Quang Nam (VNA) – The VietnamAdministration of Forestry in partnership with the US Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) announced the establishment of an elephant sanctuary in centralQuang Nam province on September 7.
The sanctuary covers nearly 19,000 hectares inPhuoc Ninh and Que Lam communes of Nong Son district, and a buffer zonecovering about 25,000 hectares sprawling over nine communes of the districts ofNong Son, Dai Loc, Nam Giang, Phuoc Son and Hiep Duc.
The launch of the reserve is part of theUSAID-funded Truong Son Xanh (Green Annamites) Project, aiming to supportVietnam’s transition to climate-smart, low emission, and resilient developmentthat targets people, landscapes, and biodiversity in the central region, with afocus on Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue provinces.
A recent survey by the Vietnam Administration ofForestry identified at least seven elephants living in a group in the reserve.
Speaking at the launching event, Vice Chairmanof the provincial People’s Committee Le Tri Thanh said many wild species inVietnam and the world are in danger while decrease in natural forest coveragehas caused loss of wildlife habitat. In that context, the elephant sanctuaryplays a significant role in protecting elephants and other natural resourcesand ensuring eco-balance and biodiversity in the province, he added.
The United States is proud to cooperate withQuang Nam in protecting living habitat for endangered Asian elephants andfinding solutions to improve incomes for local residents through livelihooddevelopment support, said US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius who was present atthe event.-VNA