Dao Ho Song Da Cultural and Historical Site
| Alternative site name(s) Hoa Trang Province(s) Hoa Binh Area 3,000 ha Coordinates 20°42’ - 20°52’N, 105°00’ - 105°20’E Agro-ecological zone North-western Decreed by government Yes Management board established No |
Investment plan prepared Yes 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
Dao Ho Song Da, which means islands in the Black River reservoir, was included on Decision No. 194/CT of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, dated 9 August 1986 (MARD 1997). This decision decreed the establishment of a 3,000 ha cultural and historical site, for the "protection of the reservoir basin and the conservation of birds and animals" (Cao Van Sung 1995). In 1989, the Forest Resources and Environment Centre of FIPI conducted a field survey of Hao Trang island, one of the biggest islands in the Black River reservoir, which provided information for the preparation of an investment plan for the site. This investment plan was approved by Hoa Binh Provincial People’s Committee later that year (Vu Van Dung pers. comm.). However, an investment plan for Dao Ho Song Da Cultural and Historical Site has never been approved by MARD, and a management board has not been formed. Nevertheless, Dao Ho Song Da is included on a list of Special-use Forests to be established by the year 2010, prepared by the FPD of MARD, as a 3,000 ha cultural and historical site (FPD 2003); this list has not yet been approved by the government.
Topography and hydrology
The Black River reservoir was formed following the construction of the Hoa Binh dam, which took place between 1979 and 1994. The dam was built to generate hydroelectricity, and the power station at the base of the dam has one of the largest capacities in Vietnam. The formation of the reservoir has inundated a 200 km stretch of the Black River valley to a depth of up to 100 m, and created many islands.
Biodiversity values
Data on the flora and fauna of Dao Ho Song Da Cultural and Historical site are scarce. The natural vegetation on most of the islands in the reservoir was tropical evergreen forest. However, the forest on most islands experienced a high degree of disturbance prior to and following the creation of the reservoir.
Conservation issues
Timber extraction on the islands and dynamite fishing in the reservoir are two of the principal threats to biodiversity at the site (Le Trong Trai pers. comm.).
Other documented values
The numerous forested islands in the reservoir have potential value for tourism. Indeed, the site already receives domestic and foreign visitors. The site has some water catchment protection value for the Hoa Binh hydroelectric dam. However, as a proportion of the total catchment of the Black River, the area covered by Dao Ho Song Da Cultural and Historical Site is probably not very significant.
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 does not meet the criteria for supporting forest biodiversity of international importance. In addition, the site is a cultural and historical site, and it is not under appropriate conservation management.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| AI |
|
| AII |
|
| BI |
Decision No. 194/CT, dated 09/08/86 |
| BII |
|
| BIII |
Under provincial management |
| CI |
|
| CII |
Social screening requirements
A social screening report has not been prepared for the site.
| Criterion |
Eligibility |
| A |
|
| B |
|
| C |
|
| D |
Literature sources
Ho Thanh Hai (1995) [The classification of Hoa Binh reservoir]. Pp 320-328 in: Dang Huy Huynh, Nguyen Tien Ban, Vu Quang Con, Nguyen Thi Le, Pham Van Luc, Tran Dinh Ly, La Dinh Moi and Cao Van Sung eds. [Results of research by IEBR] Hanoi: Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources. In Vietnamese.
Scott, D. A. (1989) A directory of Asian wetlands. Gland: IUCN.
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