final version) September, 2013 table of contents

Summary of the environmental existing conditions in Project Areas

1. 
   Summary of the environmental existing conditions in Northern high land area (Ha Giang, Phu Tho and Hoa Binh Provinces)
   

1. 
   Northern mountain area (Ha Giang, Phu Tho and Hoa Binh): The total natural land area is 1.6 million ha, of which agricultural land is nearly 20% of the total natural land area. Midland and mountainous north is not flat; there are no large fields and cultivated areas are separated, located in the valleys and interspersed with mountains and hills. Tropical climate, monsoon rainfall, total annual rainfall is 2,300-2,400mm, with around 80% of the total annual rainfall in the rainy season from June to September and frost, fog, high humidity occur in winter. There arelarge river systems such as the Lo, Da and Red River which have high discharges, concentrated in the rainy season, often flooding. Erosion land due to slope. Agricultural development is rice, maize, cassava and fruit trees.
   
2. 
   The total population of Ha Giang, Phu Tho and Hoa Binh province is 2,871 million (2011). There are many ethnic groups as Vietnamese, Hmong, Tay, Dao, Muong, Lo Lo, Nung, approximately 88-90% population in Ha Giang province, and 87% of population is Thai and Muong group in Hoa Binh province. 100% Vietnamese and no ethnic group live in Phu Tho sub-project area. Over 80% of the population lives in rural areas, and main income is from agriculture and husbandry. The cultivated land per household ranges from 0.2 -0.4 ha for paddy crop and vegetables. The poverty rate and poor access to approximately 50% in Ha Giang province (statistics data in 31/12/2012), 20% in Phu Tho and 28% in Hoa Binh province (data of the year 2011). Per capita income (GDP) from 10-13 million dong/person-year (2011).
   
3. 
   The key environmental issues in the Northern Mountains and particularly in project area:
   

Water shortage caused by drought, especially to people live in mountainous areas such as Quan Ba, ​​Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac, Ha Giang province, villagers have to take water from far distance from 3 to 5km, and get water from 10km low area. Lack of water for both people and livestock is in these above areas, main income is from cattle, buffaloes, goats and pigs.

2. 
   Summary of the environmental existing conditions in central region (Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri and Quang Nam Provinces)
   

1. 
   Northern part area (Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, and Quang Tri province) and coastal area of middle land (Quang Nam province): total natural land is 3.26 million ha, of which nearly 20% agricultural land. The flat coastal area (mostly elevation of area is 3 m high above sea level), is often affected by tidal and salinity. Tropical monsoon climate divided into two distinct seasons, the rainy season from May to October, and dry season from November to April next year. River network densely but short due to topographic central region of steep and narrow, with the large rivers as Ma river, Rac river, Thach Han river and Thu Bon River. Every year, these provinces are often affected by floods in the rainy season and the dry hot wind blows from Laos during the dry season. Paddy rice is the main crop together with aquacultural breeding (shrimp, fish, ...).
   
2. 
   The total population is 1,637,000people, of which over 80% of the population live in rural areas. The poverty rate is 15-20%, including Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri and Quang Nam's poverty rate is 16.4%, 20%, 16% and 15%, respectively (statistics data 2011). Per capita income was from 8.9 to 21.6 million / person-year, which income per capita (GDP) in Thanh Hoa of 8.9 million/person-years (data 2011). All local people (100%) are Vietnamese living in the Sub-Project Area.
   
3. 
   The key environmental issues are in the Central Region of Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri and Quang Nam province, and the particular project areas:
   

Groundwater quality: The ground water quality is relatively good, and can be used as a water source for drinking water, but the groundwater is polluted in the coastal areas.

Heavy metal pollution: high levels of iron and manganese, nitrogen, organic matter exceeds permitted standards in Binh Nam commune of Thang Binh district, Que Son district, Nui Thanh district, Duy Xuyen district, Tam Ky City, Quang Nam province³.

Saline pollution in coastal area along Quang Tri and Quang Nam provinces.

Iron and Arsenic Pollution: Thach Bang commune and Viet Xuyen commune belong to Ky Anh district and Thach Ha district has two high risk pollution, 2 communes with an average risk of pollution (Thach Kenh and Thach Dai communes), 2 social low risk of contamination (Long Thach, Thach Son)⁴.

Agricultural chemical Pollution: At present, some pesticide and herbicide stores, (which contain high level of DDT, 666) backlog from period to the American war, with total 11 locations in the Ha Tinh province are still untreated. High chemical pollution appreared in Thach Luu, Thach Vinh communes of Thach Ha District, Cam My, Cam Thanh belong to Cam Xuyen district.⁵

Termites occur in inside body dams of Truc Kinh reservoir consist of 01 main dam and 03 auxiliary dams. There are 06 Termites species as: Odontotermes hainanenesis ; Odontotermes formosanus ; Macrotermes anandalei ; Pericapriterrmes Sp; Microtermes pakistanicus; Microtermes Sp; in which 03 species of 2 races of Odontotermes and Macrotermes has nest of huge cells. These termites cause damage for the dam, and need to be treated. The problems of canal bank erosion and sedimentation in the waterway occur, so that water cannot flow to downstream, as well as waterlogging in the upstream of canal. ⁶.

In Quang Tri province, earth cracking occur in many regions, with different sizes (from 7/1993 to 7/1994). At Dong Ha City, land crackings observed at the Clinic Center, Provincial Hospital, Army Office, and other locations. Beside that, these problems happened in Cam Lo Clinic Center, Long Thanh Primary and Secondary Schools of Huong Hoa district, and Vinh Lam Communes of Vinh Linh District, Gio Chau commune of Gio Linh district, Hai Thang Commune of Hai Lang District, Cam Thanh Commune of Cam Lo district. Land cracking problem covers eight (8) districts and city in Quang Tri. The length, width and depth of crackings are different from several centimeters to one meter , or to 50-60meters, 4m depth..

Droughts occur every year in Quang Tri Province due to extreme climatic conditions; the dry season extends from March to August, maximum temperatures up to 40°C with the dry wind with the direction from Southwest, and saltwater intrusion inland from 25 - 30 km. Sand flying is filling up the rice fields and houses, affecting the lives of people in coastal zone. The agricultural area of La Nga - Truc Kinh irrigation systems is affected by drought because limited water volume in the reservoir, and irrigation canal affected by erosion, damaged and sedimentation, caused reducing planted area and impact to local people. Ground water level is lower in drought season, so domestic water is facing with problem.

Quang Nam province: Annual drought usually occurs during the dry season, from April to December, while rainfall during this period was only 40 - 50mm. In dry season, the water level in river decrease, and groundwater level is lower as well, sometimes can not be exploitation. Lack of drinking water, irrigation water often happened, especially in the coastal plain area, and also lack of fresh water and facing with salinity intrusion. The on-farm pumping stations located in the coastal plain region can not work because of saltwater intrusion go into 15 – 20 km inland.

In Thanh Hoa and Ha Tinh Provinces, the locations far from water sources, or end tail of canals are affected by drought, because of water loss due to canal broken. And other problem of water pollution in the end tail of canal from domestic wastes, agricultural wastes leaving into canal, causing stuck of flows.