Tiểu luận DESCRIBE AND COMPARE WETLAND CLASSIFICATION BETWEEN VIETNAM AND THE U.S

In general, wetlands are lands where water saturation is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types os plant and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface. The single feature that most wetlands share is soil or substrate that is at least periodically saturated with or covered by water.

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HANOI

UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE

-GROUP WORK REPORT

DESCRIBE AND COMPARE

WETLAND CLASSIFICATION

BETWEEN VIETNAM AND THE U.S

Subject: Wetland biology and regulations

Instructor: Master Nguyen Thi Loan

Students : Vuong Tran Quang Nguyen Son Tung

Vu Tuan Tai Nguyen Hanh Mai Tran Thi Hanh Phuc K55 Advanced Undergraduate Program of Environmental Science

Hanoi - 2013

1 Introduction 3

2 Study methodology 4

3 Results and discussion 4

a) Wetland classification systems 4

b) Comparison between two wetland classification systems 9

4 Conclusion 10

5 References 10

Table Contents Table 1 Vietnamese Wetland Classification System (VWCS) 4

Table 2 Comparison between VWCS and USCWDH 9

Figure Contents Figure 1 United States Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats (USCWDH) 8

1 Introduction

In general, wetlands are lands where water saturation is the dominant factor determining the nature of soil development and the types os plant and animal communities living in the soil and on its surface The single feature that most wetlands share is soil or substrate that is at least periodically saturated with or covered by water The water creates severe physiological problems for all plants and animal except those that are adapted for lofe in water or in saturated soil According to the RAMSAR Convention, wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or human made, permanent or non-permanent, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters The importance of wetland environments to the development and sustainability

of cultures throughout human history is unmistakable Domestic wetlands, such

as rice paddies, feed an estimated half of the world’s population Moreover, peatlands can be considered as a source of energy on small-scale production and

in large-scale extraction processes In addition, wetlands have been the focus of several countries’ attempts to increase tourist flow into their countries (Mitsch and Gosselink, 2007)

Thus, wetland scientists and managers have found it necessary to categorize the different types of wetlands existing and to determine their extent and distribution In Vietnam and the U.S, there are various wetlands which are diverse not only in types, functions, ecosystems and biodiversity but also in resources (biota, water, mineral, tourism, transportation, etc.) which are favorable for many economic sectors, e.g fishery, agriculture, forestry, etc Therefore, the purposes of wetland classification are: 1) to provide the scientific

basis for researches, management and sustainable development and 2) to protect the multiple ecological and economic values of wetlands

2 Study methodology

Collecting, inheritting, systemizing documents, datas and information sources, and aggregating from many different sources related, books, articles in journals, dissertations, thesis from the library and the internet After that, making comparison and giving conclusions

3 Results and discussion

a) Wetland classification systems

The table and figure below describe wetland classification systems in Vietnam and the US

Table 1 Vietnamese Wetland Classification System (VWCS)

Sub-systems

Classes Vietnamese

symbols

Name of wetland types

Marine/ coastal

wetland (salty/

brackish

wetlands)

1.1 Natural wetlands

1.1.1 Permanent

Vb 1 Permanent shallow marine

waters less than six meters deep

at low tide

Vv 2 Gulfs and bays

Tv 3 Marine sub-tidal aquatic beds,

includes kelp beds, sea-grass beds, tropical marine meadows

Sh 4 Coral reefs

Dp 5 Lagoons

Cs 6 Estuarine

Cns 7 Submerged estuarine sandy

islets 1.1.2

Non-permanent

Cbs 8 Estuarine barrier islands

BD 9 Rocky marine shores, includes

rocky offshore islands, sea cliffs, benches

Bc 10 Beaches Bcs 11.Intertidal shingle or pebble

shores Bcb 12 Intertidal muddy sand shores Bbc 13 Intertidal sandy mud shores

R 14 Mangrove forests

Dl 15 Intertidal marshes

Kb 16 Marine/ coastals karsts and

other subterranean hydrological systems

1.2 Artificial wetlands

1.2.1 Permanent

Tl 17 Salty/ brackish aquaculture

ponds Tvk 18 Sedge farms 1.2.2

Non-permanent

Tlk 19 Aquaculture tidal flats

Mu 20 Salt exploitation sites

Inland wetland

(freshwater

wetlands)

2.1 Natural wetlands

2.1.1 Permanent

rivers/streams/creeks

H 22 Permanent freshwater lakes

(over 8 ha)

D 23 Permanent freshwater

marshes/pools (below 8 ha)

O 24 Freshwater oases

Nk 25 Geothermal wetlands, hot

2.1.2 Non-permanent

Sk 26 Seasonal/ intermittent/

irregular rivers/ streams/ creeks

Tb 27 Non-forested peatlands Tbr 28 Forested peatlands

Cl 29 Freshwater, tree- dominated

wetlands

Cn 30 Seasonal/ intermittent

freshwater marshes/ pools

Cb 31 Shrub- dominated wetlands

Kn 32 Karsts and other subterranean

hydrological systems, inland 2.2

Artificial wetlands

2.2.1 Permanent

Tn 33 Freshwater aquaculture ponds

Km 34 Channels, canals

Tr 35 The other water storage areas

X 36 Wastewater treatment areas 2.2.2

Non-permanent

Nn 37 Cultivated wetlands

Mo 38 Excavations, mining pools The VWCS is built based on legal matters, specific research results and reality

in order to ensure uniformity throughout the whole country and be useful for individuals and organizations with interests and objectives related to wetlands Besides, the VWCS is an important basis for wetland management in Vietnam Modifiers can be added by users to serve special objectives because of an open system Furthermore, the VWCS is convenient for mapping and international integration

Figure 1 United States Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats

(USCWDH)

USCWDH

Marine Subtidal

rock bottom,unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed, reef

Intertidal aquatic bed, reef , rocky shore,

unconsolidated shore

Estuarine

Subtidal rock bottom, unconsolidated

bottom, aquatic bed, reef

Intertidal aquatic bed, reef, streambed, rocky

store, unconsolidated shore, emergent wetland, scrub-shrub wetland, forested wetland

Riverine

Tidal rock bottom,unconsolidated bottom,

aquatic bed, rocky shore, unconsolidated shore, emergent wetland

Lower Perennial rock bottom, unconsolidated

bottom, aquatic bed, rocky shore, unconsolidated shore, emergent wetland

Upper Perenial rock bottom, unconsolidated

bottom, aquatic bed, rocky shore, unconsolidated shore

Intermittent streambed

Lacustrine

Limnetic rock bottom, unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed

Littoral

Rock bottom, unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed, rocky shore, unconsolidated shore, emergent wetland

Palustrine

Rock bottom, unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed, unconsolidated shore, moss-lichen wetland, emergent wetland, scrub-shrub wetland, forested wetland

The USCWDH is scientific classification based on natural properties and not an evaluating system developed for regulatory purposes Thus, it does not focus on factors relating to environmental, social, or economic importance

b) Comparison between two wetland classification systems

The table below compares two wetland classification systems in Vietnam and the U.S

Table 2 Comparison between VWCS and USCWDH

Similarity Being hierarchical approach

Differenc

e

Based upon actual features rather than

on interpretations of the various uses of wetlands

Being analogous to classification used to identify plant and animal species

Describing in detail of wetland types including: marine and inland systems, natural and artificial sub-systems

Generally describing several wetland types divided into 5 systems: marine, estuarine, riverine, lacustrine, palustrine 8 sub-systems: subtidal, intertidal, tidal, lower perennial, upper perennial, intermittent, limnetic, litorial

The structure is hierarchical with 2 systems at the most general level, 4 sub-systems, 8 classes, and 38 types of wetlands The units are classified based

on geomorphologic, geologic features and origin of wetlands, the dominant life form of vegetation or physiography and composition of subtrate features

Describing ecological taxa, arranging them

in an useful system for resources managers, furnishing units for mapping, and providing uniformity of concepts and terms Wetlands are defined by plants (hydrophytes), soils (hydric soils), and frequency of flooding Ecologically related areas of deep water and traditionally not considered wetlands are classified as deepwater habitats

4 Conclusion

The Vietnamese Wetland Classification System (VWCS) and the United States Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats (USCWDH) are based on the best available science Classifications (which are definitions of different wetland types) enable wetland managers to deal with wetland regulations and protection consistently from region to region and from time to time In addition, classifications also enable wetland managers to pay selective attention to those wetland types that are threatened or functionally valuable Although these classification systems are useful planning tools, they are not structured by the requirements of management-that is, the need to make choices about relative social priorities and values

By knowing similarities and differences between wetland classification of Vietnam and the U.S, we can give suggestions and recommendations to enrich, improve and complete our wetland classification for better use and management

5 References

1 The Vietnamese Wetlands Classification System, VNU Journal of Science, Earth Sciences 24 (2008) 96-103, Mai Trong Nhuan et al., 2008

2 Wetlands 4th edition, William J Mitsch and James G Gosselink, 2007

3 Ramsar Convention Secteriat, Ramsar Convention key documents, http://