipiter badius), Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) and buttonquail Turnix sp. Remnant of landscape; typical inundated flood plains

Management Status: National Park, state management by provincial government

4.3 LANG SEN NATURE RESERVE

Province: LONG AN

Geographic co-ordinate: 10o44’-10o48’N 105o4 – 105o48’E

Area: 3,280 ha and surrounding area

Wetland types: Inland wetlands: Seasonally flooded (Melaleuca forest, open swamp, seasonally flooded grasslands

Flora: Semi-natural Melaleuca swamp, (Syzgygium spp.) Elaeocarpus hygrophilus, Ficus microcarpa, and Cassia grandis. Cayratia trifolia and Flagellia indica. Lotus swamp, river band vegetation, they are type characteristics of the Plain of Reeds.

Bird/Wildlife: Wetland-dependent birds in particular were scarce, with only some of the commonest water-bird species e.g. Little Cormorant, Chinese Pond Heron, Cinnamon Bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus), Yellow Bittern (I. sinensis), Black Bittern, and Spot-billed Duck.

Fishery: The site has high potential of natural fishery product and local communities strongly depend on these resources

Value of the site: Habitat of bird, fishery product, typical landscape of the former Plain of Reed, eco-tourism

Management Status: Production forest, parts of the site are private and community management status

4.4 THANH PHU NATURE RESERVE

Province: BEN TRE

Geographic co-ordinate: The site located in the estuaries of Mekong River. It is strongly controlled by tide from the sea and water regime of Mekong River

Area: 4800 ha

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Wetland types: Estuary wetlands: natural mangrove swamp, mangrove plantation, mud-flat, sandy beach, natural water ways, shrimp ponds

Flora: About 60 species of real mangrove were recorded at the reserve. Half of the site covered by Rhizophora plantation, several communities consist of natural plants such as Soneratia alba on mud-flat inundated by low tidal, A. alba on clay or sandy soils inundated by medium tidal, mixed communities of A. alba, A.officinalis, Rhizophora mucronata, B.sexangula on hard clay soil inundated by medium tide, R.mucronata, A.alba,A. officinalis, B. sexangula on hard clay inundated by high tide

Bird/Wildlife: The site provides habitats for 60 bird species, 27 species of reptile, 8 species of frogs and 16 species of mammal

Fishery/ Aquaculture: The site is high value habitat of several fish, shellfish. 5 species of the 20 shrimp species are high commercial values. 96 species of fish use habitats of the site, including 63 salt water fish, 32 brackish and 3 are fresh water. The site is very valuable to local communities in extensive aquaculture.

Value of the site: Representative in the river mouth; natural succession of mangrove, historical site, and coastal protection

Management Status: The site consists of 3 main zones; the core is fully protected; experimental zone is used for wise use models; protection zone used for coastal protection. It was given nature reserve status in 1998 and managed by provincial authority of Ben Tre

4.5 TRA SU NATURE RESERVE

Province: An Giang

Geographic co-ordinate: 10o33’-10o36’N 105o02’-105o04’E

Area: 860 ha

Wetland types: Inland wetlands: Seasonally flooded swamp, Seasonally inundated grassland

Flora: Melaleuca plantation, Open grassland communities

Bird/Wildlife: three globally near-threatened species (Painted Stork, Oriental Darter, Asian Golden)

Fishery: None data available

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Management Status Tra Su is commercial Production Forest, local staff management

4.6 TINH DOI FOREST FISH ENTERPRISE

Province: AN GIANG

Geographic co-ordinate: 10o18’-10o23’N 105o02’-105o05’E

Area: 2,053 ha

Wetland types: Inland wetlands: Seasonally inundated grassland, seasonally flooded swamp, seasonally inundated grassland,

Flora: Melaleuca plantation, the ground flora was often sparse but included grasses such as Eleocharis dulcis and species from the Poaceae

Bird/Wildlife: The areas of grassland have good populations of common water birds such as Purple Swamp-hen and Little Cormorant. Of particular interest were two species that are scarce and seriously declining in South-East Asia: a group of five Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos), and two Woolly-necked Storks

Fishery: High potential of fresh water fish

Value of the site: The Melaleuca plantation supports a low species richness of common woodland birds, such as Golden-bellied Gerygone, Pied Fantail and Olive-backed Sunbird

Management Status: This site is commercial Production Forest; the management authority is the army

4.7 HA TIEN GRASS PLAINS

Province: Kien Giang

Geographic co-ordinate: North-west of Ha Tien town (10o20’-10o29’N 104o32’-104o39’E). Kien Luong district (10o09’-10o17’N 104o34’-104o42’E

Area: 16000 ha

Flora: Mixture of grassland, Melaleuca scrub and Nypa fruticans swamp

Wetland types: Grassland, inundated swamp forest

Bird/Wildlife: Sarus Crane of the eastern subspecies Sharpii, globally endangered White-shouldered Ibis, Globally vulnerable Spot-billed Pelican, the globally near-threatened Painted Stork and

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a group of eight Woolly-necked Storks, a species that has declined throughout much of Asia, Bengal Florican

Fishery: Non data available

Value of the site: Bird habitats

Management Status: Ha Tien grass plains are belonging to various organizations both private and governmental sectors and they are using for both commercial and natural objectives

4.8 LUNG NGOC HOANG NATURE RESERVE

Province: CAN THO

Geographic co-ordinate: 9o 41’ - 9o 45’ N 105o 39’- 105o 43’ E

Area: 2800 ha

Wetland types: Inland wetlands: Melaleuca plantation, rice field, seasonally inundated grassland

Flora: 330 plant species recorded at the site. Main vegetation is Melaleuca plantation. So far, the site is commercial forest. Since 2001, it was restored to be a conservation site. Grassland and aquatic plant communities include Eleocharis dulsis, Eichhornia crassipes, and Ludwidgia adscendends

Bird/Wildlife: 135 bird species 9 rare birds, such as Bac Ma (Phalacrocorax carbo); Ga day lon (Leptoptilos dubius); Gia day (L. javanicus); Co Oc (Anastomus oscitans); Ca cuoc (Pseudibis gigantea); Giang sen (Ibis leucocephalus). Two globally threatened birds are Co Ran (Anhinga melanogaster) and Quam Trang (Threskiornis melanocephalus). 23 mammal species, of which 5 rare species, 37 species of reptile, and 11 frog species.

Fishery: 77 species of fish recorded in the site equal 44% total fresh water fish found in the Mekong Delta. Two threatened fish are Ca Com (Notopterus chilata) and Tre trang (Clarias batrachus). Relative high potential of fish resources.

Value of the site: Providing fish, fuel wood, and historic site

Management Status: So far, it is commercial enterprise. The site was divided into several plots for cultivation. In 2001, government decided to restore it into natural status. It will take long time to rehabilitate former situation. Recently, the site is state management by provincial authority

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4.9. VO DOI NATURE RESERVE

Province: CA MAU

Geographic co-ordinate: 9o 11’ – 9o 18’ N 104o 52’ - 104o 59’ E

Area: 3724 ha

Wetland types: Inland wetlands: Peat land; swamp forest, seasonally inundated grassland

Flora: Semi-natural Melaleuca forest, Melaleuca plantation and grassland, some broadleaf tree found in mixing with Melaleuca are Ilex cymosa, Alstonia spathulata; Climbing plants are Stenochlaena palustris, Flagellaria indica, Scleria sumatrensis. Floating plant community are Eichhornia crassipes, Impoea aquatica, Ludwidgia adscendens

Bird/Wildlife: 82 bird species were reported by Birdlife International in 1999, such as small bittern (Ixobrychus, Dupertor) Bronze –winged Jacanas and purple swamphens (Porphyrio porphyrio).

Fishery: The site is highly valuable habitat of fresh water fish including ca ro dong (Anabas testudineus); ca that lat (Notopterus notopterus); ca loc (Channa striata); ca day (Channa lucius); ca loc bong (Channa micropeltes), ca sac ran (Trichogastes pectoralis); ca sac buom (Trichopterus trichopterus); ca tre vang (Clarias macrocephalus); ca tre trang (Clarias batrachus)

Value of the site: Remnant of peat land and semi-natural Melaleuca forest, habitat of fresh water fish and water bird

Management Status: Nature reserve managed by provincial authority

4.10 MUI CA MAU NATIONAL PARK

Province: CA MAU

Geographic co-ordinate: 8o 38’ – 8o 47’ N; 104o 45’ - 104o 54’ E

Area: The site includes the southernmost tip of Vietnam, combining Dat Mui and Ong Trang Reserves, Bai Boi and coastal zone. Total natural area of the site is about 46,000 hectares (15000 ha of newly land and 21,000 shallow sea). Anon (1994) stated

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"every year about 100 m of mangrove is formed on the alluvial bank". A part of the site was strongly disturbed by aquaculture activities but since 1996 these activities were stopped. Assuming that physical and ecological conditions for mangrove development are still met in the area, the wetland ecosystem may recover after cessation of the human activities.

Wetland types: Sub-tidal and tidal coastal wetlands: mud flat, mangrove swamp, shrimp ponds

Flora: The site covered by natural young mangrove plants. They colonize and succeed on the newly formed lands through natural successive process. Hundred species of real mangrove plants are high salty tolerate representatives. Mangrove vegetation is dominated by Avicennia alba closest to the sea, and Rhizophora apiculata is further inland

Bird/Wildlife: The complex of mudflats and area of open generating mangrove provided excellent habitat for migrate shorebird, herons, egrets, gulls and terns. But the other faunal species have also disappeared or have been greatly decimated in former Dat Mui reserve. Wild pig, otter, fishing cat, monkey, deer, and other species have occurred in the area, but with the present high pressure it is unlikely that viable populations of these species still survive.

Fishery/Aquaculture: The site provides nutrient pool for high range of aquatic species in the mangrove ecosystem. Aquaculture in the site is forbidden.

Value of the site: Representative of natural succession, habitats of migrant water bird and sea products, coastal protection, mangrove wood, historical site, eco-tourism.

Management status: The site consists of several zones that are fully protected (reserve and coastal belt). This site is formulating to be national park.

5. REVIEW OF EXISTING DOCUMENTS, PAPERS ON WETLANDS IN MEKONG BASIN OF VIETNAM

There are enormous information and data concerning to wetland environment and wetland uses in the Vietnam Mekong Basin (VMB). Unfortunately, the information collected for various objectives at different times, the accuracy and comprehensive levels of data were not determinable, and so they are not well designed in term of wetland

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conservation context. For that reason, the compilation of data and information as well structured are sufficient for inventory and management of wetlands in the VMB.

Those are national level programs, projects and on site documents. Almost these documents are collected and available in electric files, some of them are in Vietnamese language. Followings briefly review documentations that contain high relevant information to wetland conservation and use in the Mekong Basin of Vietnam.

5.1. NATIONAL WETLAND CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS [NEA, 2000]

The Government of Vietnam has embarked on a process of developing a Vietnam National Program for the Conservation and Management of its wetlands. The development process is done under a seven-month project, the National Wetlands Conservation and Management Program Formulation Project. This project receives funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy, and is technically assisted by IUCN-The World Conservation Union. The Environment Protection in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment implements the program. The outcome of this formulation process is two-fold:

A national wetlands strategy for Vietnam. The strategy is the official Government document indicating its general policies in relation to wetland management.

A National Wetlands Program document for Vietnam. This document describes a 5 years implementation program aimed at improving wetland conservation and management. It is expected that the program initially paid for by the Royal Netherlands Embassy.

It is expected that the proposed Vietnam National Wetlands Program will go beyond nature conservation, as many wetlands in Vietnam are being used for agriculture (the delta’s), fisheries (coastal wetlands and the delta’s), hydro-power (up-land wetlands) and a variety of other uses. As such, the mandate for different aspects of wetland management is scattered across a number of Government ministries and departments. Initial discussions also revealed that the actual management activities of wetlands in Vietnam would be largely the responsibility of provincial and local governments.

5.2. PROTECTING VIETNAM'S COASTAL WETLANDS [WORLD BANK, 2000]

The Coastal Wetlands Protection and Development Project are being implemented in the Southern Mekong Delta provinces of Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh. A US$31.8 million IDA credit to re-establish the coastal mangroves of Vietnam's Mekong Delta and improve the livelihoods of up to 600,000 poor people was approved by the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors. During the six-year implementation period (since 2002), the project will link environmental conservation with poverty alleviation in the project area. Accordingly, the project will restore coastal mangroves in a full

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protection zone and support diversified and sustainable farming techniques in an adjacent buffer zone, while limiting economic activities and coastal developments that are threats to the mangroves.

"The rural poor in the project area have had few income-generating opportunities other than exploiting coastal forest resources to the point where the benefits from them have seriously eroded. From available data, about 60 percent of the mangrove cover were lost between 1984 and 1994 due to logging and mostly failed shrimp farm development in the main project areas," said Agricultural Ecologist Ronald Zweig, the project’s task team leader. "By restoring the mangroves, reducing encroachment, and providing options for stable income generation in the vicinity, this project will help preserve a vital natural resource that provides protection from coastal storms, conserves biodiversity, and revitalizes habitats for commercially important aquatic species”.

Application of appropriate management of mangrove forests will also sustainable provide wood products from thinning activities, as well as a range of food and household items such as roof thatching material, medicinal plants, and honey.

The Government of Vietnam is targeting agricultural productivity and coastal resource management as part of its recent rural development strategy. "This project supports the Government’s emphasis on the importance of reforestation, natural resource conservation, and socio-economic development by targeting a coastal area affected by extreme poverty and severe loss of mangrove forests and critical natural habitats,” said Zweig.

5.3. FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INCEPTION STAGE OF THE "WETLANDS APPROACH", [ICLARM,1999]

Sida approved the support the program/project "Legal and Institutional Framework, and Economic Valuation of Resources and Environment in the Mekong River Region: a Wetlands Approach". The support will cover the period 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2003 as indicated in the letter from Sida, dated July 6, 2000.

However, for a continued support from 1 January 2001 Sida requires ICLARM to revise the project/program document (dated March 1999). It is suggested that general reference are made to the recommendations given in the appraisal report, dated March 2000, by Dr. Jan Rudengren.

Development objective

According to the program/project document the development objective is "to enhance the quality of life of people in the Mekong River Region by supporting environmentally sound development, and sustaining and improving the awareness of values and functions of wetlands in the Mekong River Region".

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Immediate objective

The immediate objective is to improve, the national legal and institutional operational framework, and to increase local capacity to manage wetlands and its resources and the environment in the Mekong River Region.

The observations made in the appraisal report is that "the Immediate Objective or Project Purpose is too general, and complex as it in reality contains five objectives:

• Improve national legal framework;

• Improve national institutional framework;

• Increase local capacity to manage wetlands;

• Increase local capacity to manage wetland resources;

• Increase local capacity to manage the environment;

The outputs are also non-specific and an observation is that the project may have been defined at a too high level. Thus, the output level should be the project purpose level. The project would generally benefit from stricter definitions. The current outcome may be the result of trying to use the regional level as the base for definition of objectives and outputs of the program. One way of achieving more specific objectives and outputs would be to define these at the national level and use the regional workshop as a means to define the strategy of the proposed program.

Subsequently the immediate objectives should be revisited at the national workshops within the context of the respective national needs and perceptions.

The comment and subsequent recommendations is interesting as it reflects much of the discussions that went on during the regional workshop. As is mentioned in the 'Process report" in the early stages of the regional meeting in Khon Kaen (March 1999) there were a fist of seven objectives that corresponds to the outputs fisted below. During group works and plenary sessions it was preferred by the participants to go for one single objective trying to cover the essence of the outputs fisted below (the fist of former seven objectives). The former immediate objectives were than considered to come in at the output /eye/. The point is well taken as it was very much part of the discussions during the meeting.

The point is also well taken in that it gives a good indication that at country level it will open a possibility to take a look at the immediate objectives within the national context. This in turn will provide a basis for formulation of the "strategy for the implementation of the program" as suggested. With reference to Section XVI (Plan of Implementation) the suggested recommendation are in fine with already planned step - the addition is that also the immediate objectives will be included in a more constructive way in each of the countries.

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Outputs

According to the program/project document outputs were listed in a general way without specific priority attached to each of them. Listed outputs were:

• Increased understanding of wetland management issues at local, provincial, national and regional levels;

• Improved capacity of riparian countries to promote Sustainable wetland and aquatic resources management;

• Improved linkages and networks on wetland management between institutions at national and regional levels;

• Improved economic valuation of wetlands and wetland resources;

• Strengthened capacity of relevant agencies to involve communities in sustainable use of wetland resources;

• Improved capacity to integrate local management systems into institutional regulatory and planning processes;

• Improved institutional and legal frameworks for wetlands and aquatic resources management.

The outputs were identified as "non-specific" by the appraisal and the recommendation is to work these out at national level.

Similarly to what was mentioned under the section above the recommended action to be taken to define and work out the outputs at national level is well in fine with the intended sequence of events to take place during the inception period.

Activities

• Development of methods for economic valuation of wetland resources;

• Development of approaches and guidelines for institutional and legal analysis;

• Review and analysis of existing policy, legal and institutional frameworks;

• Revision and test of improved frameworks;

• Revise and test new information systems;

• Research and monitoring;

• Collection of field data;

• Training (incl. study tours, training for extension, etc.);

• Identification of focal points;

• Identification of representatives of communities.

In line with comments and recommendation made above activities for the coming six

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month - relevant to the set of focused and specified immediate objectives and outputs - should be worked at national level during the inception phase.

That is fully in fine with the intentions of the program/project document.

5.4. LOWER MEKONG BASIN UNDP-GEF DRAFT PROJECT DOCUMENT [HANS FRIEDRICH, 2000]

Vietnam is a country rich in wetland ecosystems, but many wetlands are now threatened by rapid and uncontrolled industrial development and urbanization, and polluted by chemical and fertilizer run-off from intensive agricultural practices. Freshwater fishery resources are seriously depleted and under further threat from being over-exploited and through loss of key habitats. Current depletion of wetland ecosystems presents significant threats to biodiversity, but also to the sustainability of rural livelihoods, and thereby national economic development.

Over the last 7 years the Government has expressed increasing interest in the establishment of a national wetland programme and the Environmental Protection Agency (NEA) has been charged with its coordination. The Government’s interest in wetlands issues has also been reflected in the increasing of the state budget for wetland activities. There is an urgent need for policies, national action plans and integrated and coordinated management. The major impediments to this process include unclear institutional responsibility for wetland management; no agreed inventory of wetlands in Vietnam; and lack of awareness and knowledge about values of and threats to wetlands ecosystems at all levels.

As presented in annex 6, Vietnam country component Project purpose is strengthening capacity for conservation and sustainable human development of wetlands at national, provincial and local levels.

The project aims to work in harmony with the priorities for biodiversity identified by the Government of Vietnam. The key issues listed in a 1999 review of biodiversity priorities included the need for institutional co-ordination, enhancement of public awareness, education and training. The review also stressed the need to deal with a broader array of issues, such as integration of biodiversity concerns into strategic environmental impact assessments, invasive fish species, sustainable tourism, and marine, coastal and freshwater biodiversity.

The UNDP-GEF intervention will contribute to national biodiversity planning and human development through a number of activities resulting in the following outputs:

• Vietnamese Specialists are active in regional networks of wetland specialists and managers;

• Ramsar Convention Strengthened in Vietnam;

• Recommendations for wetland management formulated;

Deleted: ANNEX IV : Socio-economic and Stakeholder Analysis¶¶4. VIETNAM: PLAIN OF REEDS ¶National Actions (put this right before ouputs)¶¶In Vietnam, the key issues listed in a 1999 review of biodiversity priorities included the need for institutional co-ordination, which the programme will address under Outputs 1.1-1.3, 1.6, and 2.1-2.3, and enhancement of public awareness, education and training which will be covered under Outputs 1.1, 1.2, 1.7-1.10, 6.3, and 6.6-6.8. The review also stressed the need to deal with a broader array of issues, such as integration of biodiversity concerns into strategic environmental impact assessments (Output 1.4); invasive fish species (Output 1.9); sustainable tourism (Output 6.2); and marine, coastal and freshwater biodiversity (all outputs). ¶¶Wetland Protected Areas¶¶

Vietnam has the only wetland National Park in the region - Tram Chim National Park, covering 7,740 ha which received recent approval for a Government investment programme amounting to US$ 4.2 million. Lang Sen Provincial Reserve, covering 3,280 ha, is protected under local legislation. Tram Chim and Lang Sen Provincial Reserve are included in the demonstration site in Vietnam (Component 6).¶¶¶4.1 Population¶¶Lang Sen, situated across the border of Tan Hung and Vinh Hung Districts in Long An Province, covers a total area of 3,200 ha divided into a core zone of 1,200 ha (400 ha of which is residential

Deleted: : OUTPUTS¶¶National Actions (this taken from the project brief- maybe preface our outputs with something about how the projecty aims to work in conjunction with GoVn priorities- see below) ¶¶The project aims to work in harmony with the priorities for biodiversity identified by the Government of Vietnam. The key issues listed in a 1999 review of biodiversity priorities included the need for institutional co-ordination, which the programme will address under Outputs 1.1-1.3, 1.6, and 2.1-2.3, and enhancement of public awareness, education and training which will be covered under Outputs 1.1, 1.2, 1.7-1.10, 6.3, and 6.6-6.8. The review also stressed the need to deal with a broader array of issues, such as integration of biodiversity concerns into strategic environmental impact assessments (Output 1.4); invasive fish species (Output 1.9); sustainable tourism (Output 6.2); and marine, coastal and freshwater biodiversity (all outputs). ¶¶

... [1]

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• Wetland Action Plans developed in Vietnam;

• Awareness of wetland biodiversity raised among senior decision-makers;

• Training tools available;

• The Plain of Reeds is an expected demonstration site in the Mekong delta Vietnam. The economic value of wetlands functions and products in the Plain of Reeds articulated and used to identify incentives and financing mechanisms for conservation and wise use;

• Wetland biodiversity conservation training program operating in the Plain of Reeds;

• Dissemination of results and lessons learned;

5.5 FIVE MILLION HECTARES REHABILITATION PROGRAM (5MHRP) [GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM, 1998]

In the second meeting session of tenth national embassy, resolutions for rehabilitation of 5 million hectares of forests were approved (No. 08/1997/QH10). After that, on 29th July 1998, Vietnam Government promulgated the decision No. 661 defining objectives, duties, policy, and organization to implement the program for rehabilitation 5 million hectares of forest. As planned up to 2010 total forest areas in Vietnam will be about 14,3 million hectares (or 43% of country area). Three main objectives of this program are (a) environmental protection, (b) poverty clearance (c) increasing the contribution to national GDP.

Since 1998, all activities related to forestry and natural habitat conservation in Vietnam have been implementing throughout 5 Million Hectares Rehabilitation Program. In framework of the 5MHP all activities of wetland conservation sites in the Mekong Delta are supported.

5.6. SUMMARY OF LATEST DRAFT PAPER OF VIETNAM STRATEGY ON WETLAND MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT [NEA, 2002]

Wetland and biodiversity conservation, with its importance in the overall development strategy for the country, will be defined clearly with its functions and major attributes as the base for measures to make rational use of wetland resources to ensure sustainable development

Strategy goals: to promote the wise use of wetlands, to protect the biodiversity of the wetland ecosystem in parallel with sustaining ecological, environmental and socio-economic functions of wetlands at presents and for the long future

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Objectives:

• To end un-sustainable uses which are emphasized on short-term economic benefits or to eliminate land use conversion without strong scientific considerations;

• To protect existing biodiversity values of the wetland ecosystem;

• To make a balanced use of wetlands for ensuring the sustainability among its ecological economic and social functions. To recover wetland ecosystem in the environmental sensitive areas. To introduce farming system which integrates sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries;

• To build up an effective wetland managerial and organizational system with active participation from local people;

• To raise awareness of local administration at all levels and local people on important functions of wetlands.

Specific measures

• Policy and law;

• Planning;

• Organizing and management;

• Rational use and recover wetland resources;

• Wetland draining out;

• Water surface and land management;

• Biodiversity conservation;

• Environmental impact assessment;

• Dealing with pollution;

• Scientific research and basic investigation;

• Raising awareness;

• International cooperation.

Actions in priority

• To develop policies addressing on the protection and enhancement of wetland functions and attributions

• To conduct additional basic investigation in some biodiversity riches and environmental sensitive wetland areas

• To build up a monitoring program for biodiversity change, and for the area change in all type of wetland ecosystems

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• Measures and experiences for effective management of wetlands

• Experiences in organizing ecologically sustainable tourism (eco-tourism)

• To build up and implement the program for raising awareness of public people on wetlands

• To specify the wetland conservation areas and to build up the investment projects for that

• Formulation of the action plans on wetland management for the Mekong river Delta and the red river delta

• Establishment of the national integrated wetland classification system

5.7. COASTAL WETLANDS PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT, SOUTHERN MEKONG DELTA [EUROCONSULT, 1996]

This is preparation of the project title “Coastal Wetlands Protection and Development” started on signing of the contract between the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development Bank and Euroconsult (the consultants) in mid-August 1995 and was completed in 1996. A team of expatriate consultants and national counterpart personnel carried out the preparation. The main objective of preparation was to compose an environmentally sound investment project for IDA financing for the coastal zone of the Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh provinces in the Mekong Delta Vietnam, that will:

• Improve the economic use of formerly forested and newly formed coastal wetland areas through the rehabilitation or establishment and protection of coastal mangrove protection belt in the Mekong Delta.

• Revitalize and improve the protection of important coastal wetland ecosystems that contain critical biological diversity and provide nurturing function for fisheries.

• Improve the sustainability of shrimp ponds situated in areas adjacent to the protection belt and nature conservation areas;

• Strengthen the provision of support services for the mangrove forestry and aquaculture sub-sector in the protection wetland and key surrounding buffer areas.

Primmer Minister approved the preparation project through the decision No. 25/2000/QD-TTg on 21/2/2000

5.8. BIO-DIVERSITY ACTION PLAN OF VIETNAM (BAP) [ANON, 1994]

The Ministry of Forest and State Committee of Science initiated the concept of BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) for Vietnam in collaboration with WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and UNDP (United Nation Development Program). With Financial assistance from UNDP under the GEF (Global Environment Facility), the BAP was the developed

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with technical assistance from IUCN (the World Conservation Union and WWF. The development of the plan began on February 22,1993 and the BAP for Vietnam was published in November 1994 and approved by the Government in December 1995.

Several wetland sites were setup for conservation of biodiversity, so that the Bio-diversity Action Plan of Vietnam is very important in context of wetland conservation and use.

Vietnam has been endowed by nature with abundance and diversity of ecosystem, species and genetic resources that are generally regarded as biological diversity. In many places, such as mountain and remote area the food and foodstuff sources, medicine plants, and essential sources of income rely largely on the bio-diversity exploitation.

Biodiversity conservation in Vietnam has a long history. During the 1960s the Vietnamese Government took the first official steps towards nature conservation by promulgating decrees for protection of some forest and several rare and valuable species such as tiger, elephants. Some local authorities issued their own protective regulations and the first national park was declared in 1962.

However, the national rapid population growth, the decreased forest areas, over exploitation of bio-marine resources, over-introduction of new varieties in agricultural production, have let to the reduction or loss of the ecosystems. The speed of bio-diversity degradation is more rapid in Vietnam than that in other countries of the region.

In 1972, a decree on forest protection was issued which led to the recruitment of 10,000 special forest guards. In addition, various regulations were issued to control the catching of fish.

During the 1980s, a concerted effort was made to put conservation on a more scientific basis. A national program was started to research into a variety of topics relating to conservation and the regional use of resources. In 1985 The Vietnam National Conservation strategy was published and well received both by Government and the International Community.

Vietnam National Environmental Action Plan (VNNEAP, 1995) and Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP, 1994) form the basis for Vietnam's current and future activities in environmental matters. Several urgent actions are pointed out in the Bio-diversity Action Plan (BAP) to mitigate the impacts on the bio-diversity resources of the country are Policy and legal issues, establishment and management of protected areas, awareness building, capacity building and staff training, socio-economic issues and international co-operation.

The BAP builds on partnership with local people to protect nature. A second partnership promoted is with provincial level administration. The linkages between central, and lower level systems is a need to identify provincial level responsibilities for biodiversity conservation and funding. Attentions are drawn up to new elements of biodiversity

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conservation of sea, wetlands, and agriculture. The BAP places more emphasis on international aspects of biodiversity and focus more attention on the values and use of biological resources. Finally, the BAP goes into the detail of planning a protected area system and priority areas to be preserved.

The most important developmental sectors linked to biodiversity conservation are human population, agricultural and fishery development, forestry sector plans, program.

5.9. HIGH VALUABLE WETLANDS IN VIETNAM [NEA/FIPI, 2001]

National Environment Agency (NEA) published this document in 2001. Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (FIPI) wrote the draft document. The document brief described 63 wetland sites around the country. Those are the most valuable in term of biodiversity and least disturbed environment.

Information of each site are well organized covering following information: Geographical network; Location; Area; Management organization; Description; Management objectives; Altitude; Wetland types; Natural environment and landscape values; The important of the site to wildlife; Flora and specific values of vegetation; Fauna and specific values of fauna; Land-use; Threaten; Management activities have been applied.

Wetland sites located in the Mekong Basin including: Ho Lak, Bac Lieu and Dam Doi and Cai nuoc Bird sanctuaries; Dat Mui, Ong Trang, Vo Doi, U Minh Thuong, Thanh Phu, Tram Chim, Lang Sen,

5.10. CONSERVATION OF IMPORTANT WETLANDS IN THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM [BIRDLIFE, 2000]

In 1999, BirdLife and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR) jointly implemented a project entitled Conservation of key wetland sites in the Mekong delta, funded by the Royal Netherlands Embassy. Aim of the project was to assist in the identification of sites in the Mekong Delta with high conservation importance and conduct detailed habitat assessments and bird surveys of these areas.

Conservation Report No. 12 (English) and No. 13 (Vietnamese) incorporate the results of this project. Using a standardized set of criteria, 10 priority sites were identified and evaluated on the basis of their biodiversity value and potential for conservation. These are: (i) Seasonally inundated grasslands of the Ha Tien Plain; (ii) Tram Chim National Park; (iii) U Minh Thuong Nature Reserve; (iv) Dat Mui Nature Reserve; (v) Vo Doi Nature Reserve; (vi) Bai Boi; (vii) Tinh Doi; (viii) Tra Su; (ix) Lang Sen; (x) Lung Ngoc Hoang.

5.11 INVENTORY OF WETLANDS IN VIETNAM [LE DIEN DUC, 1988]

The book was written by Le Dien Duc (Associate professor of National University of Hanoi) in 1987-1988, in Vietnamese language, which described 40 wetland sites among the country. This was an earliest publication in term of wetland context.

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Information of each site are well organized that covered following information: Geographic network; Location; Area; Altitude; Wetland types; Description; Flora; Fauna; Management organization; Management activities have been applied; Land-use; Threaten; The important of the site to wildlife; Socio-economical values

The author used half volumes to describe wetlands in the Mekong basin, including: Mekong delta; Plain of Reed; Mekong river mouths; Vo Doi, Bac Lieu and Cai Nuoc Bird Yards; Nam Can mangrove. This book can be considered as the first document that wrote about wetlands in Viet Nam, but because it was written long time ago so that all-most information became out of date.

5.12 CHARACTERISTICS OF WETLANDS IN THE MEKONG DELTA AND CURRENT LAND USE STATUS [PHAM QUANG KHANH, 2000]

This article briefly introduces some characteristics of soil in MRD and current land use status of this important economic zone, By Pham Quang Khanh and Nguyen Van Nhan, (2000). There are 8 soil groups and 25 mapping units on soil map 1/250,000 of MRD. Of which, acid sulfate soil group occupies largest area with 1,600,263 ha (40.77%), followed by alluvial soil group – 1,184,857 ha (30.05%), saline soil group – 744,547 ha (18.93%), gray soil group – 134,656 ha (3.42%), sandy soil group – 43,318 ha (1.1%), peat and muck soil group – 24,027 ha (0.61%), and finally eroded soil with rock outcrops – 2,420 ha (0.06%).

Land in MRD has been exploited quite intensively. Almost 94% of 3.9 mil ha of natural area have been utilized (the average countrywide is 70%). Of which, 73.44% is used for agriculture, 7.78% for forestry, 5.17% for special use; 2.59% for residential purpose, unused land is 5.69%, and the rest is rivers and streams, canals.

5.13 WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND WETLAND PROTECTION IN THE MEKONG DELTA [NGUYEN NGOC ANH, 2000]

The report was written By Nguyen Ngoc Anh (2000). Water resource is essential for irrigation, aquaculture, hydro-transport, and water supply for daily consumption and industry, especially for agriculture. Flooding, salt intrusion, acidity, and fresh water shortage are biggest obstacles for water resource development. Therefore, to increase food production, besides construction of water resource development infrastructure other measures are also undertaken such as intensified cultivation, area expansion, and application of agricultural technical advances. However, adverse impacts on environment in general, and wetlands, especially on water environment in particular, which are caused by measures to increase food production, are unavoidable.

Except for several areas at elevation higher than annual flood and tidal level, generally MRD is considered a large wetland area. Therefore, it can be said that all developments in this delta are related to wetland. This leads to the fact that most of wetland in MRD have been changed by human activities, and most largely by water resource development

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including newly construction, expansion of canal network for water supply and de-acidification; construction of dyke system for flood control, construction of sea dyke, estuarine dyke, and culvert system for salt intrusion control.

The report presented current management of water resources in the Mekong delta Vietnam, and analysed consequences of water management process on wetlands.

5.14 BRIEFING ON THE INLAND AND COASTAL FISHERY RESOURCES IN THE MEKONG DELTA OF VIETNAM [TRAN THANH XUAN, 2000]

According to Tran Thanh Xuan (2000) of the 4 million ha area of Mekong delta, large wetland area inland during flooding season, and large mangrove forest area, Mekong Delta has the most abundant inland and coastal aquatic resources in the country. The delta contributes 45% of the gross national fishery production, and 65% of the total domestic aquaculture and fishing output. So that MD plays important role not only in food security strategy but also in animal protein supply to people and export.

All the human activities on wetland will have impacts on aquatic resources. Hence, rational use and protection of wetland in the region should be undertaken in harmony with other purposes.

5.15. WETLAND CLASSIFYING AND MAPPING IN THE MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM [PHAM TRONG THINH, 2000]

Pham Trong Thinh, 2000 made this report to review some wetland classification system on the world and suggested the way to set up wetland map of the Mekong Delta of Viet Nam.

5.16 MAPPING OF WETLANDS IN THE MEKONG DELTA [NGUYEN VAN NHAN, 2000]

With 95% of its natural area is constantly or seasonally inundated, Mekong delta in fact, is a typical floodplain of Lower Mekong Basin (LMB).

On the basis of “Wetland classification system” proposed for Mekong delta, the identification of wetland units in the region at scale of 1/250,000 has been done with support of remote sensing and GIS. From thematic maps (landform, hydrology, water bodies, land use), and data interpreted from LANDSAT – 5TM (1998) in combination with field check (1999), wetland classes of Mekong delta have been demarcated on 1/250,000 map. Nguyen Van Nhan, 1999 reported that:

Marine/Coastal Mega Class: occupies 1,491,743 ha (29.15% area of Mekong delta), concentrating in coastal area West and South of Mekong delta (along Thailand Gulf and Southwest of Ca Mau peninsula).

Estuarine Mega Class: occupies 899,521 ha (17.58% of Mekong delta area), mainly distributing in Mekong estuarine areas along East sea of Mekong delta (in territory of Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, coastal part of Tien Giang and Long An provinces).

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Riverine Mega Class: this is the crucial part of Mekong delta wetland with the area of 1,827,506 ha (35.71% of Mekong delta area), covering large floodplain in the central of the delta.

Lacustrine Mega Class: artificial form, occupying 54,365 ha (1.06% of Mekong delta area), mainly distributes in lake area of U Minh Ha and U Minh Thuong Melaleuca forest (Ca Mau and Kien Giang provinces) and Tram Chim National Park (Dong Thap province).

Palustrine Mega Class: occupies 312,016 ha (6.1% of Mekong delta area), concentrating in low-lying and seasonally flooded areas in Dong Thap Muoi, Long Xuyen Quadrangle and in central of Ca Mau peninsula.

Changes of Wetland Classes in the Mekong delta (1995 – 1999) was made and presented in the report.

5.17. THE INFORMATION SHEET ON RAMSAR WETLANDS FOR THE TRAM CHIM NATIONAL PARK [PHAM TRONG THINH, 2000]

Based on the categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, the Information Sheet was written by Sub-FIPI in association with Department of Science Technology and Environment of Dong Thap Province. This aimed to nominate Tram Chim wetland to be a Ramsar Site.

5.18 THE INVESTMENT PROJECT FOR MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF TRAM CHIM WETLAND CRANE NATIONAL PARK [PHAM TRONG THINH, 1998]

According to Sub-FIPI, 1998 Tram Chim is a famous wetland in the Plain of Reeds. The ecology of the site is strongly controlled by hydrological regime of the Mekong river. The site is important habitats of almost 200 water birds, of which Sarus Crane and another 16 species are rare birds. The document sum up all existing information of wetland ecology and management of the Tram Chim Wetland site, presented action program for the park and estimated required budget for study and conservation of the site in five-year period from 1998 to 2003.

5.19 THE INVESTMENT PROJECT FOR MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE THANH PHU ESTUARY RESERVE

[PHAM TRONG THINH, 1998]

The project document prepared by Sub-FIPI, 1998. Thanh Phu located in the estuaries of Mekong River (Ben Tre province). The site is strongly affected by tide from the sea and water regime of Mekong river. The core is 4800 ha and 4500 ha of buffer zone. Typical wetland types are natural mangrove swamp, mangrove plantation, mud-flat, sandy beach, natural water ways, shrimp ponds

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60 species of real mangrove plants were recorded. Half of the site covered by Rhizophora plantation, several plant communities consist of Sonneratia alba on mud-flat inundated by low tidal, A. alba on clay or sandy soils inundated by medium tidal, mixed communities of A. alba, A.officinalis; Rhizophora mucronata, B.sexangula on hard clay soil inundated by medium tide, R.mucronata, A.alba,A. officinalis, B. sexangula on hard clay inundated by high tide. The site provides habitats for 60 bird species, 27 species of reptile, 8 species of frogs and 16 species of mammal.

The buffer zone of the site is intensive cultivation of mud crab, shrimp, shellfish. In the natural water body 20 shrimp species were found, of which 5 species are high commercial values; some 96 fish species use these habitats. Those include 63 salt-water fish, 32 brackish and 3 fresh-water species.

The site is very valuable to local communities in extensive aquaculture and a representative of Mekong river estuary; they contain natural succession of mangrove, historic relic site and coastal protection. For that reason in 1998, Sub-FIPI in collaboration with other sector prepared investment project for this site from 1998 to 2003.

5.20 THE INVESTMENT PROJECT FOR MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE LUNG NGOC HOANG WETLAND RESERVE [PHAM TRONG THINH, 2000]

Lung Ngoc Hoang located in the depression area, belonging to Can Tho province, 30 km at the south of Basac river. The area of the site is 2800 ha. Wetland types include Melaleuca plantation, rice field, seasonally inundated grassland; flora has 330 common plant species. Main vegetation is Melaleuca plantation. Grassland and aquatic plant communities include Eleocharis dulsis Eichhornia crassipes, Ludwidgia adscendends. 135 bird species 9 rare birds, such as Phalacrocorax carbo; Leptoptilos dubius; L. javanicus; Anastomus oscitans; Pseudibis gigantea; Ibis leucocephalus. Two globally threatened birds are Anhinga melanogaster and Threskiornis melanocephalus. There are 23 species of mammal of which 5 rare species, 37 species of reptile, and 11 frog species. 77 species of fish recorded in the site equal 44% total fresh water fish species found in the Mekong Delta. Two threatened fish are Notopterus chilata; and Clarias batrachus. The site is relative high potential of fish resources. Value of the site is providing fish, fuel wood, historical site, in 2001 Sub-FIPI in collaboration of DARD of Can Tho province and Can Tho University submitted Investment project to restore it into natural status.

The investment project presented the results of research on environment, ecology, natural resources, socio-economical action plan for rehabilitation of the site from 2003-2007 By Sub-FIPI, 2001.

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5.21. THE INVESTMENT PROJECT FOR REHABILITATION OF U MINH THUONG NATIONAL PARK [PHAM TRONG THINH, 2002]

U Minh Thuong National Park was established under Decision 11/2002/QD-TTg dated 14 January 2002 by the Prime Minister. There are about 250 plant species, representing the landscapes of the ancient U Minh forest. The eco-system is characterized by aluminous inundation on peat land at climax period; the vegetation keeps water and provides habitats to rare and precious organisms. Bird yards have 185 bird species (of 39 families, 12 orders), accounting for 16.6% of the 828 species found in Vietnam, of which 8 species are rare and precious, accounting for 0.1% total individuals on the globe. There are 34 fish species (of which 8 are economic species and 3 are listed in the Vietnam Animal Red Book). Several ancient pagodas and temples occur at the site to make it become a valuable historic relic.

In the forest fire in dry season of 2001-2002 about 3,212 ha were destroyed, that includes 2,300 ha on peat land, and 912 ha on clay land. Of the peat land, 194 ha was completely burned, the remaining peat are in different thickness. Unburned forest is 4,826 ha including 601 ha Melaleuca forest on peat land, and 4,225 ha forest on clay.

In 2002, Sub-FIPI in collaboration with Care International in Ho Chi Minh City and other agencies prepared comprehensive proposed investment and action program for rehabilitating the Park, in the period 2003-2010.

5.22. WETLAND CLASSIFICATION AND MAPPING OF VIETNAM [SUB-FIPI, 2002]

In 2001-2002, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), National Environment Agency (NEA), have supported fund to set up classification and mapping of wetlands in Vietnam. The task was assigned to Sub-FIPI and a number of relevant institutions. Document reviewed several wetland classifications on the world and assessed existing situation to suggest an applicable system for classifying wetlands of Vietnam. This system applied to make two wetland maps for Mekong Delta and Dong Nam Bo zones. Results of the program were submitted to Science and Technological council of MARD.

Rebbecca D'Cruz, (Expert of IUCN) used this system as a main material in the “Training workshop on principles, criteria of wetlands classification in Vietnam and criteria to select demo sites for national wetlands program". Note was that the classification system developed by the team from Sub-FIPI seems to be a useful one but it needs to be tested in the field to see if it can potentially be used for all wetland areas and by all users, e.g. provincial land use planning organizations.

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5.23. RESTORATION OF WETLANDS IN TRAM CHIM NATURE RESERVE [Jill Pacovsky, un-dated]

This report collected in internet, that made by Jill Pacovsky The Tram Chim Nature Reserve is about 9000 ha portion of the approximate 100,000 ha area of lowland vegetation composing the Plain of Reeds (Kiet, 1993). The depression is located between the Vaico and Mekong Rivers in southern Vietnam and southeastern Cambodia. Due to the high temperatures and six-month rainy season characteristic of the area, the Plain of Reeds is covered with 30 cm to 1 m of water during 3-6 months of the year (Husson et al., 1993). The dynamic conditions of the Plain of Reeds enabled the system, when in its pristine state, to produce abundant natural resources. The area’s exceptional productivity supported human and wild inhabitants of the region for hundreds of years before the region was degraded.

Today dikes that protect it from the intensive agriculture surrounding the reserve enclose the Tram Chim Nature Reserve. Since the initial construction of the dikes in 1984, six carefully designed water gates have been added to allow water to enter the Tram Chim during the rainy season (Beilfuss and Barzen, 1994; Barzen, personal communication). Along with the normal difficulties of developing a management plan for a dynamic area, reaching an agreement of goals for the restoration has been a long and difficult struggle that is not yet complete (Barzen, personal communication). Attaining a consensus of goals has been challenging. While providing habitat for the rare Grus antigone sharpii (or eastern sarus crane) is important, it is also necessary that management actions boost the production of resources vital to the survival of Vietnamese people living in the region. Without local support the restoration will not be very successful.

Initial restoration of the area was initiated by Nguyen Xuan Truong, or Muoi Nhe, governor of the Dong Thap Province after the American-Vietnam War (Kuznik, 1994). Nguyen Xuan Truong had grown up in the province and could remember the plethora of wildlife and vegetation that had once flourished in the Tram Chim (Nguyen Xuan Truong, 1990; Beilfuss, 1991). Under a policy in which Vietnam determined that economic recovery and environmental rehabilitation are inseparable, projects to restore areas of Melaleuca floodplain forests (or rear mangrove swamp) were initiated. Melaleuca cauputi is a valuable resource to local residents because it can be used for timber, firewood and fodder, and houses wild bees, which are an important source of honey (Duc, 1993). The Tram Chim supported Melaleuca cajuputi, but dry conditions allowed fires to frequently pass through the area. To keep the area wet so that fire would not burn the Melaleuca cajiputi, Nguyen Xuan Truong determined that dikes should be built to retain water. By 1984, Nguyen Xuan Truong had overseen the construction of almost 32 kilometers of dikes (Rome, 1990). This was the beginning of the Tram Chim restoration.

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5.24 STATUS, BIODIVERSITY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE U MINH WETLANDS [R.J.SAFFORD, 1998]

The wetland forests of the U Minh region support some of the highest biodiversity in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The forests have been degraded or destroyed over a long period. We present updated information on their status, biodiversity and management, based on four visits in 1996-1997. Surviving wetlands were distributed in three main blocks: two peat-land areas and one mineral soil area. The total forest area was around 60,000 ha, of which most was in Forest-and-Fishery Concessions and 18% was in protected areas including two nature reserves. All wetlands were managed and had restricted access. All forest was dominated by Melaleuca cajuputi, but forest composition differed between peat and mineral soil areas. Much peat has been lost recently. Where the peat had been burnt, open swamp formed, although most of this has been drained.

The flora and fauna of forest, open swamp and brackish water wetlands are described, and include several threatened species. The forest-and-fishery concessions are managed for profit from natural resources, principally Melaleuca wood and fish. Land management follows either a traditional plantation approach using hired labor, or a profit-sharing approach with local communities responsible for management. Although the total forested area may have changed little in the last ten years, much of the forest in 1997 was very young, and much biodiversity has been lost as a result of the near-extinction of the mixed peat swamp forest, through human-induced fires, drainage and clear-cutting.

Establishment of the Forest-and-Fishery Concessions has stopped the piecemeal destruction of the forest and provided economic incentives for maintaining the forest ecosystem, but the open swamps are also important to the region's biodiversity. A more ecosystem-based management system, with attention to direct threats to species, is needed to allow continuing support for local development without loss of biodiversity. The report made by R. J. Safford, Tran Triet, E. Maltby and Duong Van Ni, Tropical Biodiversity, 1998.

5.25. THE DARWIN MELALEUCA WETLANDS PROJECT [ROGER SAFFORD, ]

The Darwin Melaleuca Wetlands Project is an important initiative, which aims to support the sustainable use of Melaleuca wetland forests in Vietnam and Thailand, and thus the maintenance or enhancement of biodiversity within the forest ecosystem. The Royal Holloway Institute is undertaking the 3-year project for Environmental Research, co-ordinated by Roger Safford.

The overall goal of the project is to work with local scientists and community leaders to develop an innovative and integrated approach to maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity of Melaleuca wetland forests in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, and Narathiwat Province, southern Thailand.

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The tree Melaleuca cajuputi dominates the vegetation of many wetlands in Southeast Asia. In Narathiwat, Melaleuca forest is a secondary formation. However, in the Mekong Delta its status is unclear; it may be a climax vegetation type adapted to extreme abiotic influences such as fire and deep flooding, and so of great ecological interest. The biota of these forests is poorly known although a unique assemblage of species should be present and several globally endangered species have been identified. The forests provide many benefits for local people including firewood, timber, fish, honey and medicinal plants. The presence of the forest ecosystem helps to improve soil and water quality.

Following drainage, agricultural development and defoliant spraying during the Vietnam War, over 90% of the Melaleuca wetland forests of the Mekong Delta existing in 1940 have been destroyed. Melaleuca ecosystems in Thailand are also undervalued and apparently in decline. The maintenance or re-establishment of Melaleuca in both areas offers a valuable opportunity for relatively rapid recovery of degraded land, and thus not only enhancement of its biodiversity values but also the establishment of a range of income-generating activities.

Project activities will include investigation of the status and biodiversity of Melaleuca forests and assessment of the environmental linkages responsible for maintaining their diversity and the benefits they provide, in order to formulate guidelines for optimal sustainable management. Other aspects of the work will include training Thai and Vietnamese scientists, encouraging improved collaborative links between the two countries, and actively promoting the benefits of conserving Melaleuca forests through local workshops.

The Darwin Initiative for the Survival of Species seeks to fund projects which will help safeguard the world's biodiversity by drawing on UK strengths in biodiversity research, training and management to assist countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources.

5.26 MEASURES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE INLAND WETLAND AREA IN THE MEKONG DELTA [PETER MCNAMEE, 1998]

Report by Peter McNamee, Project, Team leader GEC, Canada. For Vietnam, biodiversity harvest is an important contributor to the total net benefits derived from inland wetlands of the Mekong Delta, especially for households in areas of limited capability for agricultural production. Continuous intensification in human activities and settlements has deteriorated the Mekong Delta’s ecological system. In order for the people to sustainable benefit from the environment, policies and measures have been considered to rehabilitate the delta.

A decade ago, harvesting from the Mekong Delta was a simple task because of the abundance supply. Settlement and associated human activities had very little effect, positive or negative, on the overall biodiversity of the delta because the rate of

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destruction was still kept low. The major determinant of the change in biodiversity was forest fire.

In areas where environmental constraints (soil and water) severely limit the possibilities for agricultural production, commodities such as fisheries and timber were always a low cost alternative to generate substantially higher values than rice and annual crops. People did not realize the value of the natural resources provided for them.

Clearly, we can see that biodiversity resource harvesting (NTFP) has been the most important contributor to the total net benefits derived from the Mekong delta and the most important source of net benefits to households.

The situation today is not projecting an optimistic view as previous situations. The overall net economic benefits generated in the Mekong delta have resulted in little incremental net economic benefits at the household level. This is due to the fact that, incremental generation of net benefits has not kept pace with the population increase in the delta and the ongoing loss of biodiversity from forest fires. Other uses, such as non-consumptive uses, that can generate benefit and are less detrimental to the biodiversity, namely, carbon sequestration, tourism and recreation, and biodiversity conservation, have been substantially given less importance than net benefits derived from the consumptive uses of the biodiversity resources in the area.

The problem of decreasing biological diversification due to over exploitation of natural resources is unavoidable and need to be solved with no delay. Therefore, future options for biodiversity rehabilitation have been formulated for consideration as follows:

• Biodiversity resource harvesting is a necessary but not sufficient component of future development alternatives for households in the delta and is the primary justification for any future biodiversity rehabilitation.

• Freshwater fisheries cultivation, possibly timber production and also economic activities that cultivate commodities that are non-destructive to inland wetlands (such as honey) are the most attractive activities complementary to NTFP.

• Some form of settlement regulation with strengthened land tenure and provision for formal joint protection and management agreements between households and the management Board would be necessary to limit harvest pressure on biodiversity and to improve the net benefit stream to individual households.

• There are a number of other benefits of enhancing biodiversity for NTFP: enhancing non-consumptive uses and functions of biodiversity; compliance with international conventions; and enhancing study area biodiversity as a source of biodiversity for surrounding environments.

• A target of rehabilitating biodiversity back to its “original” state is likely not a viable option for the Mekong Delta.

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• Fire prevention and control is necessary but not a sufficient prerequisite to improving biodiversity conditions of the delta.

• Long term sustainability of biodiversity for various identified uses depend not only on suitable land-use decisions, but also regulation of biodiversity resource harvesting.

• The biggest constraint to the traditional model of protected areas in the Mekong Delta (i.e. Core Zone/Buffer Zone) as an effective framework on which to rehabilitate biodiversity is the capacity of institutions of any form to effectively manage existing or expanded Core Zone to conservation targets.

5.27. MULTI-TAXA BIOTIC INVENTORIES OF THREE UNPROTECTED FORESTED ECOSYSTEMS IN VIETNAM

The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History (CBC-AMNH) and the Missouri Botanical Gardens (MBG) have joined with the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR) and the Vietnam National University (VNNU) in Hanoi in a multi-year collaborative research, education and training effort to measure the extent and distribution of Vietnamese species diversity and to identify conservation priorities and potential new protected areas.

The principle objective of the project is to develop a core of knowledge and expertise in biodiversity and conservation necessary to protect and manage Vietnam's most important and highly endangered ecosystems. To this end the CBC and its North American and Vietnamese collaborators conducted extensive multiple-taxa biotic inventory surveys in three different bio-geographic regions of Vietnam. These areas and the specific study localities within them were chosen because they were historically under-surveyed, potentially of high biodiversity and conservation value, and represented ecosystems either not currently part of the protected areas network or inadequately represented within it.

In addition to research aimed at measuring Vietnamese biodiversity and endemism, we are concentrating our efforts on education and conservation initiatives increasing the capacity of scientific research facilities, and making a commitment to training students in both Vietnam and North America in evolutionary biology, conservation biology and systematic.

The CBC and its research partners are committed to the publication of results produced through the project's research, education and training efforts in both electronic and traditional formats.

These web pages on our biodiversity and conservation research in Vietnam include descriptions of the study areas, research site maps, and methods and summary results from our multi-taxa biotic surveys. Additionally, we are currently compiling searchable web-based collections databases from these surveys, which are cross-referenced by

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research site and year. A complete list of published reports, peer-reviewed papers, monographs, manuals, needs assessments, and other results from the project are available in the Resource Directory. Links to these results and other information on our collaborative efforts in Vietnam are accessible through the sidebar navigation buttons. For further information on Vietnam, its people, geography and natural resources, please visit our list of references and web-based resources in the Resource Directory.

5.28. SETTING SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATION FOR PLANNING WETLAND NATURE CONSERVATION IN VIETNAM [FIPI, 1998]

The wetland includes numerous diverse ecological environments on the land, seacoast and at the sea. Wetland is abundant in type and of great importance to environmental and steady economical development. It gives not only the abode but also nutriment to all kinds of living beings including the mankind, animal and plant. It is also important in sense of biodiversity and environmental ecology.

Since the 1930 - 1940' decade, The French colonist already paid attention to conserving saline wetlands in South Vietnam. Kieng Tam Giang forest on peninsula Ca Mau is the case, was formed during this period of time. Through a long time of war, many wetlands of our country such as water conservers, saline marshes, ... were destroyed to horrible damage.

After the liberation and reunion of the country, in 1977, the Government recognized ten forbidden forests throughout the country. Unfortunately, numerous wetlands of great biodiversity have not been listed in the National System of Nature Conservation. Of these, notable is large water rice fields of the North Vietnam Delta, coastal marches, lagoons of the Central Vietnam.

Under these circumstances, wetland investigations, inventory taking in order to set scientific background for planning biodiversity conservation is essentially important and urgent. Only by systematically planning biodiversity-rich wetlands, we may use and monitoring well the wetland in so steady ways that it should do reasonable contribution to the country's economy, environment protection and biodiversity conservation.

On this background, the National Environment Agency assigned FIPI’s group to undertake the research "Setting Scientific Foundation for Planning Wetland Conservation in Vietnam". For this long-term purpose, the research aim is to meet the need of steady monitoring and exploiting wetland resources in Vietnam, proposing other wetlands of high scientific and economic value than those previously included and badly affected at the moment for registering into the existing Wetland Conservation System. FIPI made this report in 1998.

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6. CONCLUSION AND FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES

Mekong delta is the most important wetland region of Mekong Basin and of Vietnam. Wetlands in the Mekong delta provide various types of both direct benefits and socio-ecological values.

Over 90% of total delta areas are being used for agriculture and aquaculture remnant natural wetland types are protected in nature reserve, national parks and coastal full protection belt. 6 important wetland types were recognized, they are:

• Estuarine wetlands

• Seasonal forest swamps (lacustrine wetlands)

• Mangrove forest swamps

• Permanent river, canal schemes

• Grass swamps

• Rice land (aquaculture.)

Several institutions for long time ago have carried out research and study for wetland use and conservation. Too many data, information on wetland characteristics, wetland resources, socio-economical situation are available, to select, collect and restructure them in well formatted are useful activities in the next period.

Wetland mapping and classification have initiated, the classification system should harmonize with riparian countries, and the wetland mapping should be done on base of this system and lasted remote sensing information.

The evaluation of the values of flood is necessary activities; they should be carried out in flood season 2003.

It is recognized that Tra Su Melaleuca swamp (in An Giang province) is a good wetland site, that contains important wetland types (Seasonally/permanently freshwaters swamp, grassland) appraisal for this study site is one of priority activities in the next

Since 1990, Sub-FIPI used to be a co-coordinator for wetland activities; sub-FIPI will play this task for Environment Program of MRCS in the next period.

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REFERENCES 1. Anon, 1994. Bio-diversity Action Plan of Vietnam (BAP), Ha Noi, Vietnam:

Government of Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Global Environment Facility.

2. Birdlife International Program in association with Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), 2000. Conservation of important wetlands in the Mekong delta, Vietnam. Conservation report No.12. Birdlife International, Royal Netherlands Embassy, IEBR.

3. Dr Roger Safford, The Darwin Melaleuca wetlands project. RHIER 4. Euroconsult in Association with FIPI-2 and RIA-2, 1996. Coastal wetlands

protection and development, Southern Mekong Delta. Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam: Wolrd Bank and Government of Vietnam.

5. FIPI, 1998. Setting scientific foundation for planning wetland nature conservation in Vietnam

6. FIPI, 2000. The Information Sheet on Ramsar wetlands for Thai Thuy Wetlands,Thai Thuy district, Thai Binh Province, Vietnam.

7. General Statistics Office, 2002. Statistical Yearbook 2001. Statistical Publishing House, Ha Noi.

8. Government of Vietnam, 1992. Instruction of President of Prime Minister Council No. 169/CT, May 2nd, 1992, asked for urgent actions to protect Sarus Crane and Wetland Ecosystem of in the Plain of Reeds, Mekong Delta.

9. Government of Vietnam, 1998. Decision of Prime Minister No. 01/1998/QD-TTg on January fifth, 1998 to approve the Mater plan of Mekong Delta up to 2010.

10. Government of Vietnam, 1998. Decision No. 661, on 29th July 1998, Vietnam Government defining objectives, duties, policy, and organization to implement the program for rehabilitation 5 million hectares of forest.

11. Hans Friederich, 2000. Mekong Wetland Biodiversity Project.IUCN 12. ICLARM, 1999. The legal and Institutional Framework, and Economic

Valuation of Resources and Environment in the Mekong River Region: A wetlands approach. Program/Project Document.

13. IUCN and SEMA/SIDA, NEA, 1998. A summary report of the Vietnam biodiversity action plan (BAP) three-year review workshop (1996-1998).

14. Jill Pacovsky, un-dated. Restoration of wetlands in the Tram Chim Nature Reserve

15. Le Dien Duc, 1988. Inventory of Wetlands in Vietnam. CRES, Hanoi. 16. Le Dien Duc, 1989. Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Pp 749-793- in D.A.Scott, ed.

A directory of Asian Wetlands. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 17. Le Dien Duc, 2000. Appendix 8 - Wetlands Information Document in URL:

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http://www.unep-wcmc.org /infoserv/countryp/vietnam/app8new.html 18. Mekong River Commission, 1998. Inventory and Management of Wetlands in

the Lower Mekong Basin, Phase II. Project Document. 19. Ministry of Resources and Environment (MoRE), 2002. Strategy for

Management and Conservation of Wetlands in Vietnam up to 2010. 20. NEA, 2000. Summary of latest draft paper of Vietnam strategy on wetland

management and sustainable development. Un-public. 21. NEA, 2002. National wetland conservation and management program

(summary of draft). 22. NEA/FIPI, 2001. Wetlands with high valuable in terms of biodiversity and

environment in Vietnam 23. NEA/IUCN/ Sub-FIPI, September, 2000. The Project Proposal to Formulate

the Action Plan for Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

24. NEDECO, 1993. Thematic study on environment impact, volume 2: sensitive ecosystem in the Mekong Delta. Government of Vietnam/ WB.

25. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, 2000. Water resource development and wetland protection in Mekong Delta. Sub-FIPI.

26. Nguyen Van Nhan, 2000. Mapping of wetlands in the Mekong Delta. Sub-FIPI 27. Pham Quang Khanh, and Nguyen Van Nhan, 1999. Characteristics of

wetlands in the Mekong delta and current land use status. Sub-FIPI. 28. Phan Nguyen Hong, 1999. Mangrove of Vietnam. National University of Ha

Noi. 29. Pham Trong Thinh, 1998. The Investment Project for Management and

Protection of Tram Chim wetland crane National Park. Sub-FIPI. 30. Pham Trong Thinh, 1998. The investment project for management and

protection of the Thanh Phu Mangrove wetland site. Sub-FIPI. 31. Pham Trong Thinh, 1999. Wetland classifying and mapping in the Mekong

delta, Vietnam. Sub-FIPI. 32. Pham Trong Thinh, 2000. The Information Sheet on Ramsar wetlands for the Tram

Chim National Park. Department of Science Technology and Environment of Dong Thap Province and Sub- Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning.

33. Pham Trong Thinh, 2000. The investment project for management and protection of the Lung Ngoc Hoang seasonal inundated wetland site. Sub-FIPI.

34. Pham Trong Thinh, et al, 2002. Scientific bases and investment plan for rehabilitating Peat land - Melaleuca wetland of U Minh Thuong National Park after burning. Sub-FIPI and Provincial People Committee of Kien Giang.

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35. Pham Trong Thinh, 2002. Overview of the mangrove management and sylviculture applied on mangrove plantation in southern coastal of Mekong delta.

36. Pham Van Mien, 2002. Final Report on Review Biological Assessment of Freshwater Ecosystems in Viet Nam

37. R. J. Safford, Tran Triet, E. Maltby and Duong Van Ni, 1998. Status, biodiversity and management of the U Minh Wetlands. Tropical Biodiversity.

38. Sub-FIPI 2002. Wetland classification and mapping of Vietnam. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

39. Tran Thanh Xuan, 2000. Briefing on the in field and coastal fishery resources in the Mekong delta of Vietnam. Sub-FIPI.

40. Trinh Hoang Ngan, 2002. Mekong River Commission and Agreement on Cooperation for sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin

41. World Bank, 2000. Protecting Vietnam’s coastal wetlands (News Release No: 2000/112/EAP.

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ANNEX 1. WETLAND CLASSIFICATION FOR WETLAND MAPPING OF VIETNAM FOR MAPPING AT SCALE OF 1/1.000.000

Name Code Sub-

system Class Sub- class

Salt water wetland (wetland directly influenced by sea) I 1.1 Coastal salt water wetland (WL, salt, coastal) I1

1.1.1 Coastal permanent salt water wetland I1a 1 Coastal permanet salt water wetland, non-vegetated I1a1 2 Coastal permanet salt water wetland, aquatic plants I1a2 3 Coastal permanet salt water wetland, coral reef I1a3 4 Coastal permanet salt water wetland, aquaculture I1a4 5 Coastal permanet salt water wetland, permanent flow I1a5 6 Coastal permanet salt water wetland, others I1a6 1.1.2 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland I1b 7 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, rocky I1b1 8 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, sandy, gravelly I1b2 9 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, non-vegetated, silty I1b3 10 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, grassland, reed, shrub I1b4 11 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, natural forest I1b5 12 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, plantation I1b6 13 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, aquaculture I1b7 14 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, saltern I1b8 15 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, water flows I1b9 16 Coastal intermittent salt water wetland, others I1b10

1.2 Estuarine salt water wetland (WL, salt, estuarine) I2 1.2.1 Estuarine permanent salt water wetland I2a 17 Estuarine permanent salt water wetland, sandy bar and dune I2a1 18 Estuarine permanent salt water wetland, mudflat I2a2 19 Estuarine permanent salt water wetland, grassland I2a3 20 Estuarine permanent salt water wetland, aquaculture I2a4 21 Estuarine permanent salt water wetland, water flows I2a5 22 Estuarine permanent salt water wetland, others I2a6 1.2.2 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland I2b 23 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, non-vegetated, sandy,

gravelly I2b1

24 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, non-vegetated, silty I2b2 25 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, grassland, reed, shrub I2b3 26 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, natural forest I2b4 27 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, plantation I2b5 28 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, aquaculture I2b6 29 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, agriculture I2b7 30 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, saltern I2b8 31 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, water flows I2b9

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32 Estuarine intermittent salt water wetland, others I2b10

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1.3 Palustrine salt water wetland, (salt water WL, palustrine) I3

1.3.1 Palustrine permanent salt water wetland I3a 33 Palustrine permanent salt water wetland, non-vegetated I3a1 34 Palustrine permanent salt water wetland, grassland or shrub I3a2 35 Palustrine permanent salt water wetland, aquaculture I3a3 36 Palustrine permanent salt water wetland, others I3a4 1.3.2 Palustrine intermittent salt water wetland I3b 37 Palustrine intermittent salt water wetland, non-vegetated I3b1 38 Palustrine intermittent salt water wetland, grassland, shrub, or

natural forest I3b2

39 Palustrine intermittent salt water wetland, grassland, shrub, or plantation

I3b3

40 Palustrine intermittent salt water wetland, aquaculture I3b4 41 Palustrine intermittent salt water wetland, others I3b5

FRESH WATER WETLAND (NOT DIRECTLY INFLUENCED BY SEA) II 2.1 Riverine fresh water wetland II1

2.1.1 Riverine permanent fresh water wetland II1a 42 Riverine permanent fresh water wetland, water flows and

waterfalls II1a1

43 Riverine permanent fresh water wetland, other water flows II1a2 2.1.2 Riverine intermittent fresh water wetland II1b 44 Riverine intermittent fresh water wetland, grassland or shrub II1b1 45 Riverine intermittent fresh water wetland, natural forest II1b2 46 Riverine intermittent fresh water wetland, plantation II1b3 47 Riverine intermittent fresh water wetland, agriculture II1b4 48 Riverine intermittent fresh water wetland, aquaculture II1b5 49 Riverine intermittent fresh water wetland, water flows II1b6 50 Riverine intermittent fresh water wetland, others II1b7

2.2 Lacustrine fresh water wetland II2 2.2.1 Lacustrine permanent fresh water wetland II2a 51 Lacustrine permanent fresh water wetland, natural II2a1 52 Lacustrine permanent fresh water wetland, artificial II2a2 53 Lacustrine permanent fresh water wetland, others II2a3 2.2.2 Lacustrine intermittent fresh water wetland II2b 54 Lacustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, grassland or shrub II2b1 55 Lacustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, natural forest II2b2 56 Lacustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, plantation II2b3 57 Lacustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, agriculture II2b4 58 Lacustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, aquaculture II2b5 59 Lacustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, others II2b6

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2.3 Palustrine fresh water wetland II3

2.3.1 Palustrine permanent fresh water wetland II3a 60 Palustrine permanent fresh water wetland, natural II3a1 61 Palustrine permanent fresh water wetland, artificial II3a2 62 Palustrine permanent fresh water wetland, others II3a3 2.3.2 Palustrine intermittent fresh water wetland II3b 63 Palustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, grassland or shrub II3b1 64 Palustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, natural forest II3b2 65 Palustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, plantation II3b3 66 Palustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, agriculture II3b4 67 Palustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, aquaculture II3b5 68 Palustrine intermittent fresh water wetland, others II3b6

ANNEX 2: IMPORTANT WETLAND TYPES ACCORDING TO THE CRITERIA OF EP OF MRC (Resulted from national meeting on inventory of wetlands/aquatic ecosystems on 3rd march 2003, Ho Chi Minh City)

a) Table identify important wetland types and information on each type by group 1 Wetland type Flora and Fauna Hydrological

Pathways Water quality Accretion/

Erosion protection

Aesthetics and culture

Geo-chemical storage

Estuarine wetland

Biodiversity Change of tidal regime

Pollution (OCD, BOD, heavy metals…)

Band erosion/accretion, risk place

Tourist, historical sites, recreation

Sediment transport

Seasonal forest swamp (lacustrine wetland)

Hatching ground, reservation, reproduction of aquatic life

Water reservation

Improvement Alluvial deposit Research, tourist…

Acid improvement

Mangrove forest swamp

Hatching ground, reservation of aquatic life

Change of tidal regime

Forested area, coastal erosion

Research, tourism, historical sites,

Biomass, forested area

Permanent river, canal schemes

Production Flow, discharge, irrigation / drain. / Transportation possibilities

Pollution (OCD, BOD, heavy metals…)

Band erosion / accretion, risk place

Tourist, historical sites, recreation

Sediment transport

Grass swamps Production, Hatching ground, reservation of aquatic plants

PH, EC, COD, BOD…

Tourist, historical sites, recreation

Rice land (aquaculture.)

Production of aquaculture.

PH, EC, COD, BOD…

Tourist, historical sites.

Bio chemical impacts

PH, EC, COD, BOD…

Tourist, historical sites.

1

b) Table identify important wetland types and information on each type, by group 2 Wetland type Flora and Fauna Hydrological

Pathways Water quality Accretion/

Erosion protection

Aesthetics and culture

Geo-chemical storage

Seasonally/permanently freshwater flooded swamp forest

Forest product (Melaleuca). Biodiversity (e.g. Fish, waterfowl).

Flood control. Improvement of water quality Freshwater

Water storage (Eco-) Tourism

Carbon sink Peat land. Biomass production

Mangroves forest Forest product (mangroves). Shrimp, fish, bird.

Coastal protection. Acceleration of sediment accumulation

Salty water. Environment for aquatic organisms.

Erosion prevention

Tourism. Protection of biodiversity (Protected areas)

Carbon sink. Biomass production

River and canal Aquatic biodiversity, including plants. Animal and riparian. Fish (migration fish). Navigation.

Flood control Dilution pollutants. Freshwater supply

Tourism. Recreation Health

Sediment provision

Permanently/temporarily flooded grassland

High biodiversity (abundance and species richness). Aquatic plants, birds, amphibians

Water storage Flood reduction. Sanctuary for migration fish.

Freshwater. Water filtration

Erosion reduction conservation. Remnant of this type of ecosystem in the Mekong Delta.

Natural and biodiversity and accumulation.

Biomass production

Rice field Paddy rice and food crops production area.

Flood water storage

Freshwater. Erosion reduction

Vietnamese traditional culture.

Accumulation of pesticides and fertilizers

2

Fish, shrimp, insect, etc.

Coastal aquaculture land

Fishery products. Increased saline water intrusion

Water pollution. Soil pollution (pollutant accumulation)

3

Annex 3: IDENTIFYING WHAT AGENCY HAS INFORMATION ON AND/OR ACTIVE IN WORKING WITH IMPORTANT WETLAND TYPES

(Resulted from national meeting on inventory of wetlands/aquatic ecosystems on 3rd March 2003, in Victory Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City

a) Results of working group 1 Agency/ Organization Seasonally inundated

swamp forest Mangroves River/canal Grassland Rice

field Coastal

aquaculture land

Sub-Instute of Geography (SIG)

Baseline survey of Lang Sen for resource management inventory/ Assessment and mapping of Wetlands of Long An Province

Sub-Institute for Water Resources Planning (SIWRP)

Surface water and hydrology

Can Tho University w. RHIER research Melaleuca ecosystem OXFAM US Reforestation of Melaleuca Ecosystem.

Wagenigen Agriculture University of the Holland to research mangroves ecosystem.

ACIAR to study rotation model of shrimp and rice cultivation

Institute of Tropical Biology (ITB)

Biodiversity study of the Plain of Reeds. Environmental education

Research on sound Management of coastal resources in

Study Sai Gon and Dong Nai river ecosystem

Development of aquaculture models in Tra Vinh Province

4

the Mekong Delta

An Giang Province FPD

Development of Melaleuca plantation

U Minh Thuong National Park

Biodiversity inventory and monitoring. Fire and hydrological management. Resource management.

CARE in Vietnam Biodiversity inventory and monitoring. Integrated Conservation and Community development. Environmental education.

Biodiversity inventory and monitoring. Integrated Conservation and Community development. Environmental education

5

b) Result by working group 2

Agency (Seasonal forest swamp)

(Mangrove forest swamp)

(Permanent river / canal schemes)

(Grass land) Wetland type V (Rice land)

Wetland type VI (Aquaculture land)

Tram chim National Park

Management Management

IUCN Biodiversity (investigation and formulate management plan)

Biodiversity (investigation and formulate management plan)

Biodiversity (investigation and formulate management plan)

Sub-FIPI Investigation (species, production…) Land use inventory/ planning

Inventory species, land use planning

Sub-NIAPP

Investigation, assessment (land resource, production), planning (land use, production)

Investigation, assessment (land resource, production), planning (land use, production)

RIA-2 Investigation, (species, production…)

Investigation management (species,

Research (species, farming model in rice

Research, investigation (species,

6

proposed management

production…) field…) management practice…)

SIWRP Investigation, monitoring, modelling planning

Investigation modelling of surface water

Planning (water resource)

SRHMC Monitoring, forecasting (surface water)

Monitoring (water level, water quality…), forecasting (water….)

Monitoring (Surface water)

UAF Research, assessment (Honey bee), sylviculture, ethnological composition

On-farm research (Thinning), investigation (increment)

Research (Fish cage)

Research, investigation (varieties, farming practice…) IPM

Research, investigation (varieties management practice…) breeding

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ANNEX 4. THE RAMSAR, BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION SITES IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE MEKONG BASIN, VIETNAM

The Mekong delta consists of several important wetland sites, of which Tram Chim and U Minh Thuong are worth to be nominated the Ramsar Important Status. The Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands for the Tram Chim National Park compiled by Pham Trong Thinh, Sub-FIPI in 2000. Ramsar Bureau sent Rebbecca D'Cruz to inspect at the site. Followings are information sheets of two sites.

I. The Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands for the Tram Chim National

Park (in the Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province of Vietnam) (Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 of the Conference of the contracting Parties)

1. Date of this sheet was completed/update

2. Country: Vietnam

3. Name of Wetlands: Tram Chim

4. Geographic coordinates:

The central coordinate of the park is 10°43’ N, 105° 30’ E. It shown in the 4 sheets of the UTM map scale 1:25,000: 6030 - I-2; 6030-II- 1; 6130 - N - 3 and 6130 - III - 4.

5. Elevation:

The average elevation of the site ranges from +1.4 to +1.5m above mean sea level. The ground surface is leaned from the northeast to the west south ward.

6. Area: Total natural area 7588 hectares

7. Overview:

The values of the site as a representative fragment of the pre-settlement Plain of Reed ecosystem is manifested in it geomorphologic variability. Macro- and micro-topographical relief across the park transforms the fluxes of precipitation, evapotranspiration and surface water into the spatially and temporally varied wetland water level regime. These conditions provide a diversity of habitat for the flora and fauna of wetlands.

The pre-settlement hydro-period of the Plain of Reeds has changed drastically since drainage canals were first excavated across the Mekong Delta. Prior to this

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canalisation, the Plain of Reeds was seasonally flooded with standing water for the extended, continuous for period of time. During the rainy season the floodwaters of the Mekong River moved as slow sheet flow across the vast wetland depression and inundated the region for up to seven months. With the canalisations of the Delta, flood water now distribute and drain rapidly throughout the Plain of Reeds via the network of excavated canals. The flood plain wetlands are seasonally flooded for less than 6 months and dry season water table near the park drops more than 1 meter below the soil surface during low flow condition. Areas adjacent to the park are dry and parched from January throughout May until the onset of the next rainy season.

Since 1980’s the dike was constructed surrounding the park to impound water and prevent the lowering of the park water table during the dry season. Six water sluices were constructed after that for restoring and regulating hydrological regime of the park. The goals of hydrological restoration are maintaining hydrologic and the water quality inside the park as they occurred period to the canalisations and degradation of the Mekong delta. Hydrological regime in the park was regulated under a water management plan.

Acid sulphate soils appear almost areas of the park. These soils underwent oxidation and hydrolysis reaction at the onset of rainy season, creating sulphuric acid, dropping the surface water pH below 3 and releasing tremendous quantities of toxic iron and aluminum ions.

The vegetation cover is characterized by Melaleuca cajuputii and other 130 native aquatic plants. Dominant species are Melaleuca cjeputii, Eloecharis dulsis, Oryza rufipogone, Panicum repens. 198 species of water birds are found at the site, particularly in the winter when many thousands of waterfowl visit. The most important is the population of Sarus crane of eastern subspecies Sharpii (Grus antigone Sharpii), which spends dry season in the park. Another 15 global rare birds are also obverse in this area. 55 species of fish are recognized in the park, 33 species migrate from the Mekong River and the rests are native species. The site presents typical unique wetland of the flood plain of the Mekong Delta. For that reason it becomes the first national park in the flood plain of Vietnam.

8. Wetland types

According to the Ramsar Classification System for Wetland Type, main wetland types of the Tram Chim Park are belonging to inland wetlands:

P: Seasonal flood plain lake;Ts: Seasonal flooded meadows;

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9. Ramsar Criteria: “Criterion 2” being selected.

10. Name and address of the compilers of this form:

Thinh, Pham Trong Sub-Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning, 245/5 Banh Van Tran, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.

Tel: 00-084- 9 704 667/8 645 364 Fax: 00-084-8.8642.528.

E-mail: Thinh002000@hcm.fpt.vn

11. Justification of the criteria selected under point 9:

On base of Criteria for Identifying Wetlands of International Importance, adopted by the 7th meeting of the conference of the Contracting Parties (1999). The most significant criterion applicable to the Tram Chim wetland site is “Criterion 2”.

The site supports endangered; near threatened; vulnerable critically endangered water birds. Those are 16 species: Cairina scutulata, Grus antigone sharpii; Eupodotis bengalensis Charadrius peronii; Vanellus cinereus; Aquila clanga; Anhinga melanogaster; Egretta eulophotes; Ardea sumatrana; Threskiornis melanocephalus; Platalea minor; Pelecanus philippensis; Mycteria leucocephala; Anastomus oscitans; Leptoptilos javanicus; Leptoptilos dubius. Furthermore, 182 bird species are recognized at the park.

The site is also a unique example of the flood plain of the Mekong Delta. The native Oryza rufipogon Griff apprears with a large population in the park.

12. General location:

The site is located in the Tam Nong district, Dong Thap province. It is next to the Tram Chim town (center of Tam Nong district). The distances to the Mekong River are about 19 km in the western ward and 23 km to the border of Vietnam and Cambodia in the northern ward.

13. Physical features

13.1 Geomorphology

The land slope eastward to an elevation of 1.2-1.3 m amsl in the vicinity of the Tram Chim park and decreases further to 0.8 m amsl depression in the southeast. Several natural streams distributed surface waters through Plain of Reeds under pre-settlement condition. Under current condition, high capacity canals run perpendicular to the Mekong River. These canals rout surface waters directly to the central lowlands, accelerating the onset of the flooding season relative to the natural over bank discharge.

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13.2 Soil feature:

Two soil groups appear in the park. They are gray soil developed on old alluvium and acid sulfate soils. The acid sulfate soils occupy large part of the park and strongly control the natural environment of the park.

a) The gray soil developed on old alluvium with a light texture and low nutrient contents. Land surface is flat and low-lying, thus the soil is always intruded by acid water. Total nitrogen is about 0.08 - 0.15% at the surface and 0.08% at the deeper layers. Total phosphorus is about 0.005 - 0.02%. Exchanged cation is low. Ca2+ varies from 2 to 5 me/100g soil. Mg2+is 1-4 me/100g soil. The texture contains 30-40% of Sand (1-0.05mm) 20-30% of Limon (0.05-0.002mm); and 30-40% of Clay (<0.002mm).

b) The acid sulfate soils originated from ancient brackish swamps, containing the decomposed organic matters from the brackish vegetated deposit.

b.1) Potential acid sulfate soils contain much nitrogen. Soil profiles are usually gray, dark blue or gray black mixed with organic matter semi-decomposed. Those are always acidified with values of pH (KCl) or pH (H2O) are from 4 -4.5 and pH (H2O) are from 1.5 to 2. Organic matters are about 5-7%, pasty gleyish, strong smelling due to sulfur hydro (H2S). Total nitrogenous are over 0.3%. The organic matters are slowly decomposed. C/N ratios are above 25. Total phosphorus and soluble phosphorus are low but total kalium and soluble kalium are rather high. Cations (Ca2+, Mg2+) are low while SO4

2- is high, especially in the pyrite layer (50,000ppm). The moveable aluminum (Al3+) is high in the surface (2,000 - 3,000ppm) and they are double in the deep layer. These soil structure is heavy, clay ratios are high and can be gleyish all profile.

b.2) Active acid sulphate soils found at the well drainage or medium elevation. A large part of the reserve is shallow potential severe acid sulphate soils. These have heavy textures with clay percentages are above 50% and humidity content is high, pH values at various layers are less than 3.5. Concentrations of organic matters are high but they are less on Jarosite layer.

Total nitrogen values of the soil are 0.2%. Total phosphorus and soluble phosphorus are low. Kalium, total sulfate and soluble sulfate as well as moveable aluminum are high. C/N Ratios are above 15 due to the slow decomposition of organic matter in dehydrating condition. Total nitrogen ratios are high that range from 0.15 to 0.5%. Total phosphorus and soluble

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phosphorus are very poor due to amount of aluminum and moveable irons are high.

Amounts of sulphur in total sulphate are high (3-5%). In the pyrite layers, soluble sulphates are in potential condition, these are 0.08% in wet time and rises up to 0.9% when oxidized. The moveable ions (Iron, Aluminum) severely influence the plant growth in dry season.

13.3 Climate

The site locates in the tropical monsoon climate with two prevailing seasons, rainy season from May to October and dry season in the remaining months. Two dominant monsoons are northeast and southwest. The southwest monsoon period normally occurs in rainy season. This is a period of heavy frequent precipitation, high humidity and maximum cloud cover. The northeast monsoon period or dry season produces light, infrequent precipitation, lower humilities and less cloud cover. Annual rainfall is approximately 1,400 mm. Deviation of rainfall ranges from 10-15% around the average value, 85% of annual rainfall drop in rainy season and only 15% of it remain in dry season.

Monthly average temperature is about 27oC, deviation average temperature is bout 3 - 4oC. Highest and lowest temperatures are observed at the beginning of December and January (37 - 38oC) and in April and May (14 - 15oC), respectively. Annual average humidity is approximately 80%. In rainy season, humidity is 85% while it is 74% in dry season, sometimes humidity below 30%. The evapotranspiration rates from different areas of the park occur as a function of interaction between the wetland hydrology, geomorphology and dominant species and structure of vegetation communities. Annual total evaporation is about 1,397mm. In March and April evaporation can reach 5.3 mm/day.

1.3.4 Hydrological regime

Corresponding to dry and rainy seasons, two contrary hydrological conditions are formed. Yearly, when the rainy season ended, tide from the East Sea through the Mekong and the Vam Co Tay River affecting the water quality and hydrology in the park. The site locates in the interface between two tidal directions, one from the Vam Co Tay River and another from the Mekong River. The amplitude of tide in the canals is about 20-30 cm. Maximum amplitude of tide is probably 50 cm, but it is usually lower the ground surface, so that the salt water is never getting further inside of the park.

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Formerly, when the dyke systems did not completely surround the park, hydrological regime in the park was controlled by water from the Mekong River and rainfall. Yearly hydrological regime in the park is distinguished into 3 periods. From January throughout June the land surface is dry except in some waterlogged plots. From June throughout August, water level in the canals is gradually raising plus rainfall causing moist situation in almost parts of the Park. In September throughout December, ground surface is flooded less than 3-4 meters.

Since dyke systems were constructed surrounding the park, the hydrological regime not only effecting by water from Mekong River but also depending on the water management activities. From May or June land surface becomes wet because of raining. Water from Mekong River and also from Cambodia enters this area throughout canals. In August the water level may be reached 2.0-2.5 meters. In September, water level is rising up quickly and flooding peak occurs in October. Highest water level rises up to 4.0 meters. In November water level reduces to 2.0 meters. The flooded season lasts from July/August to December. From January to April is dry season, the land surface is saturated or semi-saturated.

14. Hydrological values

The vast databases monitoring the hydrology at many sites on the Mekong River related to the Tram Chim Park and inside of the park are available at the Mekong River Commission Secretariat and Vietnamese Wetland Team offices. These data combine water level, discharge, conductivity, temperature, pH, hardness, acidity, chloride, sulphate, total iron, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, phosphate-phosphorus, aluminum, etc.

The pH values of water depend on the reaction acid sulphate soil. The maintenance of water table above pyritic and jarositic subsoil prevents reaction by-products from forming across many different reserve soils and vegetation communities. In the dry season the pH values of water is below 5 events below 4. This situation occurs almost every places of the park. In rainy season (August) water pH is still recognized to be low in study stations far from sluices, but increases at some places. At the beginning of rainy season, the acid water from the surface land is diluted and washed into canals, bringing about very low water pH for a long time. However, water quality is nearly neutral in transition during rainy to dry season.

Suspended solid concentration delivered to Tram Chim is about 1.0 to 7.3 mg/l during the peak overland flooding months of September throughout November. This quantity is only approximately 2% of the total suspended sediment concentration measured at the point where the canalization flows over Tram Chim meet the

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Mekong river. In dry season, from May throughout July, a high concentration of suspended solid is 43.0 mg/l or more than 75% of upstream concentration delivering to Tram Chim directly via the excavated canal system.

15. Ecological features

Period to sustained human impact, the Tram Chim wetland ecosystem consisted of diverse biological communities co-evolving with natural hydrological and geomorphologic processes. As the flooding season, the Mekong floodwaters combined with over bank sheet flow from Cambodia fields in the northwest to inundate the entire reserve below than 2 meters. The wetlands remained a large inland lake throughout 6 months monsoon rainy season and drained with the receding floodwater until Mekong River branches returned below stage. The vegetation and wildlife of the Tram Chim wetland flourished under this hydrological and geomorphologic regime. The monotypic thickets of Melaleuca formed important rookery habitat for a diverse number of water bird. The dense rooting of these plant provided substrate for selfish production. The permanent and seasonal floodwaters generated complex aquatic food chain of phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, fish, bird and mammals.

The natural history of the Tram Chim region is a model of ecological interactions between hydrological-geomorphologic condition and diverse wetland biota. Nowadays, the development of Mekong delta transformed hydrological-geomorphologic condition of this region. Over ten years ago, the hydrological restoration has been implementing in the park may help to return a remnant of diverse floodplain wetland to it former grandeur.

Recently surveys have shown 130 dominant plants in the park. They are grouped into 6 associations. Melaleuca cajuputii covers about 3019 ha or 40% area of the park. They are from 4-20 years-old plantations, with density from 5000 to 20000 stems/per hectare. The Melaleuca forests create habitats for number of water bird including Purple Herons (Adrea purpurea), Grey Heron (A. cinera) Great Egrets (Egretta alba), Plumed Egrets (E.intermedia) Little Egrets (E.gazetta), Little Comorants (Phalacrocorax niger), Japan Pon-heron (Ardeola speosa),ect. Panicum repens is about 1966 ha or 29%. This association is dominantly at protruding ground. This association is feeding area of Gallicrex cinerea; Gallinula chloropus; Porphyrio porphyrio; Rallus striatus; Anastomus oscitans.

The Eleocharis dulsis association occupies 899 ha or 11.8% area of the park. The sedge tuber (along with small fish and insects) grows on the moist wetland mudflat

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form the primary food source for the Eastern Sarus Crane population. The Pained Stork (Ibis leucocephalus), Black-necked Stork (Xenorhynchus asiaticus) Black-headed Ibises (Threskionis melenocephala) also fed in the floodplain vegetation and mudflats.

Wild rice (Oryza rufipogone) considered and a rice of god in the Plain of Reeds. Its stem can rise up depending on water levels and the grain can be survived few months under inundation. Once it used to provide wild grain for local farmer in the Plain of Reed. Nowadays, this association is only limited with about some hundred hectares in the park. This species seems not to be appeared anywhere else in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam.

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) grows up at the stagnant areas form refuge habitats of many native fish of the Plain of Reeds throughout dry season. These areas provide feeding area of selfish-eaters such Anus poecilorhyncha, Dendrocygna javanica, Porphyrio porphyrio, Porzana fusca.

The highland old alluvium soil rising above the wetland supported panic grass (Panicum repens) association and provided drier habitat areas during the onset and end of the flooding season. This association is habitat of representatives such as Anus poecilorhyncha, Dendrocygna javanica, Hirundo daurica. It is also the sleeping site of Eastern Sarus Crane. In transition between the sandy highland and emergent floodplains Eleocharis dulsis and Ischaemum indicum vegetation association dominated.

Few years ago Mimosa pigra appeared largely in the park. This is an exotic originated from the North America and threatening many wetland sites in Southeast Asia. A plan to controlling this species has been implemented since 1999.

16. Noteworthy flora

The flora of Tram Chim comprises a mixture of the seasonally inundated grassland, Melaleuca forest and open swamp. Of the 130 plant species recognized in the park, Melaleuca cajuputii is dominant native plant. It can tolerate in strongly acid sulphate soil and inundated lands of the Mekong Delta. Melaleuca plantation young forest and medium age forest were found in several areas. Melaleuca also presents in some scattered patches, as clumps of stunted trees in the grasslands or open swamp.

Tram chim is one of the few places in the Plain of Reeds where the Eleocharis dulsis and wild rice (Oryza rufipogone) community is likely to survive to any

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extent. The dominant species are Eleocharis dulsis and wild rice (Oryza rufipogone) with small patches of young Melaleuca . Associated species were cyperus halpan, Philydrum lanuginosum, Xyris indica. Communities dominated by Panicum repens, Ischemum rugosum associated with smaller coverage by Eleocharis dulsis, E.rtroflexa, Xyris indica, Lepironia articulata, Melastoma affine and Paspalum vaginatum.This association is particular examples of vegetative cover of the floodplain of the Mekong delta.

17. Noteworthy fauna

Tram Chim National Park provides habitats for wide diversity of wetland bird species. There are 198 species of birds belonging to 125 genera of 49 families in the reserve, 88 % of which were found in the reserve in the dry season.

The site is famous for the population of Eastern Sarus Crane (Grus antigone sharpii) that inhabits in the site in the dry season. Largest population of Eastern Sarus Cane was 1050 individuals in 1988. Regular counts carried by site staff indicate that between 500 to 700 individuals spend the dry season here. Other threatened wetland or wetland dependent species recorded included 15 global endangered or near- threatened species. They are White-winged Wood Duck (Cairina scutulata), Bengan Florican (Houbarofis bengalensis); Malaysia Sand Plover (Charadrius peronii); Grey headed Lapwing (Vanellus cinereus); Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga); Indian Darter (Anhinga melanogaster); Swinhoe’s Egret (Egretta eulophotes); Dusky-grey Heron (Ardea sumatrana); Oriental Ibis (Threskiornis melanocephalus); Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor); Grey Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis); Painted Stork (Mycteria leucocephala); Asian Open-bill Stork (Anastomus oscitans); Lesser Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos javanicus); Greater Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos dubius).

As to habitat preference, 42 % of these species use fresh water swamps for habitat, 10 % use grass lands, 8% use wetland forest, 2 % use the canals that are lined with shrubs or woody plants, and the rest 38 % of the species use all types of the habitat.

18. Social and cultural values

The site provides various products for local farmer. The most important is the fish. Fifty-five fish species belonging to 15 families are identified, including 24 species (43.6%) of Cyprinidae, 17 species (12.7%) of Bargidae, 5 species (9.1%) of Anabantidae and 4 species (7.3%) of Siluridae. Eighteen species of those are important commercial species. The fish production per hectare reached 65.7 kg /ha in February 1995.

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Yearly, the park provides 120 tons of dry grasses for inhabitants in surrounding area whom use these products to cover seedling or vegetation. Annually hundreds ton of vegetable (lotus, trimming) and 10-15 ton wild grain are harvested. The site is also the grazing land to about 50 –70 buffaloes. By-timber products harvested 6m3/ha/year ($ 150 /ha/year/). The site is very important in supplying fresh water and retaining biodiversity stock (seed/ larvae) to surrounding areas in the dry season. This is a good location for recreation, ecotourism site, scientific research and education.

Nowadays, almost the natural wetlands of the Mekong Delta have been converted in to the agriculture lands, so that the site is considered to be an important heritage of the former Plain of Reeds. This is also presents the history of the nature exploitation and revolution in the Mekong delta of Vietnam. The site maintains ground water in dry season and in the rainy season it mitigates scathe of flooding of the surrounding areas.

19. Land tenure/ownership:

The site was given national nature reserve status in 1994 covering 7612 ha. In 1998, Primer Mister decided to transfer reserve to be a national park, with the official name “The Tram Chim National Park”.

The land tenure of the park is state ownership. The centre government assigned the provincial authority directly manages the park. The lands surrounding of the park are allocated to farmers with duration of land use is 50 years.

20. Current land use

a) Principal human activities in the proposed Ramsar site itself: according to the decision of Primer Minister in 1998, the total natural area of the park is 7588 ha. The park is divided into 3 zones with particular function and management activities are clearly defined.

- Full protection areas are 6899 hectares including 4 quadrangles surrounded by dyke systems. These areas aim to restore the representative landscapes of the Plain of Reeds, providing habitats for water bird and wildlife, supporting ecotourism and environmental education. In the full protection zone all activities caused negative impacts such as hunting, cutting tree, excavation of canal, settlement, exhausted fishing are prohibited. The wise use activities are promoted here.

- Integrated use and ecological rehabilitation zone is 753 ha. These lands provide feeding and additional foraging areas for animal and integrated cultivating system of wetland species.

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- Administrative and tourist zone is about 46 ha used for tourism services, education and scientific research infrastructure construction.

b) The proposed buffer zone in surrounding areas of the park is about 20,500 hectares including 6 villages and a town consisting of 6327 households and 39.376 people. Almost people living next to the park cultivate irrigated rice and fishing in the rainy season, some of them are mainly depending on natural resources. Jobless or unstable labors are about 18,8% of total labors. This is newly developing area so that the infrastructure and facility for human life are very low. Domestic water supplies mainly by rain or from canal, only about 10% of households can try to make pumping deep wells. Illiteracy occupied 12,2% total human population. Public health care is also very poor. The district has only one hospital with 30 patient beds for 92,621 people. This situation cause severe pressure for wetland conservation of the park. Authorities at various levels, NGO and international organization are trying much effort to solve the problems.

21. Adverse factors affecting the ecological character of the site

The site locates in the center of the Plain of Reeds, a vast irrigated rice plain of Vietnam. Total area of the Plain of Reeds is 743,691 ha, agriculture have developed quickly since 20 years ago. In 1978, the agriculture land is about 275,500 ha or 37.04 % area of the Plain of Reed, after 20 years, the agriculture area was 570,800 ha or 76.76 % in 1998. Agriculture development goes along with the development of the infrastructure and facilities for flooding control and for people life. Those works cause impacts to the environment of the park. Fortunately, the government at various levels has recognized values of remaining wetlands. The plan for reforestation has implemented in Vietnam few years ago. The forest development is also being interested in the Plain of Reeds, some thousand hectares of forest has yearly increasing, abundant biodiversity areas and natural forests in the Plain of Reed and are preserved. These activities help to improve awareness of people in nature resources conservation and form buffer sites to the park.

Surrounding areas of the park are dense populated zones, the public awareness in conservation aspect are very poor. Some of them are landless or jobless so that they enter the park to cut the forest, harvest fish and animal, burn grass to catch snake or turtle. Local authorities has initially started education program and developed programs to improve the income of local farmer in the buffer zone in order to solve the problems.

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The infrastructure for management and protection of the park is still weakness. The staff members of the management board have not been trained in wetland conservation. They are lacking experience in wetland management and use. They are also lacking fund and equipment so that their professions are not completely efficient.

Invasion of Mimosa pigra, an exotic plant is park is also a problem in the park. This species originated from the north America and threatening many wetlands sites in Southeast Asia and Northern Territory of the Australia. A plan to control this species has been implemented since 1999 under co-operation between the park staff and Australian experts.

22. Conservation measures taken

The site was officially given the national reserve status on base of the decision No 47/TTg dated on 2nd February 1994 of Primmer Minister. According to the decision the management plan of the reserve was approved. The total area of the site was 7612 ha. It is zoned into 3 zones: full protected, integrated use and administrative zones. Conservation action and wise use plans were designed for each zone.

In 1998, according to decision No. 253/1998/QD-TTg the Primmer Minister approved the Project “Investment project for Development of the Tram Chim National Park, Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province, 1999-2003 ” and the site was transferred into National Park status. Total area of the site was revised to be 7588 ha.

Comprehensive action plans of the Park are implementing. These plans include biodiversity conservation, aquatic resources management and sustainable use, water management, ecotourism, community development, environmental education, scientific research and environmental monitoring program, were prepared. The amount of 59 Billion VND was officially agreed to allowance for the park from 1999 to 2003. This budget is 15 times more than the budget allowances to the park foregoing 5 years.

Several conservation measures were taken so far. The result and experiences were carefully assessed and made more practically in 1998. The most important measures are regulation of water and controlling burn. Aims of these measures are restoring the habitats of rare bird and former wetland environment. Much ado have been given to maintain the works for water restoration, dyke system and water sluices were constructed, water gausses constructed for monitoring water level, water regulation guidance were prepared.

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The monitoring programs on water quality, hydrology, vegetation; water bird fish, etc. have been implemented to assess relationship between environmental factors on biologist organism and finding out management practices. The management plans have been prepared and taken for sustainable use of fish, Melaleuca forest, lotus, wild rice and another vegetation. The controlling Mimosa pigra, an alien species, has been taken since summer 1999.

The community development programs proposed and a part of this plan has been achieved in the buffer zone of the park. These activities combine of credit loan, planting Melaleuca forest, environmental education, integrated farming extension, resettlement, and land use administration.

23. Conservation measures proposed but not yet implemented

The plan for regulation water level and burning controlling as measure to restore biodiversity of wetland was proposed but not fully implemented because the management staff lacking experience and equipment.

The plans to evolve local people in management of the park and ecotourism development are proposed but not yet been carried.

24. Current scientific research and facilities

The scientific research is mainly implemented by scientific research institutions. These activities are monitoring variation of environmental factors and the relationship of environment with biodiversity of wetlands. Facilities and human resources for carrying out scientific research are not available in the park.

25. Current conservation education

So far, few staff members of the park’s management board have took part in short training course for conservation education. They are also taking part in training on job throughout cooperation programs with scientific research organizations. However their capacity are still limited. Only very few activities of conservation education for local people are implemented by international organization so far.

26. Current recreation and tourism

A master plan for ecotourism program was designed in 1998. Provincial authority funded to seal the road from the center town to the park. The architecture planning, a guideline for constructing trail and service center and exhibition house was also proposed in 1998, but only limited activities have been done, and only scientists visited the park.

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27. Jurisdiction

a) Territorial jurisdiction

Provincial People Committee of Dong Thap Province.

b) Functional jurisdiction:

- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in all fields of conservation land use planning and fund;

- Ministry of Scientific, Environment and Technology (MOSTE) in the field of scientific study and environmental protection

- Ministry of Fishery (MOF) in the field of fishery management.

28. Management authority

A management board was set up for achievement of the investment project of the park. The management board combines 40 staffs. Head of management board is director. Chairman of provincial people committee appoints him. The director reports to chairman of provincial people committee and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry

Management authority names” Management Board of the Tram Chim National Park” addressed Tram Chim town, Tam Nong District-Dong Thap Province, Vietnam”.

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II. Tentative Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands for the U Minh Thuong National Park (Kien Giang province of Vietnam)

(Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties)

1. Date of this sheet was completed/update

2. Country: Vietnam

3. Name of Wetlands: U Minh Thuong

4. Geographic coordinates: 9o 31’- 9o 39’N 105o 03’ - 105o 07’E

5. Elevation:

The site located in the depression area of the U Minh. Average elevation of the site ranges from +0.6 to +2.0m above mean sea level, including several depressed areas and mounds of peat-lands.

6. Area: Total natural area 8038 hectares

7. Overview:

The site is famous by peat land, swamp Melaleleuca forest, swamp, grassland and open water, natural waterways. Those provide valuable habitats for several water birds, wildlife. This site was one famous historical area of the Mekong delta. Part of the site was severely destroyed by fire in dry season (2002). However 4826 ha is intact wetlands, of which more than 600 hectare of mature forest on peat land provide enough seedling and habitats for rehabilitation of the site. After burning, it is quickly revitalized. Values of the site are remnant of typical landscape, important habitat of bird and wildlife, habitats of fish and aquatic products, historical, tourism, education.

8. Wetland types

Main wetland types of the U Minh Thuong Park are belonging to inland wetlands: inland wetlands: Peat land, swamp Melaleleuca forest, swamp, grassland and open water, water ways. Part of the site was severely destroyed by fire in dry season (2002).

9. Ramsar Criteria: “Criterion 2” being selected.

10. Justification of the criteria selected under point 9:

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On base of Criteria for Identifying Wetlands of International Importance, adopted by the 7th Meeting of the conference of the Contracting Parties (1999). The most significant criterion applicable to the U Minh Thuong wetland site is “Criterion 2”.

The site supports endangered; near threatened; vulnerable critically endangered water birds.

About 185 bird species found in the site of which 8 species are globally threaten such as (Anhinga melagonaster), (Mycteria leucocophala) (Anastomus leucocephala), (Leptotilos javanicus). Typical reptiles are (Python molurus), (Bulgarus fasciatus).

13. General location:

The site is located in the An Minh and An Bien district, Kien Giang province. It is about 300 km from Ho Chi Minh City in the southwest

14.1 Geomorphology

Depression

14.2 Soil feature:

Two main soil types in the park are:

- Active acid sulphate soil

- Peat soils

14.3 Climate

The site locates in the tropical monsoon climate with two prevailing seasons, rainy season from May to October and dry season in the remaining months. Two dominant monsoons are northeast and southwest. The southwest monsoon period normally occurs in rainy season. This is a period of heavy frequent precipitation, high humidity and maximum cloud cover. The northeast monsoon period or dry season produces light, infrequent precipitation, lower humilities and less cloud cover. Annual rainfall is approximately 2,400 mm. Deviation of rainfall ranges from 10-15% around the average value, 85% of annual rainfall drop in rainy season and only 15% of it remain in dry season.

Monthly average temperature is about 27oC, deviation average temperature is bout 3 - 4oC. Annual average humidity is approximately 80%. In rainy season, humidity is 85% while it is 74% in dry season, sometimes humidity below 30%.

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The evapotranspiration rates from different areas of the park occur as a function of interaction between the wetland hydrology, geomorphology and dominant species and structure of vegetation communities. Annual total evapotranspiration is about 1,000mm. In March and April it can reach 150 mm/month.

1.4.4 Hydrological regime

Hydrological regime in the park is controlling by sluice gates, dyke and pumping system that allow the park to evade burning and to maintain dominant habitats. For that purpose the park is divided into 2 main regions by a canal, the peat and clay, both two regions are surrounded by a canal and dyke system:

- For clay region, the water level at the end of rainy season (October) is kept at 1.5 m, and (November) at 1.4 m. The lowest controlled water level in dry season (April and May) is 0.8 m.

- For peat region, the water level in the central canal at the end of rainy season (October) and end of November is kept at 1.90 m. The lowest controlled water level in dry season (April and May) is 1.50 m.

- In rainy season, depending on the particular conditions and the requirement of water storage of each region, the excessive rainfall is drained out through the sluice system along the ridge. The drainage of the peat region will be calculated. The width of drainage culvert will be considered based on the highest drainage level, the inundation resistance capacity of the Melaleuca, and the investment capital.

+ In dry season, in average year, the three regions operate smoothly without pumping-in from outside.

+ In drought year of 25%, in the clay region operates normally. The peat region needs three times of pumping-in in November, December and January.

+ In drought year of 10%, the clay region need not pumping-in. The clay region needs four times of pumping-in in November, December, March and April and from regions A1 and A2 is 13.70 m3/s.

14.5 Hydrological values

The vast databases monitoring the hydrology at many sites on the Mekong River related to the U Minh Thuong Park and inside of the park are available at the park offices. These data combine water level, discharge, conductivity, temperature, pH, hardness, acidity, chloride, sulphate, total iron, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, phosphate-phosphorus, aluminium, etc.

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15. Ecological features

Despite the recent fires in UMTNP, the area still holds great environmental significance. The area of peat soil is largely unchanged, vast areas of Open swamp, Phragmites and Eleocharis grassland remain each supporting a diversity of wildlife (some nationally and internationally threatened), including globally threatened water birds such as Greater Adjutant, Lesser Adjutant and Asian Openbill, and the Melaleuca forest is already in the process of regenerating. An opportunity now exists to develop an integrated management plan addressing rehabilitation, fire management, and conservation of biodiversity issues, to ensure this habitat is retained, and indeed enhanced, for future generations.

Excessive periods of inundation or drought may cause stress and possibly death of the Melaleuca Forest, Phragmites and Eleocharis grasslands.

Areas with abundant regenerated trees include areas where the peat layer is 30-60 cm thick, the cover of the mother trees is 60-80%, water depth is from less than 20 cm to wet, the water pH is (4-7), the cover of the fresh vegetation is less than 20%. Three surveys show that the ratio of regenerated area after the fire 46% in May, 63 % in July, and over 70% in September. In many areas, the density of regenerated trees is hundreds of trees on a square centimeter. The flora of U Minh Thuong comprises a mixture of the seasonally inundated grassland, Melaleuca forest and open swamp. Dominated by Melaleuca, and Trema orientalis in forest edge, ground flora comprised abundant fern: Stenoclaena palustris, Aplenium sp, and Phragmites vallatoria, Eleocharis dulsis, aquatic and sub-aquatic species such as Eichhorlia crassipes, Salvinia cullulata, Impomoe aquatica etc. Mature forest supported relative high species richness of woodland bird.

16. Noteworthy fauna

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Hairy Nosed Otter Habitat thought to be extinct in Vietnam; the Hairy Nosed Otter has been sighted in UMT. About 185 bird species found in the site of which 8 species are globally threaten such as (Anhinga melagonaster), (Mycteria leucocophala) (Anastomus leucocephala), (Leptotilos javanicus). Typical reptiles are (Python molurus), (Bulgarus fasciatus). There are 37 fish species (of which 8 are economic species and 3 are listed in the Vietnam Animal Red Book). Three fish species are in Red Book of Vietnam.

Special role in maintaining biological diversity, three resident (lasser Adjutant, Asian Openbill, Grey capped Pygmy woodpecker (Dendorcopos canicapillus) and one winter visitor (Yellow – breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola)

17. Social and cultural values The park is very important in term of providing nutrient (fish, vegetation honey) and fuel for local farmer. 37 fish species found, comprising 9 economical species, such as Anabas testudineusr, Notopterus notopterus; Channa striata; (Channa lucius); Channa micropeltes; Trichogastes pectoralis; Trichopterus trichopterus; Clarias macrocephalus; Clarias batrachus. About 77% of interviewed 30 families participated in fishing natural fish in the park. Yearly, each family caught about 160 –239 kg natural fish. The park is also an important historical site. So many culture heritage found in the area. This site was homeland of Vietnamese revolutionists.

18. Land tenure/ownership:

The site was given national nature reserve status in 1993 covering 8038 ha. In 2002, Prime Mister decided to transfer reserve to be a national park, with the official name “The U Minh Thuong National Park”.

The land tenure of the park is state ownership. The central government assigned the provincial authority directly manages the park. The lands surrounding of the park are allocated to farmers with duration of land use is 50 years.

19. Current land use

a) Principal human activities in the proposed Ramsar site itself: according to the decision of Primer Minister in 1998, the total natural area of the park is 8038 ha.

b) The buffer zone in surrounding areas of the park, about 13,000 hectares was established at the same time for community development.

20. Adverse factors affecting the ecological character of the site

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Long and deep inundation restrain growing of some vegetation communities, such as Melaleuca forest. In

21. Conservation measures taken

Hydrology monitoring;

Bird, vegetation, Hairy Nosed Otter Habitat; monitoring;

Community development

22. Conservation measures proposed but not yet implemented

The plan for regulation water level and burning controlling as measure to restore biodiversity of wetland was proposed but not fully implemented because the management staffs are lacking experience and equipment.

Evolve local people in management of the park and ecotourism development are proposed but not yet been carried.

Fire control was not properly applied

23. Current scientific research and facilities

The scientific research is mainly implemented by scientific research institutions. These activities are monitoring variation of environmental factors and the relationship of environment with biodiversity of wetlands. Facilities and human resources for carrying out scientific research are not available in the park.

24. Current conservation education

Care Inter national carried out so many training activities in conservation education. They are also taking part in training on job throughout cooperation programs with scientific research organizations. However their capacity are still limited.

25. Current recreation and tourism

Planning is not yet completed formulation.

26. Jurisdiction

+ Territorial jurisdiction

Provincial People Committee of Kien Giang Province

+ Functional jurisdiction:

- Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in all fields of conservation land use planning and fund;

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- Ministry of Scientific, Environment and Technology (MOSTE) in the field of scientific study and environmental protection

- Ministry of Fishery (MOF) in the field of fishery management.

28. Management authority

A management board was set up for achievement of the investment project of the park. The management board combines 47 staffs. Head of management board is director. Chairman of provincial people committee appoints him. The director reports to chairman of Kien Giang provincial people committee and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry

Management authority names” Management Board of the U Minh Thuong National Park” Kien Giang Province, Vietnam”.

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ANNEX 5. LIST OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE NATIONAL MEETING ON INVENTORY OF WETLANDS/AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS ON 3rd

MARCH 2003, HO CHI MINH CITY I- Ha Noi participants

1. Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan, Secretary General, VNMC

2. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ky Nam EPC, VNMC

3. Ms Nguyen Thuy Linh, VNMC

4. Mrs Tran Thanh Binh, Head of Nature Reserve Division, National Environment Agency (NEA). Co-ordinator of Vietnam National Wetland Program

5. Mr. Le Van Tan, Sinor Expert, Department of Science, Technology and Product Quality, Ministry of Agriculture and Ruaral Developemment

6. Mrs Vu Minh Hoa, IUCN, Ha Noi

II- Ho chi Minh participants

8. Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh, Director of Sub-Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning

9. Mr. Pham Trong Thinh, Deputy Director of Sub-Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning

10. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Vinh, CARE International, Ho Chi Minh City

11. Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Deputy Director, Hydrology Monitoring and Planning Division of Sub-Institute of Water Resources Planning and Management

12. Dr. Nguyen The Binh, Deputy Director, Sub-Institute of Agriculture Planning and Projection

14. Dr. Nguyen Van Nhan, Director of IRMC of Sub-Institute of Agriculture Planning

and Projection

15. Dr. Pham Quang Khanh, Head of Soil & Land-use Inventory Division of Sub-Institute of Agriculture Planning and Projection

16. Prof. Dr. Phan Lieu, Vice Chairman of Soil Science Association of Viet Nam

17. Dr. Tran Triet, Representative of International Crane Foundation (ICF), National University in HCMC

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18. Dr. Trinh Truong Giang, Vice Rector of University of Agriculture and Forestry, HCMC

19. Mr. Hoang Huu Cai, University of Agriculture and Forestry, HCMC

20. Dr. Dang Thanh Ha, Economist, University of Agriculture and Forestry, HCMC

21. Dr. Nguyen Van Hao, Director of Research Institute for Aquaculture N.2 (RIA-2)

22. Mr. Nguyen Van Trong, Head of Planning Division of RIA-2

23. Nguyen Ngoc Vinh,Head of Environmental Analysis Division, Southern Station of Hydro-Meteorology

III- Provincial Participants

24. Dr. Nguyen Van Be, Faculty of Agriculture, Can Tho University (CTU)

25. Mr. Nguyen Van Lu, Director of Tram Chim, National Park, Dong Thap Province

26. Dr. Thai Thanh Luom, Director of U Minh Thuong, National Park, Kien Giang Province

27. Mr. Nguyen Van Ngan, Director, Thanh Phu Mangrove Wetland Nature Reserve

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ANNEX 6. LIST OF PEOPLES CONTACTED

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh Head of Hydrology Monitoring and Planning Division of Sub-Institute of Water Resources Planning and Management 280 An Duong Vuong Street, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 84-8-8350850 E-mai: nnanh@hcm.vnn.vn

Prof. Dr. Le Thai Bat Secretary General, Vietnam Soil Association 67 Hang Chuoi Street, Ha Noi Vietnam. Tel: 84-4-89710511 E-mail: hkhdvn@yahoo.com

Dr. Nguyen Van Be Faculty of Agriculture, Can Tho University (CTU) Tel: 84-71-830635 Email: nvbe@ctu.edu.vn

Mrs Tran Thanh Binh Head of Nature Reserve Division, National Environment Agency (NEA). Co-ordinator of Vietnam National Wetland Program 67, Nguyen Du Street, Ha Noi Tel: 84-4-9424 557 E-mail: baoton@hn.vnn.vn

Dr. Nguyen The Binh Deputy Director, Sub-Institute of Agriculture Planning and Projection 20 VoThi Sau Street, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 84-8-8204030 E-mail: irmcvn@hcm.vnn.vn

Mr. Dang Cong Buu National Coordinator, Coastal Wetland Development and Protection, Ca Mau City. Tel: 84-780-825639 E-mail: pfcu@hcm.vnn.vn

Mr. Hoang Huu Cai University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 84-8-8963838

Prof. Doan Canh Sub-Institute of Tropical Biology, 85 Tran Quoc Thao Street, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel:08.9326.296 E-mail: minhhan@wwfhcmc.vnn.vn

Mr. Kieu Van Chue Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture and Rural Delopment, Ben Tre Province 26 Ba thang hai street, Ben Tre town. Tel: 84-75-826027

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Mr. Nguyen Van De Soil Scientist, Sub-Institute of Geology, 1 Mac Dinh Chi, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 84-8-8220957 E-mail: nvande@hcmc.netnam.vn

Dr. Trinh Truong Giang Vice Rector, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: 84-8-8960712 E-mail: ttgiang@hcm.vnn.vn

Dr. Dang Thanh Ha Economist, University of Agriculture and Forestry, Thu Duc, HCMC, Vietnam Tel: 84-8-8961708 Email: d.thanh.ha@hcm.vnn.vn

Dr. Nguyen Van Hao Director of Research Institute for Aquaculture No.2 (RIA-2) 116 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street, Ho Chi Minh

Tel: 84-8-8299592 Mrs Vu Minh Hoa IUCN, 36 Tran Hung Dao Street, Ha Noi

Tel: 84-4-9330012 Email:mhoa@iucn.org.vn

Prof. Phan Nguyen Hong

Center of Resources and Environment, National University, Ha noi. 117/7 Nguyen Khuyen Street, Ha Noi. Tel: 84-4-7335625 E-mail: merd@netnam.org.vn

Prof. Dang Huy Huynh Nationanl Center of Science and Technology 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Ha Noi Tel: 84-4-756.4333

Dr. Le Xuan Canh Deputy Director, Institute of Bio-Resources and Ecology 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Ha Noi Tel: 84-4-756.4333

Dr. Pham Quang Khanh Head of Soil & Land-use Inventory Division of Sub-Institute of Agriculture Planning and Projection 20 VoThi Sau Street, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 84-8-8204030 E-mail: khanhqhnn@hcm.vnn.vn

Prof. Dr. Phan Lieu Vice Chairman of Soil Science Association of Viet Nam, 171-175 Ham Nghi Street, Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: 84-8-8243527

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Mr. Nguyen Van Lu Director of Tram Chim, National Park, Tam Nong Townlet Dong Thap Province Tel: 84-67-827302

Dr. Thai Thanh Luom Director of U Minh Thuong, National Park, Kien Giang Province Tel: 84-77- 810 684

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ky Nam Environmental Program Coordinator, Vietnam National Mekong Committee- 23, Hang Tre Street, Ha Noi Tel: 84-4-8254785 E-mail: vnmc@hn.vnn.vn

Mr. Nguyen Van Ngan Director, Thanh Phu Mangrove Wetland Nature Reserve, Thanh Phu District, Bentre Province Tel:84-75-886036

Dr. Nguyen Van Nhan Director of IRMC of Sub-Institute of Agriculture Planning and Projection 20 VoThi Sau Street, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 84-8-8334404 E-mail: irmcvn@hcm.vnn.vn

Dr. Duong Van Ni Institute of Farming System Can Tho University, Can Tho Province Tel: 84- 071-832395

Mr. Le Phat Quoi Department of Environment and Resources, 4A Highway No.1, Tan An Town, Long An Province. Tel: 84-72-822809 E-mail: quoilp@bdvn.vnmail.vnd.net

Mr. Le Van Tan Sinor Expert, Department of Science, Technology and Product Quality, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Developemment, 2, Ngoc Ha, Ha Noi Tel: 84-4-8434681

Mr. Nguyen Chi Thanh Director of Sub-Institute of Forest Inventory and Planning 245/5 Banh Van Tran Street, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 84-8-8645364 E-mail: xuantrinh@hcm.fpt.vn

Mr. Nguyen Hong Toan Secretary General, Vietnam National Mekong Committee. 23, Hang Tre Street, Ha Noi Tel: 84-4-8258917 E-mail: vnmc@hn.vnn.vn

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Dr. Tran Triet Representative of International Crane Foundation (ICF), National University in HCMC, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street , Ho Chi Minh City. Tel: 84-8- 8732317 E-mail: ttriet@hcm.vnn.vn

Mr. Nguyen Van Trong Head of Planning Division of RIA-2 Dr. Vu Van Tuan Deputy Director, Research Institute of Hydrology and

Meteorology 18, Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Ha Noi Tel: 84-4- 8344469 E-mail: vvtuan@netnam.org.vn

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Vinh CARE International, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 84-8-8629459 Emai: nxvinh@carehcm.org

Nguyen Ngoc Vinh Head of Environmental Analysis Division, Southern Station of Hydro-Meteorology

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ANNEX IV : Socio-economic and Stakeholder Analysis

4. VIETNAM: PLAIN OF REEDS

National Actions (put this right before ouputs)

In Vietnam, the key issues listed in a 1999 review of biodiversity priorities included the need for institutional co-ordination, which the programme will address under Outputs 1.1-1.3, 1.6, and 2.1-2.3, and enhancement of public awareness, education and training which will be covered under Outputs 1.1, 1.2, 1.7-1.10, 6.3, and 6.6-6.8. The review also stressed the need to deal with a broader array of issues, such as integration of biodiversity concerns into strategic environmental impact assessments (Output 1.4); invasive fish species (Output 1.9); sustainable tourism (Output 6.2); and marine, coastal and freshwater biodiversity (all outputs).

Wetland Protected Areas

Vietnam has the only wetland National Park in the region - Tram Chim National Park, covering 7,740 ha which received recent approval for a Government investment programme amounting to US$ 4.2 million. Lang Sen Provincial Reserve, covering 3,280 ha, is protected under local legislation. Tram Chim and Lang Sen Provincial Reserve are included in the demonstration site in Vietnam (Component 6).

4.1 Population

Lang Sen, situated across the border of Tan Hung and Vinh Hung Districts in Long An Province, covers a total area of 3,200 ha divided into a core zone of 1,200 ha (400 ha of which is residential and agricultural land) and a buffer zone of grassland and melaleuca forest totalling 2,000 ha. The total population of the two districts is 78,800 people out of a total of 1.3 million residing in Long An

Province. Two permanent villages are located within the core zone - Vihn Loi and Vinh Dai - with a total population of 190 families or about 800 people. The villagers grow rice as their main source of income with two crops cultivated each year totalling an average yield of 16 tons/family/year. Livelihoods are supplemented by fishing and collecting firewood.

Tham Nong District falls within the state’s “ New Economic Zone”, which aims to make productive use of “ idle land”, a policy dates back to the mid 1980s. Under this policy, the state encourages people from other parts of the country to move to the Plain of Reeds to cultivate rice in order to increase food security and export earnings. Since this policy was established, local authorities report that immigration to the District has been steady. New canals, including Dong Tien, and Xang Cut, have served as convenient transportation routes and thus facilitated immigration.

Description of the Plain of Reeds