A ceremony to launch the Trao Reef Marine Ecosystem Protected Area will be held on Nov. 27, 2008 in Van Ninh district of the central costal province of Khanh Hoa.
The Trao Reef is the first locally managed protected area in Vietnam to be officially recognized by the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee.
The reef is located on Van Phong Bay. The 25ha area was an important marine resource exploited by the community prior to 2000. Overuse of the natural resources damaged nearby coral reefs, such as Can Reef and Sun Reef.
Protection of the area began in 2001 with the implementation of a pilot project which received permission from the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee and technical and financial support from the Centre for Marine-life Conservation and Community Development (MCD).
Of particular importance is the fact that Van Ninh district communities were directly involved in the formation and implementation of the Trao Reef Marine Reserve. The result is that it is considered to be the first local, small scale marine reserve in Vietnam.
The reserve model has successfully helped with the recovery of valuable coral reefs, improved habitat for valuable fisheries resources, and contributed to marine environmental protection. Tam Hai commune in Quang Ninh province and Phuoc Dinh commune in Ninh Thuan province are learning from this model, according to experts from the MCD.
Although the Trao Reef doesn’t meet current Vietnamese requirements for marine reserve status, the achievements of this model have made a positive contribution to coastal resource management, both locally and nationally.
The Van Ninh People’s Committee is cooperating with the provincial department of Natural Resources and Environment and Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as the MCD, to work towards finalizing the legal status of the Trao Reef.
“The Khanh Hoa People’s Committee has recognized the local community’s contribution and authority in marine ecosystem environment management and protection. Meanwhile, the Van Ninh People’s Committee has created a legal basis for encouraging local authorities and the community to continue managing and protecting biodiversity and the marine ecosystem environment in the Trao Reef coastal zone in particular, and in the surrounding coastal zone in general,” said Dao Van Luong, head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Office in Van Ninh district.
“The recognition of the Trao Reef as a marine protected area is not only a great sense of accomplishment and encouragement for community members who have contributed to the area’s protection, but is also an example of effective cooperation among three sectors – the local community, state management offices at all levels, and civil society – towards the common goal of protecting the environment and marine resources for future generations,” MCD director Nguyen Thu Hue said.
Many activities will be held during the launch ceremony on Nov. 27 to improve community knowledge of the Trao Reef Ecosystem Protected Area.