A programme to restore Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve creates an abundant food source for elephants and other wild species. (Photo courtesy of the Gaia Read) Dong Nai (VNA) - More than 1,000 trees of five species of nativetimber trees and wild plants have been planted on 20,000sq.m in the Dong NaiWorld Biosphere Reserve as part of an effort to improve the habitats ofelephants and other wildlife.
Planting, which took place June 25-28, is part of the programme titled"Forest Plantation and Monitoring" which Gaia Nature Conservationcontinues to carry out to enrich the Dong Nai forest.
The kinds of trees include Huynh (Palapi), wild jackfruit, wild rambutan, wildmango, and Sau (Dracontomelon duperreanum).
The aim of the programme is to recover poor forests, supplement food sourcesand improve the habitats of elephants and endangered wildlife such as gaur,hornbill and black-shanked douc.
The reserve is the habitat for one of the last populations of wild elephants inVietnam.
Less than 50 wild elephants live in the wild in Vietnam. Of those, 11-14 livein Dong Nai.
In 2010, seven wild elephants could not find enough food in the forest and diedafter looking for cashew and mango fields. Farmers saw them as a threat andpoisoned them.
After this tragedy, the Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve installed 50kilometres of electric fencing to prevent elephants from going into residentialareas.
However, a few elephants have managed to break through the fence.
Restoring forests and creating an abundant food source for the elephants andother wild species is a long-term solution to the problem.
The forest will be monitored and taken care of for four years to ensure itssustainability.
Do Thi Thanh Huyen, founder and director of Gaia Nature Conservation Centre,said during urbanisation, the total area and quality of the forest in Vietnamis decreasing and we are seeing habitat loss and an ecological loss of function.
In the future, Gaia will continue to promote forest planting and monitorprogrammes in other places such as Tram Chim National Park and Can GioBiosphere Reserve.
Gaia has called for support from companies, schools and individuals to joinGaia in the forest plantation and monitoring programme to improve overallforest function, protect endangered species, and restore and enrich the forest.- VNA
VNA
