The southern province of Dong Thap will allocate more than 31 billion VND for a project to sustainably preserve and develop Tram Chim National Park from 2013-2020.

The project is focused on preserving cajeput forests, submerged grassland and protecting rare species of flora and fauna, especially red-headed cranes. It will also form an improved management system in the park.

With the participation of the local community, the project will help prevent and reduce forest fires through improving preparation and investing in effective tools for fighting sudden blazes.
Work began at the beginning of this year, and the park has already remarkably reduced the number of forest fires in the dry season.

Located in Tam Nong district, Tram Chim National Park boasts rich biodiversity that in 2012 saw it named as the 200 th entry onto the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

Established in 1985, the 7,313-hectare area became a national park in 1998.

The park’s plentiful green vegetation is inhabited by more than 130 species of flora.

Water life in the park is also high, with over 150 species of freshwater fish – many of which are listed in Vietnam’s Red Book for rare animals, including the clown feather-back fish and the archerfish. Nearly 180 species of algae, 26 species of epifauna, 350 species of plankton and 34 species of amphibian are also present in the park.

Tram Chim is home to 198 bird species, including 16 that are rare, such as black-faced spoonbills, black eagles, great-billed herons and spotted-billed pelicans. It has been recognised as one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Vietnam.

The impressive diversity is largely attributable to the geography of the park, which lies in the low-lying area of Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) and benefits vastly from the flood cycle generated by the Mekong River.-VNA