Water resources policy and administrative management

Planning the network of community-based aquatic reserves in Tam Giang- Cau Hai lagoon system Thua Thien Hue Fishery Association (HUEFIS) Tam Giang- Cau Hai Lagoon network is the overlapping area between the fresh water in the rivers from upstream forest and the brackish water leading to the sea. This feature has provided the area with rich aquatic resources, making it a good sanctuary for various types of migrating birds, as well as creating a diversity in aquatic animals and plants. The rich natural resources are not only important to the local livelihood but also to the biodiversity in Central Coastal region of Vietnam. According to the feasibility study for the building of the wetland reserve of Tam Giang - Cau Hai (Department of Science and Technology, 1998), the aquatic system in Tam Giang Lagoon is rich and diverse, with 230 types of fishes, 46 species of zoobenthos, 66 species of zooplanktons, 31 species of advanced aquatic plants, 18 species of aquatic grass, 100 types of seaweeds, 221 types of planktons, and 73 species of local and migrating birds. However, due to the population pressure and the increasing exploitation of the resources, the biodiversity and the ecological functions have seriously degraded. The population of migrating birds has remarkably decreased. The area of grassland and the diversity of fishes and other aquatic plants and animals has also declined. A number of endemic species and the breeding grounds for the aquatic species are in danger of extinction due to encroachment and destructive exploitation. Therefore, the building of the wetland reserve has received the support of international, national and local offices and organisations. From 1997 to 1999, Thua Thien Hue Department of Science, Technology and Environment built a project for the recognition of Tam Giang-Cau Hai Lagoon system as a wetland reserve of international importance (Ramsar Site). The pre-feasibility study of the project for the establishment of a wetland reserve was conducted in 2003. In 2004 the project of coastal zone management (VNICZM) in Thua Thien Hue conducted various activities in establishing a wetland reserve in O Lau and in Quang Dien District (2004), 60 ha of rice land in O Lau area was taken for the planning of a wetland reserve. In 2007, the project of Assistance to the Implementation of the National Support Program for the Wetland" helped to build the project of "Building O Lau Wetland Reserve in Co-management Method", further specified the recommendations mentioned in Thua Thien Hue project of "Coastal Zone Management in the Establishment of a Wetland Reserve". The above mentioned efforts show that the preservation of the wetland resources in Tam Giang -Cau Hai Lagoon system is very urgent. Despite the many attempts in this issue, the preservation of Tam Giang -Cau Hai Lagoon system still have to face with many challenges. Up to now (2009), neither a wetland reserve nor the breeding stock grounds was effectively protected and preserved. This situation is caused by various reasons (1) The fishing community in the lagoon consists mostly of poor households who live mainly on aquatic resources therefore there is an increasing exploitation density and exploitation capacity in proportion with the population increase. Especially, since the areas planned for the preservation are rich in natural resources, the rate of exploitation in these areas is very high. In addition, fishermen also use mobile fishing nets of small holes and destructive fishing methods; (2) The recommendations for natural reserves and the preservation methods are not suitable with the local capacity. Projects for the establishment of the reserve are often of relatively big scale, with the preservation done by the government while the financial and human resources in the locality are very limited. (3) Though the projects for the reserve highlight the mobilization of the community participation but no suitable methods are used. Especially, the strategies to share the benefits are not properly mentioned in the projects; therefore, the community have not realized the benefits they may have or they have not benefited from the preservation activities so they have little motivation to participate in the project. Since the end of 2009, with the recommendation from the office of exploitation and preservation of aquatic resources, Thua Thien Hue Provincial People`s Committee decided to establish a pilot small-scaled community-based Aquatic Reserve in Con Chim- Vinh Phu. This is an effort in the preservation of the decreasing aquatic resources and the biodiversity in the lagoon. Also, the combination of preservation strategies and socialisation of management can mobilise the resources in the society to help the government in the preservation talk. The decision to establish the aquatic reserves is not the final result but it is considered a starting point which is a premise for the development of the ecological preservation, protection and restoration activities. Solutions for the problems The project will solve the problems by inheriting from the results of previous projects and it will focus on those problems which were not mentioned or effectively solved. In this way, the lagoon area needs to be preserved and built into "smaller zones" of smaller scales for easier preservation (called aquatic reserves) and the selected targets (aquatic breeding grounds) are not only suitable to the community capacity, but also to the combination o

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