The Can Gio Biosphere Reserve in HCM City is one of the most beautiful mangrove forests in Southeast Asia, international experts told a conference to evaluate the forest's status a decade after it was listed as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
The forest, located 40km southeast of downtown HCM City, was completely destroyed in the war that ended in 1975.
Nguyen Hoang Tri of the National Committee of Programme on Vietnam People and Biosphere quoted Prof S. Snedaker of Cornell University in the US as saying in 1983 that it would take Can Gio at least another 50 years to fully recover.
However, thanks to the efforts of the city administration and residents, that time was shortened to just a decade, and the forest now plays an important role as a lung of the city and nearby areas, he said.
In 1980 authorities began planting mangrove forests again with support from city residents, which have now grown to be 76,000ha.
One of the most extensive rehabilitated mangrove forests in the world, Can Gio is rich in bio-diversity, with more than 145 bird and 182 plant species. It has 13 animals listed in the red book of threatened species.
Tri urged the city to invest further in scientific research to better protect the forest and its biological advantages.
A lecturer at the HCM City University of Agricultural and Forestry, Vien Ngoc Nam, urged authorities to trim the forest to allow sunlight through its dense foliage to keep out pests.
Deputy chairman of HCM City People's Committee Nguyen Trung Tin agreed but suggested strengthening of inspections to prevent loggers from taking advantage of it.
The city's responsibility is to develop the reserve so that it helps mitigate the effects of climate change, he added.
Pham Sanh Chau, secretary general of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, said the forest is a treasure assigned to HCM City to protect.
The city Department of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates the forest's economic value to be rising every year.
It placed the value at 3 trillion VND (150 million USD in 1999 and at 6.5 trillion VND (325 million USD) in 2005. /.
The forest, located 40km southeast of downtown HCM City, was completely destroyed in the war that ended in 1975.
Nguyen Hoang Tri of the National Committee of Programme on Vietnam People and Biosphere quoted Prof S. Snedaker of Cornell University in the US as saying in 1983 that it would take Can Gio at least another 50 years to fully recover.
However, thanks to the efforts of the city administration and residents, that time was shortened to just a decade, and the forest now plays an important role as a lung of the city and nearby areas, he said.
In 1980 authorities began planting mangrove forests again with support from city residents, which have now grown to be 76,000ha.
One of the most extensive rehabilitated mangrove forests in the world, Can Gio is rich in bio-diversity, with more than 145 bird and 182 plant species. It has 13 animals listed in the red book of threatened species.
Tri urged the city to invest further in scientific research to better protect the forest and its biological advantages.
A lecturer at the HCM City University of Agricultural and Forestry, Vien Ngoc Nam, urged authorities to trim the forest to allow sunlight through its dense foliage to keep out pests.
Deputy chairman of HCM City People's Committee Nguyen Trung Tin agreed but suggested strengthening of inspections to prevent loggers from taking advantage of it.
The city's responsibility is to develop the reserve so that it helps mitigate the effects of climate change, he added.
Pham Sanh Chau, secretary general of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, said the forest is a treasure assigned to HCM City to protect.
The city Department of Agriculture and Rural Development estimates the forest's economic value to be rising every year.
It placed the value at 3 trillion VND (150 million USD in 1999 and at 6.5 trillion VND (325 million USD) in 2005. /.
