RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT OF SURFACE WATER QUALITY IN XUAN THUY RAMSAR SITE

Xuan Thuy Ramsar site is recognized the first Ramsar site in Vietnam and South East Asia in 1989. This is an internationally important wetland area for migratory water birds and shorebirds, regularly supporting several globally threatened species. It comprises of three islands and mudflats, the most important habitat being the intertidal mudflats and natural mangroves. The mangrove forest is one of considerable importance in maintaining the fishery, as a source of timber, and in protecting coastal settlements from the full impact of typhoons. Water quality is main component that plays important role with the development of mangrove ecosystem and aquatic species. Today, there are a lot of activities as fishing and aquaculture, which carries out in the Ramsar site and they can cause influence in water quality and ecological character of Ramsar site. This research focus on survey, collection of surface water samples and analysis these samples, and assessment of water quality via some of parameter as pH, BOD, COD, T-N, T-P, T-coliform and metals. Result research showed that all of parameters are in allowable limit of Vietnam Standards on surface water and coastal water quality, except for BOD and COD in some positions of Ramsar site are higher than that in Vietnam Standards. So that, Xuan Thuy Ramsar site should implement on wise use of wetland in order to manage and control the surface water quality for sustainable development of Ramsar site.