Assessment Of Ecotourism Development Potential Based On Biodiversity And Landscapes In Cat Ba National Park

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MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF FORESTRY

STUDENT THESIS

ASSESSMENT OF ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL BASED ON

BIODIVERSITY AND LANDSCAPES IN CAT BA NATIONAL PARK

Major: Natural Resources Management

Code: D850101

Faculty: Forest Resources and Environmental Management

Student: Nguyen Khanh Toan Student ID: 1253101526

Class: K57 Natural Resources Management Course: 2012 - 2016

Advanced Education Program

Developed in collaboration with Colorado State University, USA

Supervisor: Dr. Dong Thanh Hai

Ha Noi, 2016

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my very great appreciation to Dr Dong Thanh Hai from

Vietnam National University of Forestry, my research supervisor, for their enthusiastic

encouragement and useful critiques of this research work. Without his thoughtful, patient

guidance through every step of my research, this thesis could not have been realized

I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. Lee MacDonald for finding out the time

to check and give advises to my proposal.

I would like to express the deepest appreciation to the heads, officers of Cat Ba

National park, local people there for providing me useful information and kind consideration

and help.

Many other people have contributed to the success of this thesis but I would like to

particularly thank my family and classmates from K57 Natural Resources Management￾Advanced program for their support. Last but not least this thesis could have never been

complete without the support of Faculty of Forest Resources and Environmental Management

always encouraged me during the entire process of studying and doing research

Despite spending the best efforts in the thesis conducting process, this research still

has many shortcomings due to the limitations of time, finance and my ability. I am looking

forward to receiving comments from teachers, friends to a better thesis completion.

Thank you!

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ABSTRACT

This research is based on a survey carried out on tourists about ecotourism.

The main objective was to assess the ecotourism development potential and current

situation of ecotourism in Cat Ba National Park based on biodiversity and landscapes, from

which to propose solutions to sustainable development of ecotourism.

The methods that were used for collecting data are interview, line transect and using

SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats to ecotourism in Cat

Ba National Park.

The study showed that Cat Ba National Park had high value about landscape,

biodiversity to develop ecotourism, also satisfying levels of tourists to the ecotourism services

here. The study also show the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats to ecotourism in

Cat Ba National Park. The findings also revealed that there is need to create more awareness

by providing information regarding ecotourism potentials in the location and its benefits so as

to encourage the local leaders and community people to conserve natural tourism resources

and hence improve the economy of the locals.

Key word: ecotourism, biodiversity, landscape.

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ABBREVIATIONS

NP: National Park

IUCN: International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

ABBREVIATIONS

LIST OF FIGURES

LIST OF TABLES

CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................1

CHAPTER 2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .............................................................................5

2.1. Goals....................................................................................................................................5

2.2. Objectives............................................................................................................................5

CHAPTER 3. STUDY SITE......................................................................................................6

3.1. Geographic location ............................................................................................................. 6

3.2. Climate and hydrology ........................................................................................................ 7

3.3. Topography .......................................................................................................................... 7

3.4. Geologic characteristics and soil ......................................................................................... 7

3.5. Fauna and Flora ................................................................................................................... 8

3.5.1. Flora .................................................................................................................................. 8

3.5.2. Fauna ................................................................................................................................ 9

3.6. Economy – society .............................................................................................................. 9

3.6.1. Population and employ ..................................................................................................... 9

3.6.2. Livelihood ....................................................................................................................... 10

CHAPTER 4. METHODOLOGY............................................................................................12

4.1. Secondary document review..............................................................................................12

4.2. Collecting data methods ....................................................................................................13

4.2.1. Preparation......................................................................................................................13

4.2.2. Interview.........................................................................................................................13