VietNamNet Bridge - The Cham Isle ecosystem has very close relations with the sea environment. The Quang Nam provincial authorities have decided that they will be cautious when programming the development of the Cham Isle and licensing investment projects. If necessary, they will consult foreign experts before deciding whether to license projects.

Nguyen Van Vu, head of the International Cooperation Division of the Cu Lao Cham (Cham Isle) Marine Protected Area (MPA), showed his concern that the development of the transport infrastructure and human activities will harm the conservation of ecosystems at the Cham Isle world’s biosphere reserve.

The coastal projects, for example, will have strong impacts on the sea environment. When waste is discharged into the sea, the waste will follow the ocean currents to affect the ecosystems in Cham Isle.

The projects include the golf course in Nam Hoi An Resort which is expected to become operational soon, and projects to be developed on the lower course of Thu Bon River.

Big problems may also be caused by transport systems around Cham Isle.

“If it rains, the rainwater will wash away rocks into the sea and cause landslide, which will severely threaten the undersea ecosystems,” he said.

The coastal projects will have strong impacts on the sea environment. When waste is discharged into the sea, the waste will follow the ocean currents to affect the ecosystems in Cham Isle.

One of the headaches for the local authorities now is how to protect cua da (Gecarcoidea lalandii), a special aquatic creature of Cham Isle. The problem is the roads around the isle that serve national defence now prevent crabs from going to the sea to spawn and to mountains to live in different periods of their lives.

Amid a series of reports about the difficulties in protecting the ecosystem of Cham Isle, the Quang Nam provincial People’s Committee has released Dispatch No 215 about the decision by local authorities.

The provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Environment has been told to thoroughly consider the projects on Cham Isle, the lower course of Thu Bon, Truong Giang and Co Co Rivers and have thorough analyses on the possible environmental impacts on the environment.

In case the projects are too complicated and the project assessment goes beyond the department’s capability, the department needs to report to the provincial people’s committee and consult with experts before submitting the projects for approval.

Most recently, in an effort to curb the hot development of tourism which is believed to harm Cham Isle’s environment, the Hoi An City authorities decided to restrict the number of travelers to the isle every day.

An official report showed that 285,000 travelers went to Cham Isle in 2014, and 400,000 in 2015. It is estimated that the isle has received nearly 300,000 travelers this year.

Lao Dong