Dao Ly Son Proposed Marine Protected Area
| Alternative site name(s) Ly Son island Province(s) Quang Ngai Area 7,925 ha Coordinates 15°21' - 15°27'N, 109°04' - 109°10'E Agro-ecological zone South Central Coast 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
The original proposal to establish a marine protected area at Dao Ly Son was made by Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography in 1995 (Nguyen Huy Yet and Vo Si Tuan 1995). Consequently, Dao Ly Son was included on a list of 16 proposed marine protected areas compiled on behalf of the former MOSTE (Nguyen Chu Hoi et al. 1998). The proposed area given in this proposal was 812 ha, comprising most of Ly Son island, while the area of the marine component was not defined.
The proposal to establish a marine protected area at Dao Ly Son was reiterated by the Asian Development Bank (ADB 1999) in their marine and coastal protected areas systems plan for Vietnam. In the ADB proposal, the area of the site is given as 7,925 ha, comprising a marine component of 7,113 ha and a terrestrial component of 812 ha. Currently, management responsibility for the marine resources of the waters around Ly Son island rests with Quang Ngai Provincial Department of Fisheries (ADB 1999).
Topography and hydrology
Dao Ly Son proposed marine protected area is centred on Ly Son island, a volcanic island lying 30 km off the coast of Vietnam. The topography of the island is rather flat, and the maximum elevation is only 105 m. To the north-west of Ly Son island, there is a series of submerged banks, which support coral reefs (ADB 1999).
Biodiversity values
Little biodiversity survey work has been carried out at the site. However, an initial inventory recorded 92 coral species and 45 mollusc species, including some species listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam, such as Calpurnus verrucosus, Trochus niloticus and T. pyramis (Nguyen Huy Yet and Vo Si Tuan 1995).
Conservation issues
The marine ecosystem of Dao Ly Son proposed marine protected area has been degraded over a long period of time, due to intensive and destructive fishing practices. At present, fishing regulations are weakly enforced. A total of 1,929 households live on Ly Son island (Quang Ngai Provincial FPD in litt. 2003), and the forest has been almost completely cleared as a result of over-exploitation of timber for construction and agricultural expansion. A major port development is planned for the island, which may have additional negative impacts on both the terrestrial and marine ecosystems (ADB 1999).
Other documented values
Fishing is the main economic activity for most of the 17,000 inhabitants of Ly Son island, and annual fisheries production is around 2,500 tonnes. The forest on the island has an important role in protecting the drinking water supplies of the island's inhabitants. However, ADB (1999) report that, as a result of forest cover loss, drinking water supplies have been threatened.
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
Dao Ly Son is ineligible for VCF support because it is not a Special-use Forest.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| AI |
|
| AII |
|
| BI |
|
| BII |
|
| BIII |
|
| CI |
|
| CII |
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.
Quang Ngai Provincial FPD (2000) [FPD questionnaire]. Quang Ngai: Quang Ngai Provincial Forest Protection Department. In Vietnamese.
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