The object of research is biodiversity and humanistic ecology values of the wetlands and the negative impacts of the socio-economic development on wetland ecosystem. Propose practical solutions for the conservation, management and sustainable use of the wetland resources for the sustainable development of Vietnam. Vietnam's wetland area is about 12 million hectares, accounting for one third of the natural area. The wetland ecosystem in Vietnam contains a high level of biodiversity, contains various important ecological functions and values, directly affects people's livelihoods, and plays a major role in the country's socio-cultural life. Vietnam has 9 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites - The Wetlands of International Importance). However, some wetland areas are increasingly degraded in both quality and quantity of species due to over-exploitation and over-use. In this study, utilized various research methods including desk research, secondary analysis, and Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA), which is carried out to collect data from decision makers and community in Xuan Thuy National Park (Nam Dinh province) and in Tram Chim National Park (Dong Thap province). As a result of the research shown that the major challenges to wetlands in Vietnam include: unsustainable exploitation; imbalanced utilization and conservation of wetlands; lack of comprehensive wetlands data to meet the requirements of wetland management and sustainable development. The conservation and use of the wetland areas in Vietnam must be carried out on the principle of approaching the ecosystem, ensuring the maintenance of the entire structure, functions, ecological characteristics and biodiversity of the wetland areas. For which the authors recommend increasing the role and participation of the communities living in and around the wetland areas and stakeholders in the conservation and sustainable use of the wetlands. Ensure a fair and equitable benefit sharing mechanism based on equal rights and obligations among stakeholders in the use of wetland ecosystem services.

This book contains papers presented at the International Workshop on Tropical Wetlands, held in Banjarmasin, Indonesia. This workshop discussed wetland mapping and characterization as well as wetland management for sustainable agriculture. This volume contains selected papers on tropical wetlands, more specifically, peatland, tidal land, and acid sulphate soils. This book presents an international overview of wetland and peatland mapping experiences from Indonesia, Congo, Brazil, Australia, and Scotland. Several innovative techniques are discussed, including integrated digital soil mapping and remote sensing techniques, as well as geodatabase processing and field surveying. This book further discussed tropical wetland management for agriculture as practiced in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The contents of this book are suitable and should be a good reference for those who are involved in research, development, and management of tropical wetland, including academics, soil scientists, environmentalists, researchers, agriculturists, students, agri-businessmen, policy makers, land managers and farmers.

Wetlands throughout the world, including those described in this book are among the most sensitive and vulnerable ecosystems. They are critical habitats to the world’s migratory birds and a broad range of endangered mammal, reptile, amphibian, and plant species. They provide a broad range of flood storage, pollution control, water supply, ecotourism functions to indigenous peoples and country populations as a whole. They are also at the center of severe land and water use conflicts. These are conflicts between counties where wetland resources or the water supplies required for such resources involve more than one country. These are conflicts in use such as conflicts between habitat protection and charcoal production in mangroves. These are conflicts between groups of peoples such as indigenous peoples and hydropower advocates. Many wetlands have already been destroyed by water extractions, dams, levees, channelization, and fills. Others have been degraded by water pollution, overfishing and overhunting, timber harvest, and a host of other activities. This book describes these conflicts and international policies and institutions developed to protect and manage wetland resources. Most of the broader literature and other books on wetlands focuses on wildlife. Wildlife is described in the case studies, which follow. But, Richard Smardon provides us with more. He traces the history of conflicts and the development of policies and insti- tions to protect and manage wetland resources.

Under FAO initiative on eco-friendly water management for sustainable wetland agriculture, the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), as the service provider, prepared the Study Report on Wetland Agriculture and Water Management in Mekong Region study report on wetland agriculture and water management in the Mekong Region for further program formulation. The overall objective is to review the current water management in relation to agriculture and identify the good practices and experiences of water management as a win-win solution for agriculture production and wetland conservation and recommend program formulation on eco-friendly water management for sustainable wetland agriculture. The expected outcome of the overall initiative is sustainable use of wetland to stress both productive and ecological functions of agriculture. The outputs aim to provide the solution as a win-win strategy for wetland and agriculture through eco-friendly water management, which will contribute to the ecological health, function and integrity of the Mekong Wetland Agriculture Ecosystem. Country consultation workshops were conducted for Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam to increase awareness on the issues of sustainable wetland management, and identify the threats, gaps and needs, priorities, and way forward towards sustainable use of wetlands in the Mekong Region.

This publication sets wetlands in their scientific, economic and legal context, before describing the main legal issues involved in implementing the Ramsar Convention. Parts 3-6 take an increasingly broad focus, dealing respectively with site-specific and bioregional approaches to wetland management, generally-applicable techniques for managing damaging processes and activities and, lastly, regional and international frameworks for cooperation. The book complements the recent work of scientists and economists by describing how laws and institutions can work for (or against) wetland conservation and wise use. Each chapter makes the link between international legal obligations and national or local mechanisms for delivering implementation. Drawing on national practice around the world, the book illustrates how different legal approaches and techniques can be adapted to widely-varying national conditions and capabilities. Key components for legal and institutional frameworks suited to the challenge of wise use implementations are set out in the conclusion.