Nai Proposed Marine Protected Area
| Alternative site name(s) Nai lagoon Province(s) Ninh Thuan Area 1,000 ha Coordinates 11°32' - 11°35'N, 109°01' - 109°07'E Agro-ecological zone South-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
In 1999, the Asian Development Bank (ADB 1999) proposed establishing a 1,000 ha marine protected area at Nai lagoon.
Topography and hydrology
Nai lagoon is located in Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province, 7 km north-east of Phan Rang town. The lagoon is fed by streams and rivers at its northern end, and water flows out into the open sea through a channel 2 km long, 500 to 800 m wide and 7 to 8 m deep. The substrate is flat and dominated by sandy mud (ADB 1999). The outer parts of the lagoon have been enclosed within several large shrimp ponds, and there are a series of saltmarshes along the side nearest the coast (Le Manh Hung et al. in prep.).
Biodiversity values
There is little information available about the biodiversity values of Nai lagoon. However, preliminary studies have recorded 125 phytoplankton, 25 zooplankton, 36 seaweed, 58 mollusc and 18 crustacean species (ADB 1999). Nai lagoon was visited during a rapid biodiversity survey of the coastal zone of central Vietnam, conducted by BirdLife International and the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources in January 2002. Only small numbers of commoner waders were recorded, however, including no species of national or global conservation concern (Le Manh Hung et al. in prep.).
Conservation issues
Most of the natural mangroves in the lagoon have been cleared as a result of aquacultural pond and salt pan construction. Sedimentation at the mouth of the lagoon threatens to block the channel connecting the lagoon with the open sea (ADB 1999).
Other documented values
Local people are engaged in several economic activities at the site, including aquaculture. Previously, seaweed culture was well developed but the market later failed (ADB 1999). Salt production also takes place at the site (Scott 1989).
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.
Le Manh Hung, Nguyen Duc Tu, Nguyen Quang Truong, Tordoff, A. W. and Nguyen Viet Hung (in prep.) A rapid biodiversity survey of the coastal zone of central Vietnam. Unpublished report to the BirdLife International Vietnam Programme, the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, and Thua Thien Hue Provincial Department of Science, Technology and the Environment.
Scott, D. A. (1989) A directory of Asian wetlands. Gland: IUCN.
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