Vietnamlawmagazine

The Great Beach in Bay Canh (Seven Edges) islet, part of Con Dao National Park__Photo: VNA

Con Dao National Park located in the same name island district off the coast of southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province will continue developing marine and forest eco-tours to explore coral reefs, heritage trees, tropical rainforest ecosystems and sea turtle conservation zone while pursuing its goal of boosting socio-economic development, protecting its resources, and raising the community’s awareness about sustainable tourism.

Chairman of the Con Dao District People’s Committee Le Van Phong has affirmed that the island’s tourist and economic development will be associated with conservation, adding Con Dao’s orientations and plans would be implemented together with the protection of forests and flora and fauna species.

Emphasizing the need to increase the forest coverage to protect the natural ecosystem, Ho Dieu Mai from the Academy of Public Administration and Governance has suggested Ba Ria-Vung Tau province learn experiences from other localities in the country and from foreign countries for promoting public-private partnership in developing diverse values of forest ecosystems so as to bring about the provision, regulatory, supporting and cultural values of Con Dao National Park.

Mai also suggested assigning the Con Dao National Park Management Board to collaborate with related agencies, departments and sectors in issuing the “National Park Passport” which aims to motivate tourists to explore and nurture the sense of responsibility for forest protection and development.

Director of the Con Dao National Park Management Board Nguyen Khac Pho has committed to realizing the “National Park Passport” initiative. The park boasts not only the advantage of biodiversity in forest conservation on the island and the conservation of wetlands but also a special-use forest containing aesthetic, historical and cultural values that are significant for the tourism development and conservation efforts in the locality.

Hon Trung Bird Sanctuary in Con Dao National Park is recognized as the most fertile seabird habitat of Vietnam__Photo: Huynh Son/VNA

Terrestrial ecotourism activities ranging from visiting historical sites, hiking and mountain climbing to  exploring primeval forests, as well as marine ecotourism activities such as swimming, snorkeling, watching sea turtles lay eggs, releasing baby turtles back to the sea in the National Park have attracted more and more tourists, students and researchers. This demonstrates the correctness of realizing the conservation initiative associated with promoting the multi-use values of forests from economic, ecological, cultural, historical and scientific research perspectives, Pho said.

He noted that thanks to constant efforts of both local and provincial authorities, the park has obtained a certificate declaring Trung island a seabird sanctuary for the highest breeding density, and the Vietnamese title “Heritage Tree” for its 24 ancient trees.

The two-hectare islet is estimated to hold around 72,700 seabird eggs or an average of 4.88 eggs per square meter.

Among the recognized trees are a 237-year-old banyan tree on Bay Canh island, a 155-year-old banyan tree on Ong Dung beach, a 237-year-old sao den (Hopea odorata Roxb) tree on Dai beach, and 21 trees Heliotrope (Heliotropium foertherianum) that are some 120 years old.

The Director said such recognition would acknowledge the Management Board’s efforts in preserving and promoting the value of natural heritage, and raising the public awareness about sustainable environmental conservation.

“They will motivate scientists, conservation organizations and the local community to conduct further research in improving the environment and preserving natural heritage. This is also an opportunity to introduce and promote the biodiversity of Con Dao National Park for eco-tourism development”, he added.

Worthy of note, Con Dao National Park has become the first location in the country to have successfully implemented the sea turtle conservation program.

During the sea turtle nesting season that takes place from April to September, forest rangers and other park staff record their crawl locations, monitor their nests and keep them safe before relocating them into incubation ponds where appropriate temperature is ensured for hatching performance.

In addition, the park has installed a CCTV system to monitor, manage and protect resources and wildlife and give warnings to ships docking and departing the beaches where nesting habitat for sea turtles exists. It also prohibits sea turtle fishing, slaughtering and egg harvesting.

According to the Director, the program is designed to study sea turtles’ ecological characteristics, thereby protecting their nesting habitats and nests and build incubation farms. It also aims to measure sea turtles; attach satellite tag tracking devices to sea turtles; check and clean up nest sites; relocate nests to safer places and release hatchlings into the sea.

Under the program that has been carried out since 2014, the park has annually received some 450 nesting sea turtles and released 150,000 hatchlings into the sea.

With four key tours - marine and forest ecological tours, sea turtle tours and combined ecological tours, the park received 3,540 tourist arrivals, half of whom are international holiday makers in the first half quarter of the year.

To enhance the ecotourism service quality in Con Dao National Park, Chairwoman of the Con Dao Tourism Association Tran Thanh Thuy has proposed installing additional handrails or support ropes along forest trails to ensure safety for tourists during rainy season.-