ARCBC Training Programme

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Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The course combined in-class lectures covering various topics of wetland ecology and ...
University Network for Wetland Training in the Lower Mekong Region Training Course WETLAND ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION IN THE LOWER MEKONG BASIN Vietnam 1 – 26 June 2003

Sponsors ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation International Crane Foundation John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Host Universities University of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City Can Tho University

Summary The training course “Wetland Ecology and Conservation in the Lower Mekong Basin” was held in Viet Nam from 1-26 June 2003, attended by 25 students selected from 8 universities of four countries Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The course was sponsored by the ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation with co-funding from the International Crane Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The course combined in-class lectures covering various topics of wetland ecology and management with field exercises which exposed students to real-world wetland management issues and allowed students to practice wetland research methods learned in class. The course was completed successfully receiving good appreciation from participants and observers.

I Introduction In May 2003 the University Network for Wetland Training in the Mekong Region was officially established, consisting of 8 universities: Royal University of Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia), National University of Laos, Mahidol University (Thailand), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Can Tho University (Vietnam), Nong Lam University (Vietnam) and University of Natural Sciences Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). One of the main activities of the Network is to organize regional trainings on wetland ecology and management. The Network organized the first training course, titled: “Wetland Ecology and Management in the Lower Mekong Basin”. The training was held in Viet Nam from 1 to 26 June 2003, attended by 25 students selected from teaching staff of member universities of the network. The course was sponsored by the ASEAN Regional Center for Biodiversity Conservation with co-funding from the International Crane Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The University of Natural Sciences Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho University hosted the training course. The course was a regional training activity with participants coming from four countries of the lower Mekong region and taught by instructors selected from member universities of the Network. The

course was field-oriented, focusing on developing essential knowledge and skills in applied wetland ecology and management that are useful for the Mekong region. The course helped raise awareness and foster interests on wetland conservation and contributed to building the capacity of native professionals working on wetland training and management in countries of the Lower Mekong region. II Participants 2.1 Resource persons Main instructors • Dr Sansanee Choowaew, Mahidol University, Thailand • Dr Duong Van Ni, Can Tho University, Vietnam • Dr Tran Triet, University of Natural Sciences – HCMC, Vietnam (UNS) Invited lecturers • Mr. Duong Ngoc Dung, expert on zooplanktons, UNS • Mr. Tran Phi Hung, expert on water insects, UNS • Prof. Le Cong Kiet, botanist, UNS • Dr. Nguyen Quoc Thang, herpetologist, Saigon Zoo • Mr. Tran Thanh Tong, ornithologist, UNS • Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, phycologist, UNS

• Jeb Barzen, wetland ecologist, International Crane Foundation, USA Administrative team • Ms Le Bach Mai, treasurer, UNS • Ms Nguyen Thi Kim Dung, administrative coordinator, UNS • Ms Nguyen Thi Lan Thi, training assistant, UNS • Ms Tran Thi Anh Dao, training assistant, UNS • Ms Vo Thi Phi Giao, training assistant, UNS • Mr. Nguyen Phi Nga, training assistant and photographer, UNS • Mr Le Cong Man, training assistant and cameraman, UNS 2.2 Course participants Twenty five students selected from teaching staff of 8 universities from four countries Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam (Table 1) attended the training. These universities were members of the University Network for Wetland Training in the Lower Mekong Region. 2.3 Student profile GENDER

36%

64%

Male

Female

NATIONALITY 23% 35%

23% 19%

Cambodian

Thai

Laotian

Vietnamese

AGE CLASS

12 10 8 6 4 2 0 20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

>40

Table 1: List of course participants Name

Sex

Nationality

Organisation

M M M M M F M M F

Cambodian Cambodian Cambodian Cambodian Cambodian Laotian Laotian Laotian Laotian

Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia National University of Laos National University of Laos National University of Laos National University of Laos

F F M F M

Thai Thai Thai Thai Thai

Mahidol University, Thailand Mahidol University, Thailand Mahidol University, Thailand Chulalongkorn University, Thailand Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Khiev Piseth Mey Sovuthy Khum Thoeun Kim Soben Seng Eang Samraing Khamphone Inthiphone Khamla Inkhavilay Chanthanom Deuanraksa Somvilay Chanthalounnavong Kamalaporn Kanongdech Piyakarn Teartisup Samart Jangvittaya Prachwanee Pibumrung Pongchai Dumrongrojwatthana Worapong Tantichaiwanit Nguyen Hong Cuc Duong Tri Dung Le Dang Khoa Luu Thi Thanh Truc Le Quoc Tuan Nguyen Tan Chung Phung Le Cang

M F M M F M M M

Thai Vietnamese Vietnamese Vietnamese Vietnamese Vietnamese Vietnamese Vietnamese

23

Le thi Hong Nhu

F

Vietnamese

24

Luu thi Thanh Nhan

F

Vietnamese

Chulalongkorn University, Thailand Can Tho University, Vietnam Can Tho University, Vietnam Can Tho University, Vietnam Nong Lam University, Vietnam Nong Lam University, Vietnam Nong Lam University, Vietnam University of Natural Sciences, Hochiminh city, Vietnam University of Natural Sciences, Hochiminh city, Vietnam University of Natural Sciences, Hochiminh city, Vietnam

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

III Course Programme 3.1 Course activities The training consisted of two components: in-class lectures and field exercises. Classroom sessions were held at the University of Natural Sciences – Ho Chi Minh City and Hoa An Research Station, Can Tho University. Field exercises were carried out at three places: Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve - Ho Chi Minh City, Tram Chim National Park – Dong Tap Province and Hoa An Research Station – Can Tho University. Course lectures covered various topics of wetland ecology and management, including: wetland hydrology, biogeochemistry, wetland biota, wetland classification and inventory, wetland monitoring, wetland functions and values, wetland assessment and valuation, computer-based wetland decision support system, community education, wetland education and training. Field exercises were organized into two broad topics: (i) mangrove ecology and management and (ii) freshwater wetland ecology and management. 3.2 Classroom sessions June 01 • 9:00 – 9:45 Opening ceremony • 10:30 – 11:30 Introduction of course participants, instructors and support staff • 11:30 – 12:00 Introduction of course program • 13:30 – 14:30 Introductory lecture by Dr. Tran Triet • 15:00 – 17:00 Invited lecture: Water bird ecology of Southeast Asia by Mr. Jeb Barzen June 02 • 9:00 – 10:45 Student presentations: description of a wetland. Four presentations by Tuan, Khamla, Kan and Pu, and Thoeun. • 11:00 12:00 Wetland hydrology lecture by Dr. Tran Triet • 13:30 – 15:00 Invited lecture: water budget by Mr. Jeb Barzen • 15:00 – 17:00 Invited lecture: water budget by Mr. Jeb Barzen (continued) June 03 • 9:00 – 10:30 Wetland soil lecture by Dr. Duong Van Ni • 11:00 – 12:00 Group discussion and presentation: topic “Acid sulphate soils”. Class was divided into four groups, each had 6 participants. • 13:30 – 14:45 Invited lecture: zooplankton and zoobenthos by Mr. Duong Ngoc Dung • 15:00 – 17:00 Wetland soil lecture by Dr. Duong Van Ni (continued) June 04 • 9:00 – 10:15 Wetland values lecture by Dr. Sansanee • 10:45 – 12:00 Wetland values lecture by Dr. Sansanee (continued) • 13:30 – 15:00 Invited lecture: aquatic insects by Mr. Tran Phi Hung • 15:30 – 17:00 Wetland evaluation lecture by Dr. Sansanee June 05 • 9:00 – 10:45 Group discussion and presentation: topic “Presentation skills” • 11;00 – 12:30 Wetland classification and inventory lecture by Dr. Tran Triet • 14:00 – 17:00 Slide show on wetland types of the Mekong lower basin by Dr. Sansanee and Dr. Tran Triet. June 06 • 9:00 – 10:30 Invited lecture: Aquatic plants by Prof. Le Cong Kiet



10:30 – 12:00 Invited lecture: Hydrobiology and phytoplanktons by Dr. Nguyen Thanh Tung • 13:30 – 15:00 Invited lecture: Reptiles and amphibians by Dr. Nguyen Quoc Thang. • 15:30 – 17:00 Invited lecture: water birds by Mr. Tran Thanh Tong • 17:00 – 17:30 Review of lectures June 07 • 8:00 – 14:00 Sight seeing; visited Ho Chi Minh Museum, Historical Museum, Ngoc Hoang Pagoda, shopping at Ben Thanh market 3.3 Field work sessions June 08 • 6:30 Left HCMC • 9:00 Arrived at Can Gio Biosphere Reserve Office • 9:00 – 9:30 Short introduction about Can Gio BR by Mr. Le Duc Tuan • 10:00 Checked in to Can Gio Resort Hotel • 12:30 – 18:30: free time (swimming, playing football, walking along the coast) • 19:30 – 21:30 PM. class meeting to discuss field works in Can Gio June 09 • 7:00 – 14:30 Visited a weather station. Visited Dao Khi (Monkey Island) by boat. Studied Avicenia officinalis vegetation community (Plot 1): described soil profile and one vegetation plot (10 x 10 m), recording plant species, stem density, measured diameters at breast height, tree heights; measured water pH, EC, salinity and turbidity. Studied Rhizophora apiculata vegetation community (Plot 2). • 15:30 – 16:00 Visited Can Gio Museum. • 19:30 Class meeting to review field activities. • 20:30 Two groups continued with data analysis and report writing. June 10 • 8:30 Visited an extensive shrimp farm (Mr. Sau) in the buffer zone of Can Gio • 10:30 Visited an extensive shrimp farm owned by a forest keeper • 13:00 Visited a cockle farm on the river mud flat • 14:30 Visited a bird colony • 16:00 Visited a bat colony • 18:00 Visited an intensive shrimp farm • 20:30 Class meeting until 22:00. June 11 • 8:00 – 14:00 Student groups worked on data analysis and report writing • 14:30 – 17:00 Presentation of fieldwork results. Two presentations from two groups. • 17:00 Went back to HCMC. June 12 • All day: Student groups revised the fieldwork reports June 13 • 8:00 Left HCMC for Tram Chim national park. • 14:00 Arrived in Tran Chim NP • 15:30 Met with Tram Chim management board. Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, deputy director of Tram Chim gave an introduction about Tram Chim. • 20:30 Class meeting to organize for field work in Tram Chim. June 14



7:00 Field work in the core zone (Zone A1): vegetation, soil and water analyses. Field project 3. Surveyed three plots: Panicum repens grassland, Eleocharis grassland and Melaleuca forest. June 15 • 7:00 Field work in the buffer zone (Phu Duc District). Field project 4. Interview local people. • 14:00 Women Union of Phu Duc District introduced the Handicraft production Club. June 16 • 7:00 Fieldwork in Zone A3, A2, A4. Field project 5: Impacts of Mimosa pigra. • 15:00 Mimosa specimens processing • 20:00 Class meeting to discuss methods of data analysis June 17 • All day: working on data analysis and report writing June 18 • Morning: data analysis and report writing • Afternoon: presentation of field projects in Tram Chim June 19 • 8:00 Left Tram Chim for Can Tho University • 15:00 Arrived at Hoa An Research Station, met with staff of the Station • 19:00 Visited an evening class for poor children organized by Hoa An Research Station staff June 20 • 7:00 Toured Hoa An Station, visited integrated farming models • 13:30 Visited and interviewed local farmer families to learn about wetland resource uses and the management of man-made wetland ecosystems • 19:00 Reviewed of activities carried out during the day. Group work to revise the Tram Chim fieldwork report. June 21 • 8:00 Visited local middle school in Tan Binh Commune, observed a training class for school children on integrated pet management, discussions with school children and teachers. • 13:30 Lecture: Computer-based wetland decision support system (Dr. Duong Van Ni) • 16:00 Lecture: Teaching wetlands in university (Dr. Ni and Dr. Sansanee). • 19:30 Group discussion, topic: “How to teach wetland ecology and management at universities”. Four presentations. June 22 • 7:00 Visited household economic models of poor farmer families living on heavily acid sulphate soils in Hoa An Commune. • 15:00 Departed for Can Tho City • 17:00 Checked in to Nha Khach 2 Hotel • Free time June 23 • 5:00 Boat tour on Can Tho River. Visited Cai Rang floating market. • 9:00 Visited Can Tho University: Department of Environment and Natural Sciences, Mekong Delta Farming Systems Institute; Department of Soil Science; toured the university • 11:00 Visit a Khmer Pagoda in Can Tho • 13:30 Course evaluation. Participants filled out the evaluation form.

• 20:00 Cruise boat tour on the Bassac River June 24 • 8:00 Returned to Ho Chi Minh City June 25 • 9:00 Results of participant evaluation and course evaluation (Dr. Triet) • 10:00 Closing ceremony • 11:00 Farewell party, Cathay Restaurant June 26 Participants returned to home countries 3.4 Participation There were two types of assignments: group presentation and field project. Group presentations were given during lecture sessions. Students were divided into four groups, each group discussed the presentation topic and selected presenters. Four presentation topic were given during the training. Field projects were carried out in Can Gio (Field project 1 and 2) and Tram Chim (Field project 3, 4 and 5). Students were divided into groups (2 groups for projects in Can Gio and three groups for projects in Tram Chim), each group had to conduct field works, write project report and orally present the results. Each group written report had to cover all field projects conducted at each field location (Can Gio and Tram Chim). Group presentation topics 1. Description of a wetland you know 2. Acid sulphate soils 3. Presentation skills 4. How to teach wetland ecology and management in universities Field projects Field project 1: Description of mangrove environment Vegetation zoning, mangrove plants, mangrove animals, hydrology (tide, current, wave), sedimentation. Conduct a site wetland inventory following the Asian Wetland Inventory procedure. 1. Mangrove forest success ional structure 2. Hydrology a. Water budget b. Tidal regime 3. Sediment Field project 2: Impacts of marine aquaculture and fishery on mangroves Site visit and interview local people and officials about shrimp and mussel farming activities 1. Mangrove values a. Direct values b. Indirect values 2. Threats to mangrove ecosystems in Can Gio 3. Forest management Field project 3: Description of freshwater wetland environment and the role of hydrological restoration. Site Wetland Inventory. 1. Describing different vegetation types: three plant communities will be studied – Eleocharis grassland, Panicum grassland and melaleuca forest. 2. Describing hydrological condition 3. Soil profile description

Field project 4: Analysis of the dependence of local communities on wetland resources and implications on protected wetland management 1. Identifying user groups 2. Resource availability 3. Patterns of resource use, rate, income generation 4. Problems, limitation 5. Participatory management 6. Wise uses Field project 5: Impacts of alien invasive species on wetlands: a case study on the exotic weed Mimosa pigra. 1. Biological characteristics; stem density; aerial coverage; stem height; above ground biomass. 2. Soil seed bank 3. Estimation of infestation area in Zone A4 4. Introduction of control methods 5. Ecological and economic impacts

Learning in the field. Tram Chim National Park.

Vegetation survey. Tram Chim National Park.

Community education practice. Dr. Duong Van Ni and and children living in the buffer zone of Tram Chim National Park.

Field visit. Can Tho Province

Group presentation. Hoa An Research Station, Can Tho University

After a day of hardworking. Relax!

Writing field report. From left: Khoa (Vietnamese), Pu (Thai), Kan (Thai) and Piseth (Cambodian).

VI Course outputs 4.1 Student assignment papers Group presentations • File: Presentation _ Nguyen Tan Chung (PowerPoint) • File: Wetland _ Khum Thoeun (PowerPoint) • File: Wetlands and constructed wetlands for waste water treatment (PowerPoint) • File: Hoa An _ Group 2 (PowerPoint) • File: Hoa An _ Group 3 (PowerPoint) • File: Hoa An _ Group 4 (PowerPoint) Field projects • File: Can Gio _ Group 1 (WORD) • File: Can Gio _ Group 2 (WORD) • File: Can Gio _ Group 2 (PowerPoint) • File: Tram Chim report _ Group 1 (WORD) • File: Tram Chim report _ Group 2 (WORD) • File: Tram Chim _ group 1 (PowerPoint) • File: Tram Chim _ group 2 (PowerPoint) There were also other reports and presentation materials prepared by students but not in electronic format and were not included here. 4.2 Results of student assessments Course participants were scored on four categories: in-class discussion, presentation skill, field work and written report. Each participant was evaluated by three main instructors (Triet, Sansanee and Ni) separately. The final grade was a consensus of three instructor’s assessments and had one of the four values: A – Excellent, B+ - Very Good, B - Good and C - Fair. The final grades were given in Table 2. Upon course completion, each student was presented a certificate of accomplishment signed by the rector of the University of Natural Sciences Ho Chi Minh City on behalf of the Mekong University Network. Table 2: Final grades Name Khiev Piseth Mey Sovuthy Khum Thoeun Kim Soben Seng Eang Samraing Khamphone Inthiphone Khamla Inkhavilay Chanthanom Deuanraksa Somvilay Chanthalounnavong Kamalaporn Kanongdech Piyakarn Teartisup Samart Jangvittaya Prachwanee Pibumrung Pongchai Dumrongrojwatthana

Final score B B B B B C A C B+ B+ B+ A B B

Worapong Tantichaiwanit Nguyen Hong Cuc Duong Tri Dung Le Dang Khoa Luu Thi Thanh Truc Le Quoc Tuan Nguyen Tan Chung Phung Le Cang Le Thi Hong Nhu Luu thi Thanh Nhan

B B B+ B B A B B B+ C

60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Fair

Good

Very Good

Excellent

Final grade V Course evaluation 5.1 Results of course evaluations by students. At the end of the course, each participant filled out anonymously a questionnaire to evaluate the training. Questions covered four broad topics: technical aspects; training environment; logistics and comments for future courses. For questions of the first three topics, participants were asked to rate course delivery according to a rating system of five levels: 1= To Be Improved; 2 = Fair; 3 = Good; 4 = Very Good; 5 = Excellent. Results of students’ evaluation is given in Table 3 (See also a graphical report of students’ evaluation). Table 3: Results of student evaluation. The number in each cell is the total of votes for the corresponding question with respect to five rating categories: 1= To Be Improved; 2 = Fair; 3 = Good; 4 = Very Good; 5 = Excellent. 1 A 1.

TECHNICAL ASPECTS Course design 1.1 Course structure / schedule 1.2 Proportion of theory and practice 1.3 Course length 1.4 Course contents of the lecture session in Ho Chi Minh

1

2

3

4

5

1 1 4 4

16 16 14 16

6 6 4 3

2.

3.

B 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. C 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

City 1.5 Course contents of fieldwork session in Can Gio Biosphere Reserve 1.6 Course contents of fieldwork session in Tram Chim National Park 1.7 Course contents of fieldwork session in Hoa An Research Station 1.8 Overall course contents / Subject covered Course delivery 2.1 Key lecturers 2.2 Invited lecturers 2.3 Delivery methods / styles / techniques 2.4 Delivery tools / audio-visual equipments 2.5 Facilities provided and technical assistance Course materials 3.1 Course background information 3.2 Lecture notes 3.3 In-class exercises 3.4 Assignments / home(hotel!)works 3.5 Reading materials TRAINING ENVIRONMENT Opportunities for participation Interactions between trainees and trainers Interactions among trainees Classroom environment Group work environment Class size (number of trainees) LOGISTICS Accommodations Meals / refreshments Transportation Social events/activities Free time Supporting staff Overall organization

D Feedbacks from participants for improvement of future courses. Potential trainees • Students • Researchers, teachers • Governmental officials (natural resources management) • Same trainees to attend next year training course Application of knowledge and skills • Teaching • Research • Supervising students • Communication with colleagues and others • Assisting wetland management Other subjects / practices to be added • Wetland animals

1

1

1 1

1

1 1 1

4

13

5

5

16

3

7

15

1

16

7

1 8 3 3 3

14 13 19 15 15

9 1 2 6 6

4 4 1 6

9 16 16 16 9

10 7 4 7 9

1 4 3 1 1

18 8 9 16 16 18

6 15 11 4 7 7

2 4 2 2 18 2 2

15 13 15 15 8 12 16

5 6 7 6 3 10 6

• GIS, Remote sensing • Social - economic assessment tools (e.g. PRA) • Report writing techniques • Geology, geography • Fishery • Soil microbiology, soil chemistry • Mapping techniques Course contents / activities: • More coverage of theory issues, longer lecture time (10 -15 days!) • More laboratory works (for specimen identification, soil and water analysis) • More time for data analysis and report writing • More computers and field equipments • More information about field study sites • Website of the university network Training environment • Better organization for group work • More (real) free time • More social activities • More activities for interaction among trainees (e.g. sport, culture exchange) • Opportunities for trainees to participate in wetland research and teaching after the course Logistics • Longer course time (3 months) • Detail course schedule to be provided in advance • Course work-load and field-work condition to be informed in advance • Hand-outs to be available before the lecture • Invitation sent out earlier (2 weeks before departure) • More information about host country to be provided to participants 5.2 Course evaluation by the resource team The below evaluation is collectively given by Duong Van Ni, Sansanee Choowaew and Tran Triet. Things that went particularly well - Course ran smoothly as planned, course's objectives were achieved. - Field projects were highly fruitful. - Willingness to learn, enthusiasm, attention, participation of all participants. - Regional cooperation between countries in the Mekong basin were developed. - Course was completed without any accidents or safety problem given many of training activities were carried out in remote areas. - Post-training activities were discussed, particularly research on cross-countries issues such as alien invasive species (e.g. Mimosa pigra invasion on wetlands), deforestation, water pollution. Things that could have been done better - More time should be allocated on improving writing skill - More effort should be given to developing participants' network - More effort should be given to post-training collaboration between participants and the resource team.

Things that did not work - Compilation, editing, production, publication of course materials to be used in future courses were not done. - Post-training collaborative research activities were discussed but funding was not secured therefore nothing had happened! - Mekong University Network website was not constructed as planned therefore course activities and results were not well communicated as wished. Recommendations for future courses - Take into consideration recommendations from student evaluation. - Develop more secured fund-raising mechanism to ensure continuous training activities. - Better communication about the training and the Mekong University Network to wider conservation and academic communities.

31 January 2004 Tran Triet