Water resources policy and administrative management

Da Nang city is located in the central coast of Vietnam. Its location is vital for all sectors of economy, society, security national defense, transportation, it is the door of East-West economic corridor which connects the city and other countries in the region. Da Nang has become a central city of the region with its average population growth of 13% from 2001 to 2005 and played a role as economic and social development motivator of the Central and Western Highlands. Da Nang, especially its people, has faced consequences of economic development which influences the environment. Thousands of households near Hoa Khanh Industrial Zone, Hoa Nhon Stone Exploiter and those in the city centre have been living in the air pollution. The concentration of dust and lead in the air is 1.4-11times higher than permitted level. In industrial zones of Da Nang, the concentration of dust is two times higher and of lead 11 times higher than permitted. Many solutions have been taken to protect the environment, including tree planting. City administrators have taken efforts to plant trees in parks, company and office lands, schools with the filling area of 2m2 tree/person. In comparison with the standard area which is 5m2 tree/person in cities of more than 200 thousands of inhabitants, the average rate of tree per person in Da Nang is still low. The limitation of tree development is caused by: - the ignorance of tree planting in construction investments, the lack of synchronization, leading to the absence of trees in newly-constructed places; - the inappropriate selection of trees which cannot grow well in the local conditions of land and climate; - the unequal distribution of trees in parks, streets and sites; - the simple trees arrangement which affects their growth, the city s scenery and architects; - the lack of attention from administrators to tree planting on pavements which are mainly done by local people; - the lack of land improvements which facilitates tree growth and enriches the soil; - the storms and floods which(For example; Xangsane storm in 2006) decreased the average tree rate in Da Nang. Obviously, most of fallen trees were long-life trees. As seen in above-mentioned situations, it is essential to promote tree planting in Da Nang in order to fill spaces of trees which fell down after storms and increase the tree rate to 4-5 m2/person in 2010. Furthermore, it is necessary to build public-private partnership on tree planting to increase awareness of the community for tree protection as well as the participation of local people in planting and protecting trees. Project objectives: - to develop demonstration models on tree planting; - to reinforce tree management through developing a specialized software on managing and developing trees; - to develop awareness and responsibility of the community for environmental protection in general and for tree plantation and protection in particular. Expected project results: - 5 demonstration models on tree planting will be developed. - Mechanisms will be built and piloted to take roles and participations of stakeholders in tree plantation and protection which ensures the sustainability of activities. - Models will be evaluated, documented and advocated. - A specialized software on tree management and development will be developed, updated, stored precisely, used easily in planning, supervising and evaluating tree plantation and protection. - Public communication campaigns will be conducted effectively.

Vietnam