Ninh Binh combines forest protection with tourism development

Models of environment conservation in Cuc Phuong National Park, Van Long Natural Reserve and Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex are typical examples.

Established in 2010, the Van Long Nature Reserve spans over seven communes of Gia Vien district with a total area of over 2,7000 hectares.

The special use forest of Van Long has 722 species of floras, 15 of which are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. It has 39 species of animals; 100 species of birds, 38 species of reptiles, 43 species of fish and 132 species of insects.

Van Long has a rich biodiversity. In particular, it is home to numerous rare animals which is listed in the Red book of Vietnam, including delacour langurs. 

The primitiveness of mountains and forests along with its rich biodiversity, and beautiful landscapes have provided potential for Van Long's ecotourism development.

Vu Van Thiep, a representative of the  Hoa Lu - Van Long special use forest management board, said the board is assigned to manage and protect two special use forests, namely the Van Long Nature Reserve and Hoa Lu Forest of Culture-History-Environment which is located inside the core area of the world's natural and cultural heritage of Trang An Complex.

"With a small number of  staff members, it is hard for us to manage and control the vast area of these forests so we encourage the participation of local people in forest conservation," he said.

Local residents are allowed to exploit natural resources like aquaculture farming, forest protection, sustainable agriculture activities, and community tourism. These activities would bring more incomes to local people and at the same time encourage them to conserve forests effectively.

The board has regularly organised meetings to disseminate the responsibility of local people in forest protection.

Nature and forest conservation in combination with tourism development is an evitable trend of the sustainable growth process.

The relationship between forest conservation and tourism development can be seen clearly in Ninh Binh province through tourism projects and numerous tourism activities which are closely associated with forest, nature and biodiversity protection.

The Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex and the Van Long Nature Reserve are selected to carry out key eco-tourism projects.

In addition, other destinations like Tam Diep - Bien Son; Yen Don and Yen Thang lakes, Ma Tien cave and Kim Son coastal area have also developed eco-tourism in combination with forest and biodiversity protection.

It can be said that forest protection in combination with tourism development have helped increase local people's awareness of forest conservation.

For example, the population of delacour langurs in the Van Long Nature Reserve has increased four-fold to 200 individuals from 2010. 

The Trang An Complex also recorded an increasing number of wild birds and rare fish.

Managing and developing forests sustainably have laid a foundation for Ninh Binh to attract more investment into eco-tourism, resort and entertainment development, thus creating more jobs and more incomes for local people.

Therefore, in the time to come, Ninh Binh will pay more heed to implementing regulations related to forest and biodiversity conservation in combination with eco-tourism.

It will complete the regulation of coordination between forest owners and tourism enterprises in forest conservation with tourism development in a bid to ensure the common responsibilities and interests of the two sides.

The province will also build a suitable tourism development strategy to ensure the harmony between tourism development and nature conservation.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy