Cu Lao Cham Nature Reserve
| Alternative site name(s) None Province(s) Quang Nam Area 1,535 ha Coordinates 15°52' - 16°00'N, 108°22' - 108°44'E Agro-ecological zone South Central Coast Decreed by government Yes Management board established No |
Investment plan prepared Yes VCF eligibility criteria met B, C Social screening criteria met None Conservation needs assessment prepared No Operational management plan prepared No Tracking tool completed No Yes |
Management history
Cu Lao Cham was included on Decision No. 194/CT of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, dated 9 August 1986, as a 1,535 ha nature reserve (MARD 1997). An investment plan was prepared by Hoi An Town People's Committee in 1994. This investment plan defined a 1,544 ha nature reserve, comprising a strict protection area of 799 ha and a forest rehabilitation area of 745 ha. On 11 July 1994, the investment plan was approved by the then Quang Nam-Da Nang Provincial People's Committee, by Decision No. 1272/QD-UB (Quang Nam Provincial FPD in litt. 2000).
To date, a nature reserve management has not been established. However, Cu Lao Cham is designated as a Special-use Forest and is under the management of Hoi An Town FPD. Hoi An Town FPD has two members of staff stationed permanently at Cu Lao Cham (Thai Truyen, Director of Quang Nam Provincial FPD verbally 2003).
Cu Lao Cham is included on a list of Special-use Forests to be established by the year 2010, prepared by the FPD of MARD, as a 1,535 ha nature reserve (FPD 2003); this list has not yet been approved by the government.
Topography and hydrology
Cu Lao Cham Nature Reserve is situated in Tan Hiep commune, Hoi An town. The nature reserve comprises an archipelago of one large island and seven smaller islands, lying about 12 km off the coast of central Vietnam. The largest island, Hon Lao, covers 1,317 ha. The topography of Cu Lao Cham island is dominated by two peaks: a 517 m peak in the centre of the island and a 326 m peak at the western end.
Biodiversity values
Little information is available on the terrestrial biodiversity values of the nature reserve. Natural forest covers 532 ha of the nature reserve, equivalent to 35% of the total area, while plantation forest covers a further 30 ha (Truong Van Kha, Director of Hoi An Town FPD verbally 2003). The natural vegetation of the islands is lowland evergreen forest, although, at lower elevations, this forest has been heavily degraded or replaced by secondary scrub.
FPD staff stationed at the nature reserve report the occurrence of macaques Macaca sp., monitor lizards Varanus sp. and pythons Python sp. (A. Tordoff own data). To date, 265 vascular plant species have been reported from the nature reserve (ADB 1999). Furthermore, a species of swiftlet Collocalia sp. is reported to nest on Hon Kho island within the nature reserve.
Conservation issues
The main threat to the terrestrial biodiversity of the nature reserve is reported by ADB (1999) to be continual degradation of the forest. This degradation is largely a result of over-exploitation of timber and fuelwood (Quang Nam Provincial FPD in litt. 2000). These problems are compounded by the lack of effective management of the protected area, and limited awareness of conservation issues among local communities (ADB 1999). Typhoons are also believed to have negative impacts on the biodiversity of the nature reserve (Quang Nam Provincial FPD in litt. 2000).
Over-exploitation of swiftlet nests is a potential threat to the population of these birds at the nature reserve. However, the harvesting of swiftlet nests is strictly managed by a management body under Hoi An Town People's Committee; harvesting is limited to two periods per year, and the nesting caves are guarded all year.
Other documented values
As the only island in the archipelago with permanent water, Hon Lao is the only island to have permanent human habitation; around 3,000 people live on the island in two main settlements (Trinh Van Toan, Vice-chairman of Hoi An Town Peoples Committee verbally 2003). As the forest on Hon Lao protects the catchments of the four permanent streams on the island, forest protection is essential if the conditions required for permanent habitation are to be maintained.
Because of their location close to Hoi An town, the islands have high potential for tourism development (ADB 1999). In fact, the first tourism infrastructure was constructed on the islands in 2003.
Related projects
Between 1994 and 1998, the national 327 Programme funded a number of forestry activities at Cu Lao Cham, including forest protection contracts, allocation of forest land to local households, establishment of plantation forest, and planting of scattered trees. Since 1999, the 327 Programme has been replaced by the 661 Programme as the main source of funding for forestry activities at Cu Lao Cham (Truong Van Kha, Director of Hoi An Town FPD verbally 2003).
Between 2003 and 2006, the Ministry of Fisheries will implement the Danida-funded project Support to the Marine Protected Area Network in Vietnam. One of the main objectives of this project will be to support the establishment of Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area (see Cu Lao Cham proposed marine protected area site card). It is not clear whether the terrestrial area currently designated as Cu Lao Cham Nature Reserve will be included within the new marine protected area.
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.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| AI |
|
| AII |
|
| BI |
Decision No. 194/CT, dated 09/08/86 |
| BII |
Nature Reserve |
| BIII |
Under provincial management |
| CI |
|
| CII |
Managed as a Special-use Forest by Hoi An Town FPD |
Social screening requirements
A social screening report has not been prepared for the site.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| A |
|
| B |
|
| C |
|
| D |
Literature sources
ADB (1999) Draft coastal and marine protected areas plan. Hanoi: Asian Development Bank.
Nguyen Chu Hoi, Nguyen Huy Yet and Dang Ngoc Thanh eds. (1998) [Scientific basis for marine protected areas planning]. Hai Phong: Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography. In Vietnamese.
Nguyen Huy Yet and Vo Si Tuan (1995) [Information on proposed marine protected areas on the coast of Vietnam]. Hai Phong: Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography. In Vietnamese.
Vietnam News (2003) Cham islanders bring in swift profits. Vietnam News 9 March 2003.
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