Cu Lao Cham Marine Park
Encyclopedia
Cu Lao Cham Marine Park also known as Cham Islands Biosphere Reserve is part of the eight islets of Cham Island
, located in South China Sea
under the administration of Tân Hiệp Commune and Hoi An
town, in Quang Nam province, Vietnam
. The terrestrial and coastal ecosystems of the islands have been recognized as a global Biosphere Reserve
by UNESCO
on 26 May 2009 under its 'Man and the Biosphere Programme' for its rich biodiversity value.
The eco system also includes the ancient Hoi An
, which is 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) away from the islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Biosphere reserve area covers 5000 hectares (12,355.3 acre) including 165 hectares (407.7 acre) of coral reefs and 500 hectares (1,235.5 acre) of underwater plant life. 947 aquatic species have also been identified in the biosphere.
. This ecosystem also includes the Hoi An
, a UNESCO cultural World Heritage Site
, which is well known as an ancient trading port that blends Vietnamese
and European
cultures; this blend is expected to encourage sustainable ecotourism.
, are: the Hon Dai (long), Hon Kho me or the mother Hon Kho (dry), Hon Kho con or the child Hon Kho, Hon La (leaf), Hon Tai (ear) and Hon Ong (east wind). Each islet has mountains and sand beaches. The uncluttered, least inhabited island group, with their steep rock slopes, sea waves and rich vegetation has been given the soubriquet “unpolished sapphires”.
The largest island is Hon Lao. It has an area 1317 hectares (3,254.4 acre) and has two mountains, one a 517 metres (1,696.2 ft) peak in the centre of the island and another a 326 metres (1,069.6 ft) peak at the western end. The historical monuments seen are the 300 year old Hai Tang Pagoda set amidst three mountains known as Bat Long, Ngoa Long and Time.”
The swamps and marshes of maritime-marsh origin evolved as a result of receding seas in ancient times (about 2000 years old). These areas are located to the east of the township of Hoi An (in the villages of Cam Chau, Cam An, and Cam Thanh). They are also found in stretches along the coast, south of the Thu Bon River that runs past Trung Phuong (Duy Xuyen district). These are to be developed into income generating zones for the people.
and aquatic marine ecosystem
.
Terrestrial
The major terrestrial ecosystem components are: "the seagrass
beds, seaweeds, coral reefs, mangroves, tropical rain forests and others" and the major habitats are "Forest, sea beaches, rocky hills and mountains, rice and other cultivation, grass fields and others".
The terrestrial resources consist of the traditional resources extracted from the islands by the Cham people of the islands. These comprise rice farming, trading in pepper, cinnamon bark, ivory and wood for trading with neighbouring countries, accessed through the port of Hoi An.
The most important terrestrial fauna of the islands are the salanganes, also called swallows, whose nests have been a source of revenue to the local people. These are a delicacy, favoured by the rich and the famous for the popular Chinese dish known as the birds nest soup. On a clear day, on the hills of the islands, the nests and nest harvesters can be seen interacting. The swallow nest harvesting is an industry in the islands, which provides important revenue to the state. The annual Swallow harvest is reported to be about 1.4 tonnes, valued at US$4,000 per kilogram.
Aquatic
The aquatic system is composed of 500 hectares (1,235.5 acre) of seaweed algae, marine algae and sea grass. With its165 hectares (407.7 acre) of coral and sea creatures, the island is known as a "kingdom of aquatic animals". The coral species identified are 135. The algae and sea grass species number. The fish
fauna
has been recorded as 202 species, in addition to 4 species of lobster
and 84 species of molluscs. Coral and shoals of colourful fish are seen in the clear fresh water zones. Some of these species are listed in the Vietnam’s and the World’s Red Book of Endangered Species. Medicinal plants have also been inventoried on the islands.
The social history of the islands is traced to the Cham people who reside in these islands. They have inhabited the islands from 2nd century AD and are of Indonesian
decent. They have been subject to attrition by wars by the Chinese and internecine wars with Khmer
regime on the south and the Vietnam
ese to the north during the 10th century and finally they were fully subsumed within the present day Vietnam. However, their identity as a major ethnic group in Vietnam has been recognized. They retain their ethnic culture, which is rooted mainly in Hinduism
. Islam
and Buddhism
have made inroads into their social culture and ethnic diversity since the 14th century. Their written language is a derivative of Sanskrit. My Son was their religious centre at the height of a Hindu
empire, which ruled from Danang, which was the capital of Cham in the past.
Now, under the proposed integrated biosphere reserve conservation programme, which will be coordinated by the People Committee of Hoi An City, plans have been drawn for sustainable development of the area with emphasis on preservation of the environment concurrent with enhancing the income generating capacity of the local people. The issues proposed to be addressed are: to conserve biodiversity, cultural diversity and natural resources with due regard to cultural values; conserve anthropogenic ecosystems; improve the natural environment; create corridors of ecological zones; restore and rehabilitate environmentally degraded areas. The research and monitoring activities proposed to achieve these goals are climatological and hydrological measurements, abiotic assessments, biodiversity inventorying and assessment of all related socio economic factors. Integrated monitoring is an essential feature to assess and evaluate all studies to evolve appropriate action plans for the biosphere conservation and preservation.
Cham islands
The Cham Islands constitute a group of 8 small islands of Quảng Nam, which form a part of the Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, a world Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO, in South China Sea in Vietnam. The islands are approachable from Cửa Đại beach...
, located in South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
under the administration of Tân Hiệp Commune and Hoi An
Hoi An
Hội An , or rarely Faifo, is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants...
town, in Quang Nam province, Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The terrestrial and coastal ecosystems of the islands have been recognized as a global Biosphere Reserve
Biosphere reserve
The Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO was established in 1971 to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.-Development:...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
on 26 May 2009 under its 'Man and the Biosphere Programme' for its rich biodiversity value.
The eco system also includes the ancient Hoi An
Hoi An
Hội An , or rarely Faifo, is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants...
, which is 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) away from the islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Biosphere reserve area covers 5000 hectares (12,355.3 acre) including 165 hectares (407.7 acre) of coral reefs and 500 hectares (1,235.5 acre) of underwater plant life. 947 aquatic species have also been identified in the biosphere.
Objective
The Cham Island Biosphere Reserve, which comprises a group of 8 coastal islands and marine site in the central part of the Vietnam, is now one of the 553 UNESCO Biosphere Reserve sites in 107 countries of the world. The objective of declaring the islands as Biosphere Reserve is to adopt different approaches of integrated management of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine resources and biodiversity. The biodiversity marine species of the reserve are particularly corals, molluscs, crustaceans and seaweedSeaweed
Seaweed is a loose, colloquial term encompassing macroscopic, multicellular, benthic marine algae. The term includes some members of the red, brown and green algae...
. This ecosystem also includes the Hoi An
Hoi An
Hội An , or rarely Faifo, is a city of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is located in Quang Nam province and is home to approximately 120,000 inhabitants...
, a UNESCO cultural World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, which is well known as an ancient trading port that blends Vietnamese
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and European
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
cultures; this blend is expected to encourage sustainable ecotourism.
Topography
The islands that constitute the biosphere are eight, including the main island of Hon Lao (pearl). The other seven small islands, with their meanings in EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, are: the Hon Dai (long), Hon Kho me or the mother Hon Kho (dry), Hon Kho con or the child Hon Kho, Hon La (leaf), Hon Tai (ear) and Hon Ong (east wind). Each islet has mountains and sand beaches. The uncluttered, least inhabited island group, with their steep rock slopes, sea waves and rich vegetation has been given the soubriquet “unpolished sapphires”.
The largest island is Hon Lao. It has an area 1317 hectares (3,254.4 acre) and has two mountains, one a 517 metres (1,696.2 ft) peak in the centre of the island and another a 326 metres (1,069.6 ft) peak at the western end. The historical monuments seen are the 300 year old Hai Tang Pagoda set amidst three mountains known as Bat Long, Ngoa Long and Time.”
The swamps and marshes of maritime-marsh origin evolved as a result of receding seas in ancient times (about 2000 years old). These areas are located to the east of the township of Hoi An (in the villages of Cam Chau, Cam An, and Cam Thanh). They are also found in stretches along the coast, south of the Thu Bon River that runs past Trung Phuong (Duy Xuyen district). These are to be developed into income generating zones for the people.
Biodiversity
The rich biodiversity of the islands comprise both terrestrialEcoregion
An ecoregion , sometimes called a bioregion, is an ecologically and geographically defined area that is smaller than an ecozone and larger than an ecosystem. Ecoregions cover relatively large areas of land or water, and contain characteristic, geographically distinct assemblages of natural...
and aquatic marine ecosystem
Marine ecosystem
Marine ecosystems are among the largest of Earth's aquatic ecosystems. They include oceans, salt marsh and intertidal ecology, estuaries and lagoons, mangroves and coral reefs, the deep sea and the sea floor. They can be contrasted with freshwater ecosystems, which have a lower salt content. Marine...
.
Terrestrial
The major terrestrial ecosystem components are: "the seagrass
Seagrass
Seagrasses are flowering plants from one of four plant families , all in the order Alismatales , which grow in marine, fully saline environments.-Ecology:...
beds, seaweeds, coral reefs, mangroves, tropical rain forests and others" and the major habitats are "Forest, sea beaches, rocky hills and mountains, rice and other cultivation, grass fields and others".
The terrestrial resources consist of the traditional resources extracted from the islands by the Cham people of the islands. These comprise rice farming, trading in pepper, cinnamon bark, ivory and wood for trading with neighbouring countries, accessed through the port of Hoi An.
The most important terrestrial fauna of the islands are the salanganes, also called swallows, whose nests have been a source of revenue to the local people. These are a delicacy, favoured by the rich and the famous for the popular Chinese dish known as the birds nest soup. On a clear day, on the hills of the islands, the nests and nest harvesters can be seen interacting. The swallow nest harvesting is an industry in the islands, which provides important revenue to the state. The annual Swallow harvest is reported to be about 1.4 tonnes, valued at US$4,000 per kilogram.
Aquatic
The aquatic system is composed of 500 hectares (1,235.5 acre) of seaweed algae, marine algae and sea grass. With its165 hectares (407.7 acre) of coral and sea creatures, the island is known as a "kingdom of aquatic animals". The coral species identified are 135. The algae and sea grass species number. The fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
fauna
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
has been recorded as 202 species, in addition to 4 species of lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
and 84 species of molluscs. Coral and shoals of colourful fish are seen in the clear fresh water zones. Some of these species are listed in the Vietnam’s and the World’s Red Book of Endangered Species. Medicinal plants have also been inventoried on the islands.
History
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
decent. They have been subject to attrition by wars by the Chinese and internecine wars with Khmer
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
regime on the south and the Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
ese to the north during the 10th century and finally they were fully subsumed within the present day Vietnam. However, their identity as a major ethnic group in Vietnam has been recognized. They retain their ethnic culture, which is rooted mainly in Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
. Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
have made inroads into their social culture and ethnic diversity since the 14th century. Their written language is a derivative of Sanskrit. My Son was their religious centre at the height of a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
empire, which ruled from Danang, which was the capital of Cham in the past.
Integrated management
As one of the six UNESCO recognized biosphere reserves in Vietnam, the Island Reserve, inhabited by about 3,000 people (mostly of fishermen community) in a total area of 15 square kilometre, is now slated for integrated conservation and development efforts. The conservation efforts shall cover two core areas with emphasis on land/seascape diversity, habitats, species and genetic resources. The corridor that lies between the two core areas is a major factor to the biodiversity to recover the "marine ecosystems in the whole area".Now, under the proposed integrated biosphere reserve conservation programme, which will be coordinated by the People Committee of Hoi An City, plans have been drawn for sustainable development of the area with emphasis on preservation of the environment concurrent with enhancing the income generating capacity of the local people. The issues proposed to be addressed are: to conserve biodiversity, cultural diversity and natural resources with due regard to cultural values; conserve anthropogenic ecosystems; improve the natural environment; create corridors of ecological zones; restore and rehabilitate environmentally degraded areas. The research and monitoring activities proposed to achieve these goals are climatological and hydrological measurements, abiotic assessments, biodiversity inventorying and assessment of all related socio economic factors. Integrated monitoring is an essential feature to assess and evaluate all studies to evolve appropriate action plans for the biosphere conservation and preservation.