Coastal wetland
In Vietnam, coastal lagoons are considered as specific and unique characteristic of the coastal strip in the central region from Thua Thien Hue to Ninh Thuan. They play important role in term of ecology and are a natural resource for subsistence of local inhabitants. In recent years, excessive exploitation without planning, spontaneous development of aquaculture, the process of urbanization and industrialization in the area of lagoons all have had negative impacts on environment and natural resources in the lagoons. Consequently, economical loses, particularly in fisheries, become more and more popular and serious. In comparison with other ecological regions in open seas, under the human influence, coastal lagoons are less resistible because of water exchange shortage and the human effect. Finally, coastal lagoons have been distorted and degraded seriously, losing their ecological and economical value.
Thi Nai and Tra O are two of the three coastal lagoons in Binh Dinh, a province in central coastal region. Thi Nai lagoon has the second largest area with more than 5.060 ha square in the coastal lagoon system of central region. There are up to 1000 hectares square of mangrove forests and 200 hectares sea grass carpet around this lagoon. This is a good condition for productivity and biodiversity, promoting the wealth of marine resources and maintaining the stability of the environment for the development of marine life as well as the community living around coastal lagoons. Thi Nai has adequate resources of ephemera and many species of aquatic products with high economical and ecological value such as oyster, crabs, and so on.
Tra O lagoon with total natural area of nearly 200 kilometer square is the transition place between the ecosystem of land and shallow sea in which the ecosystem of fresh water, brackish water and salty water with high biodiversity exist together. Under the effect of sea and fresh water grass, this lagoon becomes different than others lagoons in the region. Tra O lagoon plays an important role in keeping the balance for water distribution in the region as well as supply water resource for local farming especially in dry season.
However, Thi Nai and Tra O are facing the following problems:
- In aquaculture (shrimp), diseases occur frequently due to environmental pollution
- The aquatic products have declined due to the unsuitable exploitation, using destructive exploiting tools. In comparison with 2000 in Tra O, in 2006, the exploited production of fish reduced by 50%, shrimp by 46% and eel by 90%.
- The destruction or great degradation of ecosystems has led to the change in living environment of all living creatures in the lagoons.
- Accumulation of sediment and pollution
The main reasons for those problems are low education level, lack of necessary awareness, poverty, the pressure of increasing population, dependence on natural resources in the lagoon, incomprehensive planning for economic activities in and around lagoon. Local government and local society have not directly managed and protected the natural environment of the lagoon.
Long-term objectives of this project
Contributing to protecting the environment and sustainable use of natural resources of the lagoons in Binh Dinh province, improving living standard of the community around those areas.
Specific objectives
Increasing the effect of management in two lagoons Thi Nai and Tra O in order to promote sustainable development of fisheries and strengthen adaptability of the two lagoons under the changes and negative impact of the process of urbanization and economic development of local area.
Building suitable management model to protect environment and sustainable use of natural resources in some priority areas in two lagoons (Bird bank in Thi Nai lagoon and My Loi, My Duc, My Chau and My Thang commune in Tra O lagoon)
Major activities of the project

- Researching, investigating and writing reports and proposals on comprehensive management method for economic and social development activities in and around area of two lagoons to protect environment and sustainable use of natural resources.

- Constructing and implementing experimental model on assemble management with the participation of all parties involved: local authorities (People's Committee of Quy Nhon city, People's Committee of Tuy Phuoc district, Thi Nai coastal lagoon's communes and wards), the related governmental agencies, community organizations and local people.

- Planning to protect, develop and exploit mangrove forests.

- Building management capacities for local communities and individuals to develop the fishery such as constructing diagrams to distribute exploitation area, exploitation calendar, exploitation season, and management regulations on resource protection
- Supporting community to build projects to borrow money from the bank to expand the model of stable aquaculture development, which was successfully tested (the model of combining shrimp and unisexual tilapia hatching, oyster, aquaculture in combination with planning mangrove forests).
- Researching and experimenting methods to limit the pollution of lagoon environment due to community activity waste.
Suggestions: Binh Dinh lagoons
To strengthen management actions in the two lagoons Thi Nai and Tra O; to promote steady fishery and ability to adapt with changes and negative effects of urbanization processes on the environment & lagoon resources.
To build a management demonstration model to protect the environment and utilize lagoon resources sustainably in the two lagoons.