Ho Cam Son Cultural and Historical Site
| Alternative site name(s) Cam Son Province(s) Bac Giang Area 15,000 ha Coordinates 21°32’N, 106°34’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
Ho Cam Son was included on Decision No. 194/CT of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, dated 9 August 1986, which decreed the establishment of a 15,000 ha cultural and historical site (MARD 1997). To date, however, a cultural and historical site has not been established at Ho Cam Son.
In 1990, an investment plan was prepared for the site, which proposed establishing a watershed protection forest, to protect the catchment of Cam Son reservoir. Subsequently, a watershed forest management board was established in 1997. This management board currently has 13 members of staff, based at five guard stations, and is under the management of Bac Giang Provincial DARD (Cam Son Watershed Protection Forest Management Board in litt. 2003).
Ho Cam Son is included on a list of Special-use Forests to be established by the year 2010, prepared by the FPD of MARD, as a 15,000 ha cultural and historical site (FPD 2003); this list has not yet been approved by the government. According to Cam Son Watershed Protection Forest Management Board (in litt. 2003), however, the area of the watershed protection forest is 33,212 ha.
Topography and hydrology
Ho Cam Son Cultural and Historical Site is located in Luc Ngan district. The cultural and historical site is centred on a water storage reservoir with a capacity of 250 million cubic metres, which was created in 1960, following the construction of a dam on the Hoa river. Cam Son reservoir is 25 to 30 km long and 8 to 15 km wide. The reservoir is nestled in an area of low hills, which rise to elevations of c.300 m (Scott 1989).
Biodiversity values
Until the 1970s, the hills surrounding Cam Son reservoir were densely forested but most of the forest had been cleared by 1989, leaving only scrub and patches of secondary forest. Cam Son reservoir was reportedly an important staging and wintering area for migratory waterfowl once (Scott 1989), although the current importance of the site for migratory waterfowl is not known.
Conservation issues
Scott (1989) identified destructive fishing methods, namely poison and explosives, as the most serious threat to the aquatic resources of Cam Son reservoir. In addition, Scott (1989) listed the main causes of forest loss at the site as shifting cultivation, and timber and fuelwood extraction. However, Scott (1989) also reported that reforestation was being conducted in the water catchment of the reservoir, presumably with the principal objective of watershed protection. Emery and Tran Thi Lanh (1993) reported that, in 1993, illegal exploitation of both natural and plantation forest was widespread at the site, despite the implementation of forest protection activities.
Other documented values
Ho Cam Son Cultural and Historical Site has an important role in protecting the watershed of Cam Son reservoir. The reservoir has several economic values, including hydro-electricity generation, provision of water for irrigation and domestic use, and fisheries production (Scott 1989). In addition, Ho Cam Son Cultural and Historical Site has tourism value because of its scenic landscape.
Related projects
During the 1990s, CARE International in Vietnam implemented the Cam Son Lake Community Forestry Project, which supported community management of the forest around Cam Son reservoir (Emery and Tran Thi Lanh 1993).
Between 2002 and 2005, Bac Giang Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations are implementing a project entitled Developing a Community Project to Contribute to Conserving Biodiversity and Natural Resources of Cam Son Reservoir Ecosystem, Bac Giang Province, with support from the UNDP/GEF Small Grant Scheme. The objectives of this project are to develop a model of sustainable reservoir ecosystem management; to promote community involvement in managing water and forest resources; and to test a joint reservoir management mechanism for fisheries exploitation and development.
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 support 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
Emery, L. and Tran Thi Lanh (1993) Consultants report on village protection and management of natural forest surrounding Cam Son lake, Luc Ngan district, Ha Bac province. Unpublished report to CARE International in Vietnam.
Nguyen Van Hao (1979) [Results of a fishery survey and study of reservoirs in north Vietnam]. Fishery Scientific and Technical Journal No. 1. In Vietnamese.
Scott, D. A. (1989) A directory of Asian wetlands. Gland: IUCN.
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