To evaluate the impacts of climate change on coral reefs, forecast trends and  propose solutions to reponse and protect coral reefs in the coastal area of Vietnam.

Theorerical results:

• Identified the effects of climate change on coral reefs of the coastal zone of Vietnam. In particular, storms and rising seawater temperatures are the biggest impacts on coral reefs, other factors such as sea level rise and sweetness cause by heavy rain are less affecting to coral reefs. The coral reefs in the South are more affected by climate change than the Northern coral reefs.
• At two case study sites, there are not found any evidences that the effects of climate change on coral reefs during the project on proceed. But in previous years coral in Cat Ba has been killed by high water temperature in shallow water reefs.
• Identified adaptive threshold of some coral species to changes in salinity and temperature that relative with climate change through experiment, which can determine the relative increase sea temperatures by El-Nino and heavy rainfall that reduces salinity has affected coral reefs or not.
• Based on results of the project, proposed solutions for management and protection of coral reefs have been given out in order to response to climate change.

Applied results: Results of the research are the basis for application assessment the effects of unfavorable factors due to climate change causes such as storms, sea level rise, high water temperatures, sweetness,... in the reefs of Vietnam coast. The experimental results of threshold adaptation of corals can be used to determine the hazards of climate change has affected coral reefs or not and which species most affected. Meanwhile management, protection and response solutions can be applied for unusual adverse weather caused by climate change for coral reefs in marine protected areas.

This is a new and the first study on the effects of climate change coral ecosystems in Vietnam. The results of the research not only new contributions assess the impact of climate change on coral reefs, but also identify the types of effects, factors and the threshold that corals can be survived. Besides the activities of management, protection and response to climate changes for coral reefs are very useful for MPAs.

Scientific papers in referred journals (list)

• The effect of the climate change on coral reefs in Vietnam waters. IOC/WESTPACT 8th International Scientific Symposium, Pusan, Korea
• Differences in physiological response to increased seawater temperature in nearshore and offshore corals in northern Vietnam. Marine Environmental Research 71 (2011) p. 225 – 233
• Evaluating the impact of climate change and sea level rise to the marine ecosystem in Truong Sa Islands and propose measures to respond. Navy workshop

Technological products (describe in details: technical characteristics, place)

• Overview of natural conditions and the marine environment in the Cat Ba Hai Van-Son Cha areas
• Status of coral reefs in the Cat Ba and Hai Van - Son Cha areas
• Environmental condition in the Cat Ba Hai Van - Son Cha areas
• The variation of coral communities and relationship to the climate changes
• Marine current of the Cat Ba and Hai Van - Son Cha area and ability of affect to coral reefs
• Adaption ability of some coral species to the changes of temperature and salinity
• The sedimentation on the coral reefs in the Cat Ba and Hai Van - Son Cha areas
• Forecasting trends and proposed solutions for protect and manage coral reefs under threaten of climate changes
• The documents, data from the meteorological station of the Cat Ba area and Thua Thien Hue

Other products (if applicable):

• Map of distribution coral reefs in the coastal area Vietnam
• The data tables and sheets from sample analyses
• Underwater pictures on coral reefs and the coral culture experiments