Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2014 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 7, 2nd edition, as amended by COP9 Resolution IX.1 Annex B). A 3rd edition of the Handbook, incorporating these amendments, is in preparation and will be available in 2006. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY. Tran Ngoc Cuong DD MM YY Biodiversity Conservation Agency 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 Vietnam Environment Administration 8 6 3 Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Designation date Site Reference Number Address: Room 201, building B, #10 Ton That Thuyet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Vietnam Tel: +84 4 37956868 ext. 3111 Fax: +84 4 39412028 Email:[email protected], 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: 24 May 2013 3. Country: Viet Nam 4. Name of the Ramsar site: The precise name of the designated site in one of the three official languages (English, French or Spanish) of the Convention. Alternative names, including in local language(s), should be given in parentheses after the precise name. Con Dao National Park [Local name :Vuon Quoc Gia Con Dao] 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only): a) Designation of a new Ramsar site ; or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar site 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its designation or earlier update: a) Site boundary and area The Ramsar site boundary and site area are unchanged: Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 2 or If the site boundary has changed: i) the boundary has been delineated more accurately ; or ii) the boundary has been extended ; or iii) the boundary has been restricted** and/or If the site area has changed: i) the area has been measured more accurately ; or ii) the area has been extended ; or iii) the area has been reduced** ** Important note: If the boundary and/or area of the designated site is being restricted/reduced, the Contracting Party should have followed the procedures established by the Conference of the Parties in the Annex to COP9 Resolution IX.6 and provided a report in line with paragraph 28 of that Annex, prior to the submission of an updated RIS. b) Describe briefly any major changes to the ecological character of the Ramsar site, including in the application of the Criteria, since the previous RIS for the site: 7. Map of site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines, for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of site in the Ramsar List): ; (A4 layout: 1:140,000) ii) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) ; JPEG (1:140,000) and MapInfo (1:140,000 adapted from original 1:10,000) iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables . b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: e.g. the boundary is the same as an existing protected area (nature reserve, national park, etc.), or follows a catchment boundary, or follows a geopolitical boundary such as a local government jurisdiction, follows physical boundaries such as roads, follows the shoreline of a waterbody, etc. The boundary of the site is the boundary of Con Dao National Park, as shown on the map and with a demarcation system on the ground and on the sea. 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): Provide the coordinates of the approximate centre of the site and/or the limits of the site. If the site is composed of more than one separate area, provide coordinates for each of these areas. Centre: 8°42’23” N - 106°38’08” E; From 8°36’11” to 8°48’35” North, and from 106°30’23” to 106°45’52” East 9. General location: Include in which part of the country and which large administrative region(s) the site lies and the location of the nearest large town. Con Dao National Park is situated in the Con Dao archipelago which is located about 80 km off the coast of southern Vietnam (Bassac River mouth in Can Tho City) and 230 km south from Ho Chi Minh City. 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum) The site is generally plain with an average elevation of 1 m above mean sea level. Minimum: -35 m from the mean sea level Maximum: 577 m above mean sea level Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 3 11. Area: (in hectares) Con Dao National Park has a total area of 19,990.7 hectares, comprised of 2 functional components as follows: Terrestrial Component: 5,990.7 ha Strictly Protected Zone: 4,215.6 hectares Ecological Rehabilitation Zone: 1,755.1 hectares Administration and Service Zone: 20 hectares and a Marine Component: 14,000 hectares Strictly Protected Zone: 1,735.1 hectares Ecological Rehabilitation Zone: 2,740.2 hectares Development Zone: 9,524.7 hectares 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. Con Dao National Park is centred on an archipelago of 14 islands, the largest of which is Con Son. The topography of Con Son Island is mountainous, and dominated by a granite ridge, which runs from south- west to north-east, sheltering the bays on both sides of the island from strong winds. The highest points on the island are the summits of Mount Thanh Gia and Mount Chua, at 577 m and 515 m respectively. The smaller islands reach a maximum elevation of 200 m (BirdLife International and MARD 2004). There are no permanent watercourses on any of the islands of the Con Dao archipelago, only seasonal streams. In the rainy season, water is plentiful but, in the dry season, there is a serious lack of water. Three reservoirs collect water during the rainy season to supply the local population during the dry season. The Con Dao archipelago is located on the boundary between two sea currents: a warm one from the south, and a cold one from the north. Con Son Island and many of the other islands of the archipelago are extensively forested. According to the revised investment plan, the national park supports 5,990.7 ha of forest, equivalent to 81% of the total terrestrial area. To date, 1,077 vascular plant species have been recorded at the national park, including 91 species of medicinal plant. One outstanding feature of Con Dao's flora is the 44 plant species that were discovered for the first time on the islands. A number of these species are named after the site, including Dipterocarpus condorensis, Ilex condorensis, Pavetta condorensis and Psychotria condorensis (Anon. 2009). To date, 24 species of mammal, 69 species of bird and 42 species of reptiles and amphibians have been recorded at the national park. Although the number of species is relatively low, the density of individual species is often high, and there are a number of endemic taxa, including an endemic subspecies of Black Giant Squirrel, Ratufa bicolor condorensis. The bird fauna of Con Dao National Park is not well studied. However, a number of bird species recorded at Con Dao are not known from any other site in Vietnam, including Nicobar Pigeon Caloenas nicobarica, Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus, Pied Imperial Pigeon Ducula bicolor and Masked Booby Sula dactylatra (Nguyen Chi Thanh (Eds.) 2004). The marine ecosystems at the national park include mangroves, coral reefs and sea-grass beds. Mangroves cover a total of 15 ha, and are distributed around Ba Island and along the west coast of Bay Canh Island, and along the north and south coasts of Con Son Island. The coral reefs at Con Dao are among the most pristine in Vietnam, and are distributed in shallow waters around the islands, covering a total area of around 1,000 ha. The coral reefs support high levels of biodiversity (Devantier 2002), including over 355 coral species. Surveys conducted by Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography have shown the presence of 1,323 species of marine fauna and flora, including 44 species listed in the Red Data Book of Vietnam (ADB 1999). At 153 species, the recorded mollusc diversity of Con Dao is the highest of any of Vietnam's offshore islands (ADB 1999). The national park supports around 200 ha of sea-grass beds, which support a small population of the globally threatened marine mammal, Dugong Dugong dugon, numbering around 12 individuals (Anon.