Abstract
Perception and attitude toward wetland values and conservation are essential to the sustainable management and wise use of this resource. This study examined the attitudes of local communities towards the values and management of Xuan Thuy National Park (XTNP) in Vietnam. The study also explores factors affecting conservation attitudes in the study area. A survey was implemented to 677 households randomly selected in five communes adjacent to XTNP. In addition, focus group discussions, and interviews with selected key informants were conducted. The study shows that local villagers generally hold positive attitudes towards wetland conservation. However, awareness of the threats to wetlands and the national park rules are not high. People are willing to sacrifice part of their income to preserve wetlands for future generations. Age, length of residency, and schooling year are observed to be significantly impacting attitudes towards wetland conservation. It is critical to connect management agencies and people to propagate conservation regulations and XTNP zoning for sustainable wetland management and conservation. Social networks and the internet are potential vehicles for increasing understanding and connection.
Highlights
Vietnam has a prosperous system of wetland resources with more than 10 million hectares distributed throughout the country, including many diverse types such as lagoons, swamps, estuarine mudflats, forests, coastal mangroves, natural and artificial ponds, and lakes
Over the past 15 years, an estimated 250,000 hectares of coastal mangroves have been lost due to economic growth, urbanization, Abbreviations: NP, National Park; PA, Protected Area; XTNP, Xuan Thuy National Park
This paper studies local people’s perceptions and attitudes about wetlands and wetland conservation values at XTNP
Summary
Vietnam has a prosperous system of wetland resources (wetlands) with more than 10 million hectares distributed throughout the country, including many diverse types such as lagoons, swamps, estuarine mudflats, forests, coastal mangroves, natural and artificial ponds, and lakes. Wetland is an essential resource that provides many direct and indirect values to the social community. These values could be fisheries, medicinal plants, natural disaster prevention, coastal protection, CO2 absorption, genetic resource conservation, biodiversity, and other cultural, historical, and social values (Adam and El Tayeb, 2014). Despite playing an essential role in economic, social, and environmental systems, wetland ecosystems in Vietnam are seriously degraded. The legal system is inconsistent, overlapping in the functions of the management agencies, property rights are not clearly demarcated, financial sources for conservation are less sustainable, lack databases and scientific information for management (Kipkeu et al, 2014)
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