On August 12, 2022, at Cuc Phuong National Park (Ninh Binh), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organized a conference on the current situation and sustainable development solutions for National Parks. The conference was chaired by Minister Le Minh Hoan and Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh. Supported by the United States International Development Organization (USAID) through the Biodiversity Conservation project, VFBC attracted the participation of over 100 delegates from international organizations such as GIZ, WWF, USAID, IUCN, FFI, as well as representatives from universities, research institutes, the Association of National Parks and Nature Reserves, and six National Parks under the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) in the North Central region.According to the reports presented at the conference, there are currently 167 specialized and protected forest areas nationwide, covering a total area of over 2.3 million hectares. VNFOREST directly manages six National Parks: Ba Vi, Tam Dao, Cuc Phuong, Bach Ma, Yok Don, and Cat Tien (which are parks spanning two provinces and centrally governed cities). These six National Parks account for 26.7% of the total area of National Parks nationwide and play a crucial role in preserving the integrity of ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, environmental education, scientific research, and contribute significantly to the protection of ecological integrity, biodiversity conservation, environmental education, scientific research, as well as ensuring environmental security and socio-economic development.
The conference aimed to assess the current situation and find solutions to leverage the potential, strengths, and versatility of forests. Delegates emphasized that not only the six National Parks under VNFOREST but also all 167 specialized and protected forest areas across the country have numerous opportunities and potentials for future development.
In the coming period, besides continuing to protect the integrity of characteristic forest ecosystems and effectively implementing conservation activities, wildlife rescue, nurturing, and reintroduction, National Parks need to diversify eco-tourism products. They should focus on completing the Eco-tourism, Resort, and Entertainment Development Plan for the 2021-2030 period of National Parks. Based on this, organize eco-tourism, resort, and entertainment projects according to suitable methods for the potential, advantages, and actual conditions of each Park. Emphasize the unique beauty of natural landscapes and indigenous cultures. Creativity in organizing forms to attract visitors, combining tourism with environmental education, and effectively managing eco-tourism routes and points, especially areas for forest environment rentals, are essential. Enhance socialization to attract investment resources, improve service quality while preserving the environment, and ensure sustainable development. Strengthen international cooperation, mobilize support for wildlife rescue, nurturing, and conservation of endangered and rare species. Continue to implement activities to support the development of the livelihoods of local people and communities through forest protection payments and payment for forest environmental services. Guide and support local people in developing sustainable and efficient cultivation and production, contributing to increasing income for the people.
In this regard, Minister Le Minh Hoan emphasized that balancing protection, conservation, and development of National Parks requires an appropriate approach.
“Instead of viewing tourism solely as a means of earning money, tourism can be a way to propagate, introduce, and promote Vietnam’s resources to the world. This can be a positive, supported, and suitable approach in the current period,” Minister Le Minh Hoan illustrated.
Regarding international cooperation, delegates stressed the need to mobilize support for wildlife rescue, nurturing, and conservation of endangered and rare species.
In particular, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development instructed VNFOREST to promptly implement and develop the project ‘Developing the Multiple Values of Forest Ecosystems’. This project will propose mechanisms and policies to develop the values of ecosystem services in forest environments in a diversified, multi-functional direction to create revenue for forest management boards and local communities. The financial mechanism must create strong incentives to mobilize social resources, stimulate the dynamism and creativity of specialized-use forest management boards. Research, revise, and supplement legal regulations on forestry, with a focus on eco-tourism, resort, and entertainment activities.
Before the conference, Minister Le Minh Hoan, Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh, and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development conducted the release of rare animals at Cuc Phuong National Park. The released animals included four White Pheasants (Group IB, Decree 06/2019/ND-CP; sourced from captive breeding for conservation purposes) and one Python molurus (Group IIB, Decree 06/2019; wild origin, voluntarily handed over by locals for rescue and conservation).
This initiative from Cuc Phuong National Park, as a model, carries a profound environmental education message and has a significant impact on wildlife conservation.
The working group also visited the Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center, the Meat-Eating Animal Conservation Center, and the Turtle Conservation Center at Cuc Phuong National Park, as well as planted memorial trees within the park premises.
Source: Article and photos from the General Administration of Forestry Office