Cao Bang (VNA) – The northernmountainous province of Cao Bang announced the Prime Minister’s decision on theestablishment of Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park on May 14.
Covering 10,593 hectares, the park spans ThanhCong, Quang Thanh, Phan Thanh and Hung Dao communes, and Tinh Tuc town inNguyen Binh district. About 77 percent, or more than 8,146 hectares, of thearea is natural forest.
Surveys showed that the park is home to1,287 types of plants, of which more than 90 are in danger of extinction, andto 496 vertebrate species, including 58 rare types.
The area hosts Phia Oac Mount – one of thethree main tourism routes of Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark. Non Nuoc Cao Bang wasthe second UNESCO-recognised Global Geopark in Vietnam after Dong Van KarstPlateau.
The park is designated to ensure environmentalsecurity and mitigate land erosion and floods, thus helping to stabiliseproduction and improve livelihoods of local people in downstream regions.
Toprotect the national park, the local authorities have set up forest rangerunits and forest monitoring groups in villages.
Scientific research and activities will be held topreserve and develop endangered genetic sources, rescue wildlife animals andraise public awareness of the protection of environment and biodiversity.
Furthermore, actions will be taken to developeco-tourism, thereby contributing to local socio-economic development.
Speakingat a ceremony to announce the decision, Vo Dinh Tuyen, deputy head of theagriculture department at the Government Office, urged Cao Bang to sustainablydevelop the park in line with the nation’s forestry development strategy.-VNA