A successful case in wetland resource management : XUAN THUY ...

The Regional Training Course on
Sustainable Use and Management of Coastal Wetlands
5-20 November 2007
Mahidol University, Thailand
A successful case in wetland resource management :
XUAN THUY NATIONAL PARK, VIET NAM
Country: Vietnam

Content
1. Introduction: state of wetland resources in
Vietnam
2. Xuan Thuy National Park
2.1. General information
2.2. Natural resource management: Ecotourism
3. Conclusion

1. Introduction
- Total area of Vietnam: 33,000 km2
- Length of coastal line: 3,260km
About 3000 near shore island
More than 100 estuaries, 2
biggest estuaries are Red river
delta and Mekong delta
Populaiton Populaiton is over 80 millions
people. Upto 28/64 provinces &
over 30% population in the
coastal zone.
Abundand Abundand and diverse in
natural resources

1. Introduction
State of wetland resources in Vietnam
- Total wetland areas: about 10 mill hectares,
accounting for 30% of total area of the country.
- With various types of habitats (grassland, mangrove
forest, estuary, freshwater reservoir, etc.
- High biodiversity: many endemic, endangered species,
-There are 68 wetland areas with national and international
importance (VEPA, 2001), including 2 Ramsar site (Xuan
Thuy, Bau Sau).
- Million Vietnamese people are relying on these
resources.
- Play an important role in Vietnamese people’s culture
and ritual for thousands of years.

Sea
Sea
grass
grass
Coral
Coral
reef
reef
C.rotundatata (Phu Quy island)
Ninh Thuan coastal area
TYPICAL HABITATS
Mangrove
Mangrove
Peatswamp
Peatswamp
Hon Gom Peninsular
U Minh Thuong National Park

2. Xuan Thuy National Park
2.1. General information
- Approved as a Ramsar Demonstration Site in 1989.
- Designated as a Nature Reserve in 1994.
- Approved as a National Park in 2003.

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
- Located in the Northeast coastal
area of Vietnam, 20 o 10 N, 106 o 20 E
-Total area: 15,100 hectares
+ 7100 ha: protected area
+ 8000 ha: buffer zone.

Climate:
2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
Characteristic of tropical monsoon with two distinct seasons: a
hot season (from April to October) coinciding with a rainy
season and a cold dry season (November to March)
Average temperature is 24 o C
Average humidity is 84%
Average rainfall is 1700-1800 mm

Hydrology:
2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
Influenced by Red river system through Ba Lat estuary.
Salinity: offshore from the Ba Lat river mouth is 33 o / oo and
varies 5-20o / oo of the river mouth
Tide: Diurnal tidal regime, tidal amplitude is around 1.5-1.8,
the highest being 3.3 and the lowest being 0.25m

Habitat types
- Mangrove forest: 3,200 hectares
- Tide flat
-Sea
-Estuary
Tidal flat
Estuary Mangrove forest

Biodiversity
-184 vascular plant species,
- 108 fish species,
- 177 benthos species,
- 113 insect species,
- 24 reptilian species,
- 13 amphibian species,
- 112 phytoplankton species,
- 55 zooplankton species.
Sonneratia caseolaris

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
- About136 waterbird species are living
there, in which at least 8 species in the
international Red Book.
- The total population of birds
observed about 100,000 in migratory
season (between October and April)
Black-faced spoonbill

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
Threats:
- Over developed agriculture
- Over exploitation

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
1. Agricultural activities:
- Development of agricultural land
promoted during the 1960s and
beyond resulted in the loss of
mangrove forests and encroachment
of the inter-tidal mudflat.
- The overuse of pesticides and
fertilizers have been continuous
pressure to the ecosystems
Aquaculture
Rice paddy field

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
Extensive and semi-extensive aquaculture:
Intensify constructions

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
2. Over exploitation
Everyday around 500 - 1000 fishermen
collects bivalves from tidal flat and earn
living from natural resources from wetlands
Fishing
Deforestation

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
2.2. Natural resources management
Orientation of sustainable use:
-Ecotourism
- Eco – agriculture
-Eco –aquaculture.

Community –Based Ecotourism development in Giao Xuan commune
project funded by the European Union and McKnight Foundation
Objectives:
2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
Sustainable development: Community based ecotourism
approach:
- Strengthening capacity for local stakeholders through developing
ecotourism model
- Poverty reduction

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
Framework of the project:
- Combination of both natural and cultural properties in the
project.
- Local people are directly participated in the project
- Benefits from the project are mainly distributed for poor woman
and fisherman in Giao Xuan commune.
Activities:
-Training about the danger of destruction fishing practices.
- The benefits of ecotourism in term of natural resource
conservation and income.
- Propagandizing the regulations, policies, responsibilities, etc.

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
- Advertizing ecotourism to the communities through mass
media such as radio, television, internet.

Results:
2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
- Illegal natural resources exploitation is remarkably decreased
- Local people’s income is apparently increased.
- Stakeholder’s capacity in term of natural resource management
is continuously enhanced.
- The awareness of local communities about environment
protection is improved considerably.

2. Xuan Thuy National Park (Cont)
Ecotourism activities

3. Conclusion
The Community based ecotourism model is feasible in term
of natural resource conservation in Xuan Thuy National
Park, Vietnam
- Natural resources are effectively protected and used.
- The income of local people is increased
- Capacity and awareness of stakeholders in the local community
are considerably enhanced.
Ecotourism model is creative way in order to reach
sustainable development.

Thanks to:
-UNEP; Mahidol University, Thailand
-Prof. Dr Sansanee and other lecturers
- Participants in the training course
- All staffs of the Faculty of Environmental &
Natural Resource Studies, Mahidol University.