An economic valuation of wetlands in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta: a case study of direct use values in Camau Province.

Abstract

This research paper is aimed at partially filling an information gap relating to economic values of wetlands in the Mekong River Delta by estimating the direct use values of wetlands in Camau Province, using a market-based approach. It is found that wetlands in Camau have the direct uses of capture fisheries, aquaculture, timber, fuelwood, Nypa fruticans1 and medicinal plants, with the estimated average value of VND7,549,824 or AUD982 per ha per annum. Among these uses, aquaculture has the highest value, accounting for 48 per cent of the total direct use values. An integrated approach to wetland management that includes the establishment of a well-defined property rights regime and due consideration of wetland values in cost and benefit analyses of land use options is recommended. In particular, the impacts of water flow on wetlands and their values to the local people should be integrated into policies concerning the allocation of water from the Mekong River. These findings confirm the need for further research. This would involve the estimation of indirect and non-use wetland values, and the examination of linkages between water flow regimes and wetland values, using bioeconomic modelling.