Adverse Effects of Coastal Reclamation on the Environment and Ecosystems: A Case of Hai Phong—Ha Long Area (Vietnam)

Abstract

The Hai Phong-Ha Long coastal area, with its World Natural Heritage site of Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba islands, has been under intense pressure from rapid development to meet the socio-economic goals set by Hai Phong City and Quang Ninh Province. As such, urgent land needs for infrastructure construction of economic sectors and urbanization have led to intensive coastal reclamation and seafill leveling, and their environmental consequences. The objective of this study is to assess the adverse environmental effects of coastal reclamation in the Hai Phong—Ha Long area, focusing on ecosystems, environmental quality, and seabed morphology at a regional scale. To achieve this objective, the study employed the regular techniques of environmental assessment methods, such as checklists, matrices, network diagrams, and overlay maps, to appraise these environmental consequences. The results show three main impacted natural components, including coastal ecosystems, environmental qualities, and morphological seabeds, besides coastline changes and socio-economic issues. The most impacted component was coastal ecosystems, followed by the coastal environmental qualities of seawater and sediments, and then the morphological seabed. Based on the study results, it is recommended that during the development of an integrated coastal management plan for the coastal area of Hai Phong – Ha Long, environmental issues of coastal reclamation and seafill leveling must be given much attention.