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

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE
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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


Contents

Table Contents

Figure Contents

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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 nonpermanent, 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

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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)

Marine/ coastal
wetland (salty/
brackish
wetlands)

Subsystems

Classes

Vietnamese
symbols

Name of wetland types

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

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1.1.2 Nonpermanent

1.2
Artificial
wetlands

1.2.1
Permanent

1.2.2 Nonpermanent
Inland wetland
(freshwater
wetlands)

2.1
Natural
wetlands

2.1.1
Permanent

2.1.2 Nonpermanent

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

Tl

17. Salty/ brackish aquaculture
ponds

Tvk

18. Sedge farms

Tlk

19. Aquaculture tidal flats

Mu

20. Salt exploitation sites

S

21.
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
springs, mineral springs

Sk

26.

Seasonal/
intermittent/
irregular rivers/ streams/ creeks

Tb

27. Non-forested peatlands

Tbr

28. Forested peatlands

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Permanent


2.2
Artificial
wetlands

2.2.1
Permanent

2.2.2 Nonpermanent

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

Tn

33. Freshwater aquaculture ponds

Km

34. Channels, canals

Tr

35. The other water storage areas

X

36. Wastewater treatment areas

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.

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Subtidal

rock bottom,unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed, reef

Marine
Intertidal

aquatic bed, reef , rocky shore, unconsolidated shore

Subtidal
rock bottom, unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed, reef

Estuarine
Intertidal
aquatic bed, reef, streambed, rocky store, unconsolidated shore,
emergent wetland, scrub-shrub wetland, forested wetland

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

Lower Perennial
rock bottom, unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed, rocky shore,

Riverine

unconsolidated shore, emergent wetland

USCWDH
Upper Perenial
rock bottom, unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed, rocky
shore, unconsolidated shore

Intermittent

Limnetic

streambed

rock bottom, unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed

Lacustrine

Littoral

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

Rock bottom, unconsolidated bottom, aquatic bed, unconsolidated shore, moss-lichen

Palustrine

wetland, emergent wetland, scrub-shrub wetland, forested wetland

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

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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
VWCS

Similarity

USCWDH
Being hierarchical approach

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 subsystems: subtidal, intertidal, tidal, lower
perennial, upper perennial, intermittent,
limnetic, litorial

The structure is hierarchical with 2
systems at the most general level, 4 subsystems, 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

Differenc
e

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
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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,

2.
3.

Science, Earth Sciences 24 (2008) 96-103, Mai Trong Nhuan et al., 2008
Wetlands 4th edition, William J. Mitsch and James G. Gosselink, 2007
Ramsar Convention Secteriat, Ramsar Convention key documents,
1995

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VNU

Journal

of