Con Co Nature Reserve in central Quang Tri province. (Photo: baoquangtri.vn)
Quang Tri (VNA) - The central province of Quang Trihas planned to set up corridors to protect its biodiversity from urbanisationand illegal exploitation.
Following a recent decision by the province’s People’s Committee,the local Department of Natural Resources and Environment will undertake thezoning of primary forests in the locality, ensuring a green coverage of 52 percentof the total area of the province.
The department, at the same time, has planned to recover mangroveforests in the estuaries of Ben Hai and Thach Han rivers. This is crucial toadapt against climate change along local coastlines, said the People’sCommittee.
The protection of corals and seaweeds in the local waters is amust. The department will also hasten the setting up of three nature reservesin the mountainous Huong Hoa and Dakrong district and in Con Co Island.
In the mountainous reserves of Huong Hoa and Dakrong, a corridorwill be set up spanning 15,000ha to connect the areas. The idea is to expandthe choice of habitat for wildlife endemic to the reserves in the context ofclimate change impacts.
The People’s Committee also requested the department to identifyvulnerable species and habitat areas threatened by social development.
All this will involve planning, manpower and creating awarenessamong concerned communities.
The province will allocate 1 billion VND for the work, whichis expected to commence early this year.
According to a report by the department, central Quang Tri provinceis home to 98 species of mammals, 198 species of birds, 83 species ofamphibians and reptiles, 336 species of fish and 2,152 species of flora. Theseinclude rare and threatened species, such as saola, Annamite striped rabbit,giant muntjac, Vietnamese pheasant and agarwood.
The province also has 113 corals, 57 seaweeds and 221 marine fishspecies in its sea.-VNA
VNA
