Cac Dao Thac Ba Cultural and Historical Site
| Alternative site name(s) Ho Thac Ba, Thac Ba Province(s) Yen Bai Area 5,000 ha Coordinates 21°42' - 22°05'N, 104°45' - 105°03'E Agro-ecological zone North-eastern Decreed by government Yes Management board established No |
Investment plan prepared No VCF eligibility criteria met None Social screening criteria met None Conservation needs assessment prepared No Operational management plan prepared No Tracking tool completed No Yes |
Management history
Cac Dao Thac Ba comprises a series of islands on Thac Ba reservoir. The site was decreed as a cultural and historical site by Decision No. 194/CT of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, dated 9 August 1986 (MARD 1997). The area of the cultural and historical site was given as 5,000 ha, and its stated purpose was to protect the watershed of the reservoir and the habitat of bird species (Cao Van Sung 1995). An investment plan has not yet been prepared for the cultural and historical site, and a management board has not yet been established. However, Cac Dao Thac Ba is included on a list of Special-use Forests to be established by the year 2010, prepared by the FPD of MARD, as a 5,000 ha cultural and historical site (FPD 2003); this list has not yet been approved by the government.
Topography and hydrology
Thac Ba reservoir, which covers 19,050 ha, was created in 1970 by the construction of a dam on the Chay river (Anon. 1998). The difference in elevation between the river bed upstream and downstream of the reservoir is 130 m (Scott 1989). The reservoir is over 80 km long and up to 8 km wide, although the lake is significantly narrower in many places as the shoreline is highly irregular, with many bays and promontories. There are also numerous islands in the reservoir, which is surrounded by steep mountainsides.
Biodiversity values
Prior to the construction of the dam, the area was covered in lowland evergreen forest and was rich in wildlife. However, the area has since been extensively deforested, and much of the forest cover today is a result of reafforestation activities. The reservoir supports some emergent vegetation, including reed beds and marsh grasses. Thac Ba reservoir is considered to be an important staging and wintering area for a range of migratory waterfowl species (Scott 1989).
Conservation issues
Extensive deforestation in the catchment of Thac Ba reservoir has led to increased soil erosion and an estimated 5.35 million tonnes of silt enter the reservoir each year. As a result of this siltation, the life span of the reservoir has been significantly reduced and it is no longer possible to generate electricity during the dry season. In an effort to reduce rates of sedimentation, reafforestation activities have been conducted in the watershed of the reservoir (Scott 1989).
Other documented values
Thac Ba reservoir has important economic functions, including regulation of outflow for agricultural purposes, and hydro-electricity generation. In addition, Scott (1989) noted that the reservoir supports a large fishery, which represents an important source of protein for local residents. This fishery yields 55 tonnes of fish per year (Anon. 1998). Because of its scenic landscape, Cac Dao Thac Ba Cultural and Historical Site has potential recreational and amenity values.
Related projects
No information.
Conservation needs assessment
A conservation needs assessment has not been conducted for the site.
Operational management plan
An operational management plan has not been prepared for the site.
Eligibility against VCF criteria
The site is ineligible for VCF funding because it does not meet the criteria for supporting forest biodiversity of international importance. In addition, the site is a cultural and historical site, and it is not under appropriate conservation management.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| AI |
|
| AII |
|
| BI |
Decision No. 194/CT, dated 09/08/86 |
| BII |
|
| BIII |
Under provincial management |
| CI |
|
| CII |
Social screening requirements
A social screening report has not been prepared for the site.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| A |
|
| B |
|
| C |
|
| D |
Literature sources
Anon. (1998) [Basic planning for a wetland nature reserve]. Hanoi: Forest Inventory and Planning Institute. In Vietnamese.
Scott, D. A. (1989) A directory of Asian wetlands. Gland: IUCN.
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