Applying the model for nature policy to estimate biodiversity values in Tram Chim National park, Dong Thap province

Abstract

The Model for Nature Policy was proposed for use in the environmental impact assessment of biodiversity and the effectiveness evaluation of the Dutch government’s biodiversity conservation policies. Biodiversity in biomes and habitats was quantitatively measured using biodiversity points. This study employed expert interviews to identify the major biomes in Tram Chim National Park. Subsequently, the Model for Nature Policy and the analytic hierarchy process were applied to measure the ecological quality of the biomes, weighting, biodiversity points, and biodiversity values for the biomes. The results of this study showed that (i) there were 6 major biomes in the park, ranked by decreasing importance: Eleocharis dulcis, Oryza rufipogon, Melaleuca cajuputy, Nelumbo nucifera, Ischaemum rugosum, and Panicum repens; (ii) the ecological quality of Melaleuca cajuputy was 91%, while Nelumbo nucifera, Ischaemum rugosum, and Panicum repens each had about 75%, and Oryza rufipogon and Eleocharis dulcis had around 40%; (iii) the estimated biodiversity values of TCNP in 2024 were 4,35 billion Vietnamese dong per year (0,6 million Vietnamese dong per ha); and (iv) a map was developed to represent the biodiversity values of the park. Our findings may support the decision-making process in the management of biodiversity in TCNP. These contributions are achieved through four approaches: identifying ecological damages caused by environmental incidents; analyzing trade-offs between actions and inactions; assessing the cost-effectiveness of conservation or ecological restoration projects; and proposing plans for resource utilization or land-use transformation.