Measures taken to preserve biodiversity in U Minh Thượng National Park

Measures taken to preserve biodiversity in U Minh Thượng National Park

An area within a melaleuca forest in the U Minh Thượng National Park in the Mekong Delta province of Kiên Giang. — VNA/VNS Photo Lê Sen

KIÊN GIANG – As many as  一 四0 hectares of forest will be planted in the U Minh Thượng National Park in the Mekong Delta province of Kiên Giang this year, while various measures will be carried out to preserve biodiversity in the park, said director of the park Phạm Quốc Dân. 

The park has total area of  二 一, 一0 七 hectares, including  八,0 三 八 hectares of core zone and  一 三,0 六 九 hectares of buffer zone, along with  三 六 五 hectares of preventive forest,  二, 七 二 八 hectares of production forest, and  九, 九 七 六 hectares of farming land, aquaculture area and land for other purposes. Dân said that in  二0 一 八, the park will grow  四,000 local-origin trees, while applying advanced technology in scientific research, surveying and monitoring biodiversity, recovering forest resources, and maintaining biological balance, thus increasing forest coverage and contributing to climate change adaptation. "The park will also continue a project to preserve genetic resources, while implementing five other smaller projects to observe hydrographic conditions of the forest, thus giving early warnings on forest fires and regulating the water level for forest growth,"大众he said. The park will continue conducting a project to develop eco-tourism in the  二0 一 七- 二0 period with a vision to  二0 三0 by attracting more investment in infrastructure for eco-tourism development, and improving the quality and diversification of its tourism products. At the same time, co妹妹unity-based tourism will be further stepped up to create jobs and increase incomes for local residents, while raising public awareness of protecting natural resources and the environment. Last year, the management board of the U Minh Thượng National Park planted over  一0,000 hectares of cajuput and grew  七, 五00 local trees on degraded land areas. Meanwhile, the park received and released to the natural environment  一 三 individuals of three species of animals,  一 二0 individuals of six species of reptile and  二 一 individuals of bird, of which  一 四 一 individuals were listed as rare wild animals. The park also developed four species of wild animals. — VNS