Grants :: Small Grant Facilities :: Community-based restoration and management of mangroves in Lap An Lagoon, Thua Thien Hue
Journalists interviewing Dr. Truong Van Tuyen - Director of ... , Lap An Lagoon, Thua Thien Hue, Viet Nam © IUCN Viet Nam
Lap An Lagoon is located in Lang Co Town, Thua Thien Hue province. The lagoon area is 16.17 km2 with rich natural resources including mangroves. Among 9 hamlets in Lang Co Town, local livelihood activities are related to Lap An lagoon in 5 hamlets, namely Lap An, Loan Ly, An Dong 1, An Dong 2 and Dong Duong Hamlet. Aquaculture and fishing laborers account for 30% while oysters exploiting for lime production contributes 55% of livelihoods. Fishing gears including small mesh nets, lamps, lift nets, plant brush, steel frame traps and electric traps were used by hundreds of households, which increased pressure on the lagoon's resources. Dense and destructive fishing gears together with the expansion in aquaculture and oyster exploration for lime production further resulted in the degradation of the lagoon's ecosystem, decreasing fishery resources; having adverse impacts on the fishing community's livelihoods.
Some decades ago, there was a large area of mangroves; approximately 100 ha connected to the inter-tidal area in the western lagoon. During the 1990s, the mangroves here were diverse and included 18 species. Due to poor management and increasing demands from aquaculture and infrastructure development, the area of mangroves has been reduced. Before the project started in 2011,only about 15 ha of mangrove remained and was considered poor quality. These mangrove fragments were not classified as forest but as unused land that could be developed for other purposes. There was therefore no legal basis for mangrove protection, putting them in danger of being completely eradicated in this area. The concern was not only for the degradation of mangrove ecosystem and its biological value but also to put in place an effective strategy for conservation. Despite the efforts of different organizations, progress towards wetland conservation in Thua Thien Hue has faced many hurdles. Up to 2010, no wetland conservation zones were put in place or implemented. In response, this MFF/SGF proposal was designed to contribute to the restoration and conservation of mangroves in coastal wetland ecosystems.
Effective management and restoration of the mangroves in Lap An Lagoon will contribute to conservation of the eco systems in Lap An lagoon where has great potentials for development of tourism and fishery that improve livelihoods for hundreds local households. In addition, this project will contribute to securing people’s life and livelihoods of thousands people living around the lagoon, especial to more than 2000 labors in An Dong 1 Hamlet and An Dong 2 Hamlet. Moreover, the mangroves restoration and conservation in local community will help to improve income for women who have no conditions to get jobs far from their families due to housework’s and responsibility for taking care children. The participatory approach in the project and community-based management are also good opportunities for women improving their positions in their families as well as in the community.
The Lap An lagoon belongs to Lang Co Town, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien Hue Province. The lagoon area is 16.17 km2 and its depth is not equilateral from 0.5 to 3 m. The Lap An lagoon is located in monsoon tropical area and it is influenced by see-breeze.
1st Oct 2011 to 31st Mar 2013
VND468,000,000
Dr. Truong Van Tuyen - Director
Centre for Community Research and Development (CCRD)
Address: 148 Bùi Thị Xuân, Hue City
Tel: 84-54 3523540
Fax: 84-54 3523540
E-mail: CCRD.huefis@gmail.com