Bio-diversity

Cam Son is a reservoir which was constructed in 1966 in Bac Giang Province, a mountainous province in the north of Viet Nam. The reservoir provides water for four districts in the province. After 30 years of use, the reservoir ecosystem has undergone major changes. Forest coverage in the area reduced from 80% in 1960s to 15% in 1980s due to deforestation, resulting in a significant loss of biodiversity in the area. Resources in the reservoir and in the forest have been overexploited with destructive methods by poor community. The profit of fisheries development in the reservoir has not been promoted due to the ineffective management mechanism of natural resources of the reservoir. Community living standard is very low due to difficulties in transportation, backward technology and limited income generating opportunities. Thanks to the Government effort in reforestation programmes, the forest coverage reaches 30% in 1993. Biodiversity has the sign to recover. A bird area has been formulated in Tan Son Commune located in the area since 1994. The local Government and relevant agencies have conducted research with the purpose to establishing a protected area to protect the naturally regenerated forest and to conserve its biodiversity. However, biodiversity conservation is a major challenge to the local government due to the problem of poverty in the area. In order to sustainably manage the reservoir ecosystem and its resources, poverty needs to be tackled by promoting the effectiveness of natural resource use in a sustainable manner. The project will be carried out in the four communes located in the reservoir area. Its primary purpose is to develop a model of sustainable management of a reservoir ecosystem. It promotes community involvement and participation in natural resource management by ensuring community ownership in managing water and forestland resources through accelerating the Government process of land and forest allocation to the community. The project will test a joint management mechanism of water resources of the reservoir for fisheries exploitation and development. Technology transferred to the community in managing natural resources and economic production in agriculture and fisheries development will be given high priority.

Vietnam