Hai Van-Hon Son Tra Proposed Marine Protected Area
| Alternative site name(s) Hai Van-Son Tra; Hai Van-Son Cha Province(s) Thua Thien Hue and Da Nang Area 27,416 ha Coordinates 16°04' - 16°19'N, 107°58' - 108°13'E Agro-ecological zone North Central Coast and 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
Hai Van-Hon Son Tra was included in a list of proposed marine protected areas prepared on behalf of the former MOSTE (Nguyen Chu Hoi et al. 1998). This proposed marine protected area comprised three areas in the south of Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue province: Son Tra island, Lang Co lagoon and Bac Hai Van proposed cultural and historical site (see Bac Hai Van site card). The total area of the proposed marine protected area was given as approximately 6,000 to 7,000 ha (Nguyen Chu Hoi et al. 1998).
The site has also been identified as a candidate site for inclusion in a coastal and marine protected areas system by the Asian Development Bank (ADB 1999). In the ADB proposal, the site, referred to as Hai Van-Son Tra, also includes Nam Hai Van proposed cultural and historical site in Da Nang city. The total area of the marine protected area is proposed to be 27,416 ha, comprising a terrestrial component of 25,390 ha and a marine component of 2,026 ha.
Thua Thien Hue Provincial FPD (verbally 2003) hope that Hai Van-Hon Son Tra marine protected area will be established following the completion of the tunnel that is currently being built under Hai Van pass.
Topography and hydrology
Hai Van-Hon Son Tra proposed marine protected area is situated between Cau Hai lagoon in south-western Thua Thien Hue province and Da Nang bay. The site is located at the eastern end of a mountain ridge, which runs from the Annamite mountains to the coast, and includes the Hai Van pass, the highest pass on National Highway 1 between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Elevations range from 1,413 m at the summit of Hon Chay mountain to around 15 m below sea level in the marine component.
Son Tra island is a small island, about 150 ha in area, located less than 1 km off the tip of the Hai Van pass. The highest point on the island is 230 m. Lang Co lagoon, also known as Lap An swamp, is situated on the northern side of the Hai Van pass. The lagoon is approximately 1,500 ha in extent and is fed by rivers originating on the north face of the Hai Van pass.
Biodiversity values
The Hai Van pass is of particular interest as it is a biogeographical boundary between northern and southern Vietnam. For certain terrestrial species, the pass forms the northern or southern extent of their ranges. How far this is the case for marine species, however, is less well known.
The coastal forest is in a good condition, with natural vegetation cover dominated by Symplocos longifolia and Lithocarpus nebulorum (ADB 1999). However, significant areas of Hai Van pass have been planted with Acacia auriculiformis, A. mangium and Pinus sp. (Vu Van Dung in litt. 2000).
The marine ecosystems of the proposed marine protected area are diverse. Coral reefs are found along the northern seaboard of the Hai Van pass and around Son Tra island, where 23 coral species and 70 coal reef fish are known. Seagrass beds are distributed mostly in Lang Co lagoon, and are dominated by Halophila ovalis, Thalassia hemprichii, Halodule pinifolia and Zostera japonica (ADB 1999).
Conservation issues
There are currently two FPD guard stations at the site, one in Thua Thien Hue province and one in Da Nang city. However, there is presently insufficient capacity to effectively manage the terrestrial and marine components of the site. The forest is threatened by cutting, and local people still hunt in the area. Marine resources have been over-exploited, and the use of destructive fishing techniques, such as dynamite fishing, occurs widely. Unplanned aquacultural developments in Lang Co lagoon are also taking place (ADB 1999). Furthermore, there have been recent reports of corals being collected for sale in Da Nang city as souvenirs (N. Cox in litt. 2003).
The site is juxtaposed between the large urban areas of Hue and Da Nang cities, and is bisected by National Highway 1. Consequently, it is easy to access the site to exploit the natural resources therein. Moreover, Da Nang has been earmarked for development as a third major centre of economic growth, behind Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In combination, these factors pose a major challenge to conservation of this area.
Other documented values
The area is scenically beautiful, and has high potential for tourism, due to its location near to the tourism centres of Hue and Da Nang cities. Access to the site is very good.
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 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 Chu Van Thuoc (1997) [Investigation and evaluation of biological diversity and potential for conservation of Son Cha island]. Hai Phong: Hai Phong Institute of Oceanography. In Vietnamese.
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