Tiếng Việt
This morning, October 30th, 2015 in Hanoi, the Center for Environment and Community Research has published the book “Hanoi Lakes Report 2015”.
The book aims to provide the latest information on changes of Hanoi lakes after 5 years (from the Report on background information on Hanoi’s lakes was first published in 2010 to present), the advances in lake management, rehabilitation, identify shortcomings and barriers that should be removed, gradually creating a data system to track, monitor and support the protection of the lakes.
The book consists of 4 main parts: Part 1 summarizes information on the approach and reporting methods; Part 2 is the information on the current status of Hanoi lakes in 2015; Part 3 – detailed information on the status of 30 lakes that have the most numerous changes in the past 5 years; Part 4 is the research results of lake policies, management measures and some community practical operations to protect lakes in Hanoi from 2010 to 2015.
As a result of this book, in the last five years the number of ponds and lakes that were fully and partly embanked tends to rise, while the number of ponds and lakes that have not been embanked yet has reduced significantly. Landscape and shore environment of these ponds and lakes were improved, the number of lakes considered clean has increased strongly, the number of lake considered very dirty tends to decrease. The water quality of the ponds and lakes has been improved, while the number of heavily polluted lakes has declined. Another highlight is the community activities in raising awareness, promoting participation in protecting lakes have been clear and widespread, with the pioneers of the grassroots women’s groups and youth, student. Communications works, which have been deployed powerfully, widely and constantly on television, print media, online media have also contributed to promoting more effective participation in lake protection.
However, there are still some remaining issues: The number and surface area of the lake water tend to decrease. Specifically in terms of the number of lakes, from 2010 to 2015, 17 lakes have been completely leveled and 7 new lakes have been added. Thus, the total number of ponds and lakes in Hanoi in 2015 was 112, reduced by 10 compared to 2010. About the area of the lake water: total area of the lake water is 6,959,305 m2 in 2015, reduced 72 540 m2 compared to 2010. In particular, many lakes are still used today for economic purposes through fish farming, or vegetables growing, as well as for drainage. This ambiguous functional decentralization leads to many lakes degradation and poses problems for management.
Based on analyzing the shortcomings and difficulties in lake management, from typical examples and community activities, the Report also provided 10 specific recommendations. The recommendations emphasize that to be able to manage Hanoi lakes in the best way and to ensure healthy lake ecosystems, it is needed to clearly define the boundary area of each lake, determine the function of each lake, and manage based on the functionality, especially the removal of fish farming should be considered. At the same time, the need to promote communication, continue to raise awareness for the people of Hanoi on the work of lake environment protection and environment cultural construction for Hanoi based on community activities is also a recommendation given in this report.
Shared in the opening ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Ly, Director of Center for Environment and Community Research said: “The lakes, ponds, small rivers in Hanoi are precious environmental assets of the Capital. To manage these environmental assets requires integrated approach, combining conservation, technology, involvement of the community, business, media, scientists. We need policies to promote more effective participation.
Hanoi Lakes Report is the result of the collaboration between the Vietnam Environment Protection Fund and Center for Environment and Community Research. Hopefully, the report will inspire, contribute and promote effective protection of Hanoi lakes with greater involvement of the community, businesses, scientists, managers and Hanoi local people together joining hands to protect and preserve Hanoi lakes for a green, clean, beautiful and sustainable developed capital.
