Ho Nui Coc Cultural and Historical Site
| Alternative site name(s) Nui Coc Province(s) Thai Nguyen Area 6,000 ha Coordinates 21°30' - 21°38'N, 105°39' - 105°45'E Agro-ecological zone North-eastern Decreed by government No 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 Nui Coc (Nui Coc reservoir) was included on Decision No. 194/CT of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, dated 9 August 1986 (MARD 1997), which decreed the establishment of a 6,000 ha cultural and historical site for the protection of "forests for environment and renowed landscape" (Cao Van Sung 1995). To date, however, a cultural and historical site has not been established at Ho Nui Coc.
In 1991, an investment plan was prepared to establish a watershed protection forest to protect the catchment of Nui Coc reservoir. Subsequently, the establishment of a watershed protection forest management board was approved by Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee. The management board currently has nine members of staff, and is under the management of Thai Nguyen Provincial DARD (Nui Coc Forest Protection Unit in litt. 2003).
Ho Nui Coc is included on a list of Special-use Forests to be established by the year 2010, prepared by the FPD of MARD, as a 6,000 ha cultural and historical site (FPD 2003); this list has not yet been approved by the government. According to Nui Coc Forest Protection Unit (in litt. 2003), the total area of the watershed protection forest is 11,494 ha.
Topography and hydrology
Ho Nui Coc Cultural and Historical Site is centred on Nui Coc reservoir, a water storage reservoir 2,580 ha in area, with a capacity of 175 million cubic metres. The reservoir was created in 1977 by damming the Cong river, a tributary of the Red River (Scott 1989). The site is located to the north-east of the Tam Dao massif, and is surrounded by low hills. There are some small islands in the reservoir.
Biodiversity values
The vegetation at the site is dominated by scrub and grassland, characterised by Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, Melastoma candidum, Cratoxylon spp. and Eupatorium odoratum. All of these species are typical of open habitats in an early successional stage following massive disturbance. No information is available on the aquatic vegetation of the reservoir (Scott 1989).
At least 10 native fish species occur in the lake, and about 40 bird and 15 mammal species have been recorded at the site. Previously, it was reported that some waterfowl species use Nui Coc reservoir as a wintering site, including Lesser Whistling-duck Dendrocygna javanica, Common Teal Anas crecca and Northern Pintail A. acuta (Scott 1989). However, the current importance of the site for migratory waterfowl is not known.
Conservation issues
Until the 1970s, dense forests covered the hills surrounding the site. However, most of this forest cover has since been lost as a result of over-exploitation of forest products. Since 1986, some reforestation was carried out on the denuded slopes around the reservoir in an effort to prevent further deforestation and, thereby, reduce the siltation rate of the reservoir (Scott 1989).
The main threats to biodiversity at the site are over-exploitation of firewood and timber, and clearance of forest for agriculture in the catchment of the reservoir, leading to severe increases in the siltation rate, with impacts on the aquatic ecosystem. The cultivation of cassava and other crops still occurs inside the cultural and historical site, while the grazing of domestic cattle is preventing natural regeneration of vegetation (Scott 1989).
Other documented values
Nui Coc reservoir supports a significant fishery, with an estimated yield of 120 to 150 tonnes per year, and is an important water source for irrigation of surrounding cultivated lands. The reservoir is situated in a region of spectacular landscapes and is a popular destination for domestic tourists (Scott 1989).
Related projects
Ho Nui Coc is a site of scenic beauty. A plan for tourism development at the site was approved by Thai Nguyen Provincial People's Committee in the 1980s (Vu Van Dung pers. comm.).
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
Ho Nui Coc 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
Anon. (1995) [Plan for comprehensive realisation of the potential of Nui Co reservoir, Bac Thai province]. Hanoi: Rural and Urban Planning Institute. In Vietnamese.
Anon. (undated) [Plan to develop the environmental and biodiversity potential of Nui Coc reservoir, Thai Nguyen province]. Unpublished report. In Vietnamese.
Scott, D. A. (1989) A directory of Asian wetlands. Gland: IUCN.
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