Con Co Nature Reserve in central Quang Tri province. (Photo: baoquangtri.vn)
Quang Tri (VNA) - The central province of Quang Tri has planned to set up corridors to protect its biodiversity from urbanisation and illegal exploitation.
Following a recent decision by the province’s People’s Committee, the local Department of Natural Resources and Environment will undertake the zoning of primary forests in the locality, ensuring a green coverage of 52 percent of the total area of the province.
The department, at the same time, has planned to recover mangrove forests in the estuaries of Ben Hai and Thach Han rivers. This is crucial to adapt against climate change along local coastlines, said the People’s Committee.
The protection of corals and seaweeds in the local waters is a must. The department will also hasten the setting up of three nature reserves in the mountainous Huong Hoa and Dakrong district and in Con Co Island.
In the mountainous reserves of Huong Hoa and Dakrong, a corridor will be set up spanning 15,000ha to connect the areas. The idea is to expand the choice of habitat for wildlife endemic to the reserves in the context of climate change impacts.
The People’s Committee also requested the department to identify vulnerable species and habitat areas threatened by social development.
All this will involve planning, manpower and creating awareness among concerned communities.
The province will allocate 1 billion VND for the work, which is expected to commence early this year.
According to a report by the department, central Quang Tri province is home to 98 species of mammals, 198 species of birds, 83 species of amphibians and reptiles, 336 species of fish and 2,152 species of flora. These include 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 fish species in its sea.-VNA
VNA
