Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve - Great opportunity for investors

(Baonghean) - The Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve (WBR) has a total area of ​​1.3 million hectares spread across 9 districts of Western Nghe An.

Cang Le forest (Buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park). Photo: Tran Duy Ngoan

This is the largest Biosphere Reserve in Southeast Asia, a convergence of many flora and fauna systems, high biodiversity, and great conservation value with the presence of 70 plant species and 80 animal species listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Among them are many rare and endemic species of the region such as: Saola, Red-shanked Douc, Sa Mu Dau and wild elephant populations. This is also a place where geographical elements are mixed and interwoven with many natural caves and waterfalls such as Sao Va waterfall in Que Phong, Khe Kem waterfall in Con Cuong, Tien stream, hot spring in Tan Ky, Tham Bua cave - a national scenic spot in Quy Chau; at the same time, it is the long-standing habitat of 6 ethnic groups: Thai, Dan Lai, Kho Mu, O Du, H'Mong and Kinh. Historical relics with many unique cultural features such as Tra Lan citadel relic, Ma Nhai stele, Con Chua banyan tree in Con Cuong, Chin Gian temple in Que Phong, Lang Vac relic in Thai Hoa town,... This is also a place to preserve many customs, practices, folk songs, folk dances, traditional crafts, culinary culture, costumes, stilt house architecture with unique cultural features.

Recognizing the special importance of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve in biodiversity conservation, scientific research and socio-economic development, immediately after being recognized, the Provincial People's Committee directed 9 districts in the region, especially Pu Mat National Park, Pu Huong Conservation Area, Pu Hoat Conservation Area and related departments and branches to focus on protecting and developing forest capital, while restoring, preserving and promoting cultural and historical values. In 2013, the Provincial People's Committee established the Management Board of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve with the participation of provincial leaders, districts and related branches; established a working group to assist the Management Board, with an office located at the Forestry Sub-Department to carry out key tasks such as: Collecting information to build a database to serve the management and rational exploitation of natural resources, organizing propaganda, promoting the image and attracting investment in the Biosphere Reserve; Building a sustainable development strategy based on the advantages and potentials of the Biosphere Reserve. In 2014, Nghe An began to develop the Project "Exploiting and promoting the potentials and advantages to develop tourism associated with nature and culture conservation in the Biosphere Reserve in Western Nghe An", and assigned the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to implement the "Project for tourism development in Western Nghe An province until 2020" and approved the "Project framework for tasks of conservation and development of provincial-level genetic resources to be implemented from 2014 to 2020".

The Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve has a large area, mainly inhabited by ethnic minorities, and the people's lives are still poor. This is really a pressure that makes the work of forest management, nature conservation, biodiversity protection, and protection of local and national cultural and historical relics really difficult and complicated. Biosphere reserve management is a new issue with the way of inter-sectoral coordination, so exploiting advantages to develop the local economy still faces many difficulties. Nghe An calls on and hopes that scientists, international organizations, central ministries and branches will continue to pay attention, help, and invest in projects in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, especially projects applying high technology, applying scientific advances to preserve and develop sustainably, worthy of being a Biosphere Reserve recognized by UNESCO.

Hai Yen