Name: Nguyen Bich Hanh

Country:Vietnam

Site: Ha Long Bay

What is your personal relation to the marine WHS you represent?

I’m working for the Environmental Divition of Ha Long Bay Managerment Department in Quang Ninh province. I graduated Ecology Master’s degree. My work are dissemination and education about environment for local community, mornitoring of Ha Long Bay environment and other things like an officer. Coastal and marine resources provice a wide range of Quang Ninh province. Socio – economic development and tourism is threating the environment in Ha Long Bay so we need to develop a reginal action plan for the Protection of Merine Environment from Land-based and Sea-based activitise.I’m still doing my job and hope that the community will raise the awarement and sense of responsibility through hands-on experience in the protection of environment heritage.

What are the specific problems and threats of your marine WHS?

The environment of Ha Long Bay is impacted from negative affects: Coal mining, coal transportion and shipping; Land reclamation; Increasing, unregulated socio-economic development, coastal inhabitants; Solid and Bio-waste from tourism activities; Increase in marine trasportation; Fishing and aquaculture; People living on the Bay. With those negative affects, mangroves and seagrass beds have been cleared, fuel and oil have created pollution problems, biodiversity has been discount. However, Water quality of Ha Long Bay is ensured according to Vietnamese standard on marine and coastal water quality.

Why do you think is it important to safeguard your marine WHS?

Ha Long Bay was the first Vietnamese World Natural Heritage Site, it has twice been recognized by UNESCO  and has been recognized as One of Seven New Open Wonder of the World. The unique natural and cultural values of this dreamlike bay have been appreciated and loved by millons of visitors. However, the threats caused by current socio-economic development activities in Ha Long city have caused difficult challenges for conservation and protection efforts in the bay. It is important to safeguard the marine in Ha Long Bay. The Ha Long Bay Managerment Department, supported by UNESCO and other international organizations, strives continuously to raise environmental awareness raising in the community and other activities to protect the environment in Ha Long Bay: protection engagement, bringing heritage education to school, Mangrove restoration, additional Equipment and techniques for environment protection, rubbish collection, coordination in inspection and management of Ha Long Bay. With these activities, special the awareness and sense of responsibility of community, The values of Ha Long Bay – World Natural Haritage Site will be preserved and promoted.