Biodiversity conservation: [3] Enhancing Ramsar site resilience

Ramsar site under climate change pressure

Since 2004, the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve has gradually strengthened the management, protection, and sustainable use of its biodiversity resources. Communication and awareness-raising activities have also been intensified, helping local communities better understand the value of wetlands and encouraging them to participate in protecting the natural environment.

In particular, after being recognized as the world’s 2,227th Ramsar site and Viet Nam’s seventh Ramsar site, Lang Sen has attracted the attention of numerous international nature conservation organizations. In addition to providing technical support, international organizations have also coordinated community outreach activities, supported livelihoods for residents in buffer zones, and assisted ecosystem restoration efforts. However, despite these achievements, Lang Sen is now facing unprecedented challenges.

Having been associated with the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve for more than 25 years, Dr. Le Phat Quoi, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Environmental Science and Ecology, said from a scientific perspective that since its establishment, Lang Sen has maintained three typical ecosystems of the Dong Thap Muoi region: seasonally flooded melaleuca forests, seasonally flooded grasslands, and lotus-water lily marshes.

These ecosystems have served as an important foundation for the establishment of the reserve, aimed at preserving representative wetland ecosystems in southern Vietnam. However, under the impacts of climate change and previous shortcomings in water resource management, many ecosystems are now showing clear signs of degradation.

According to Dr. Le Phat Quoi, the system of enclosing dikes has disrupted the natural connectivity of water flows, causing seasonally flooded grasslands to shrink. As habitats decline in size, food sources and shelter for many species of waterbirds have also been severely affected.

In recent years, prolonged dry seasons and intensifying heatwaves have caused severe water shortages in many marsh areas. At times, ponds have dried up completely, forcing waterbirds to migrate elsewhere in search of food.

“Water flows from the upstream Mekong Delta are no longer as abundant as they used to be. This has reduced the reserve’s natural capacity for water exchange and acid sulfate soil flushing,” Dr. Le Phat Quoi explained.

International cooperation opens new pathways

Facing increasingly serious challenges, Lang Sen is seeking solutions through cooperation with international conservation organizations.

According to representatives of WWF, Lang Sen was selected for project implementation because it is one of the Mekong Delta’s important wetland areas, possessing high biodiversity value and serving as a habitat for many rare species of flora and fauna.

At the same time, it is also a representative Ramsar site that is heavily affected by climate change and the degradation of natural habitats. The current project is a continuation of activities previously implemented by WWF in Lang Sen during the 2022-2024 period.

In recent years, numerous initiatives have been supported to enhance conservation effectiveness. One notable achievement has been the development of a biodiversity database and the strengthening of monitoring systems for wetland management. Automatic water monitoring stations have also been installed to track water quality and provide early warnings of risks affecting the ecosystem.

At the same time, the project has implemented habitat restoration activities, supporting the recovery of wetland areas and improving living conditions for waterbirds.

In particular, WWF and related organizations have focused on developing community livelihoods. Models such as lotus-fish farming, water hyacinth weaving, and technical training programs have helped local residents increase their incomes while contributing to the protection of natural resources.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Vu, a project officer at WWF Viet Nam, said that the greatest advantage at present is the strong cooperation among the reserve management board, local authorities, and surrounding communities. Local residents are increasingly aware that conserving nature also means protecting their long-term livelihoods. However, implementation efforts still face many challenges due to extreme weather conditions, prolonged droughts, and livelihood pressures on people living in buffer zones.

“Wetland conservation cannot be achieved in a short period of time. It requires long-term collaboration among authorities, scientists, international organizations, and local communities,” Mr. Nguyen Tuan Vu shared.

Three solutions to preserve wetlands

According to Dr. Le Phat Quoi, many countries around the world are now adopting community-based conservation approaches. In other words, effective biodiversity conservation must begin with helping local people secure stable livelihoods and understand the value of ecosystems.

Dr. Le Phat Quoi noted that Vietnam has introduced a number of important policies, including the Law on Biodiversity and regulations related to wetland conservation. However, for these policies to be effectively implemented in practice, greater investment resources are still needed at the local level, particularly funding and equipment for management activities.

According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Toai, in the coming period, the Lang Sen Wetland Reserve will focus on three key groups of solutions. First, the reserve will seek stronger support from the agricultural sector, local authorities, and international organizations to improve management and conservation effectiveness.

At the same time, the reserve will continue coordinating with WWF, IUCN, and related organizations to improve ecological conditions, strengthen community awareness campaigns, and develop sustainable livelihood models for residents in buffer zones. Most importantly, it aims to build a long-term strategy for restoring wetland ecosystems amid increasingly complex climate change impacts.

Amid the growing pressures of environmental change, Lang Sen continues striving to preserve the spirit of the Dong Thap Muoi region. Yet for this “green oasis” to endure sustainably, it will require greater collective efforts from communities, authorities, and international-scale solutions alike.