Early construction of Phuxailaileng Nature Reserve

(Baonghean) - Nghe An Newspaper published the opinion of engineer Nguyen Dinh Vo about the early construction of Phuxailaileng Nature Reserve.

The reason we are passionate about the proposal to soon build Phuxailaileng Nature Reserve is because this is a large mountain range, located between the Vietnam - Laos border, with an absolute height of 2,711m - the highest in the Truong Son range, the roof of North Central and North Vietnam - Laos, the second highest in Vietnam, only after Fansipan (3,143m) of Hoang Lien Son National Park - the northern roof of the Fatherland.

On top of Phuxailaileng.

In nature, altitude is an important support point of the geosphere, having a great influence on the atmosphere, hydrosphere and especially the biosphere. Phuxailaileng is the center of the core zone of the Western Nghe An World Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO 2007), has an extremely important position in the strategy of environmental protection against climate change - rich in biodiversity and is the source of many streams in the headwater system of the Ca River basin.

In 2003, the Forestry Science and Technology Association organized a workshop on "The idea of ​​establishing Phuxailaileng Nature Reserve managed by the Community" sponsored by the World Bank (WB), with leading scientists from the country and the world from the EU, especially Professor - Dr. James Hardcastle representing the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) attending and giving important speeches. The workshop discussed extensively, highly agreed with the idea proposed by the association and recommended to state authorities to study, use and implement.

In 2014, with a high sense of responsibility, the Department of Science and Technology built a research project "Biodiversity of Phuxailaileng area" by the Center for Environment and Development and the Association in collaboration with the Faculty of Biology - Vinh University, once again proving the above proposal is correct. Initially, 726 species of higher plants of 398 genera, 139 families belonging to 4 plant branches were discovered and counted.

There are many rare species listed in the Vietnam Red Book and the World Red Book (IUCN) with a rich diversity of medicinal plants, including the ginseng family (Araliaceae) with up to 10 species, especially the Panax SP. species, considered as Fuxailaileng Ginseng, similar to Nam Truong Son Ngoc Linh Ginseng. 348 vertebrate species have been recorded, including 60 mammal species, 147 bird species, 76 reptile amphibians, many of which are rare (Vietnam Red Book, IUCN Red Book, Decree 32/2006) and have high economic value, some species are at the level of endangered (EN) or about to be endangered (VU) requiring strong measures for conservation and development.

In the special-use forest system of Nghe An, from low to high, we have Pu Huong Nature Reserve from below 100m to 1,600m; Pu Mat National Park up to 1,800m; Pu Hoat Nature Reserve up to 2,400m. However, Phuxailaileng at an altitude of 2,711m has its own unique features that the above forests do not have, we cannot let it fade away and be lost.

Peach blossoms blush in the snow on Phuxailaileng peak on a snowy day.

The flora here is both tropical - subtropical - temperate - evergreen and deciduous - semi-deciduous. According to scientists, Phuxailaileng in the Truong Son region is one of the world's biodiversity centers. The flora of this region is closely related to the flora of India, Burma, Malaysia and is close to the flora of Hainan - South China, with many valuable genetic resources for economic development and environmental protection.

Recently, HQ Environmental Technology and Investment Consulting Joint Stock Company coordinated with the Provincial Department of Environmental Protection, Vinh University and the People's Committee of Ky Son district to organize a workshop on biodiversity conservation planning in Nghe An province until 2020 and orientation to 2030. Accordingly, by 2020, the land use plan will be adjusted, the Phuxailaileng Nature Reserve will be newly established and put into operation with an area of ​​49,517.51 ​​hectares; the buffer zone area is 15,492.17 hectares. The reserve is located in the area of ​​Na Ngoi, Nam Can, Muong Tip, Tay Son communes (Ky Son) and Tam Hop, Luu Kien communes (Tuong Duong)...

Thus, the establishment of Phuxailaileng Nature Reserve is necessary and urgent. However, in discussions with some experts, they are concerned about the investment capital and the need for more time for implementation.

In our opinion, there are several solutions:

1 - In terms of organization: Not following the traditional forestry model - mainly by the State - but implementing social forestry: people know, people discuss, people do, implemented by the community. The state organization is only compact to guide, direct and inspect.

- Regarding the management board: Due to the suitable geopolitical conditions here, it is possible to organize an inter-sectoral organization: Border Guards and Forest Rangers both manage border security protection and manage forest protection and construction, and implement biodiversity research programs. Take advantage of the participation of scientific and technical associations to advise on appropriate project programs: agriculture, forestry, irrigation, culture - community education.

- With lessons from Hoang Lien Son National Park, here we can build eco-tourism and adventure tourism routes from Pu Mat National Park (or from Pu Hoat Nature Reserve) to the origin of the land and sky, the remote and wild highlands of Phuxailaileng, enjoy the strong and refreshing feelings at an altitude of 2,711m, admire the landscapes of the four directions, the land and sky of Vietnam and the Lao People's Democratic Republic, very attractive to domestic and international scientists and tourists who love to explore the newness of nature.

- People are reorganized in the direction of new rural areas - ecological villages, community cultural villages, are the main production force to carry out forest protection, nature conservation, and preservation of ethnic cultural identity.

The people here are mainly Mong, mixed with some Thai and Kho Mu people, rich in identity; there are famous products such as Mong beef, black chicken, sweet cabbage, Mong iron products that need to be preserved and developed. Gradually limit and completely stop shifting cultivation, nomadic life, illegal hunting and gathering of forest products, and live healthily by forestry. Developing the cultivation of non-timber forest products under the forest canopy is an important direction. Strengths are medicinal herbs such as bo bo (Altinia Blethro kcaslyx Kschum); ginseng phuxailaileng (Panax SP.) and many other species.

Currently, the Association's Forestry Development Consulting Center is running a project to conserve and develop the Bo Bo tree - a valuable medicinal plant sponsored by the World Environment Fund (GEF/SGP) small-scale project program that has been successfully implemented and replicated in this area. Phuxailaileng ginseng also needs a research and development program. It is recommended that the province direct the medicinal plant development program in Nghe An to implement in this area.

Organizing tourism services such as guiding, organizing festivals to promote traditional culture and cuisine to serve tourists is an important direction to improve people's lives.

2 - Regarding capital: In the immediate future, it is necessary to focus all policy resources on mountainous communes, remote border areas such as 135, sedentarization, poverty reduction, border security protection, new rural construction... Especially capital sources in forest protection programs, nature conservation, forest ecological restoration for scientific research, when the nature reserve is established, invest for people to do.

- Actively promoting and advertising to attract international investment is an important measure to solve the problem of investment capital. Experience from Pu Mat, after establishing the Nature Reserve and promoting it to international information, we have the Nghe An Social Forestry and Nature Conservation project funded by the EU with a value of 17.5 million EUR.

Currently, in the world summits on environmental protection against climate change (COP), especially COP 21 in Paris (France), great attention is paid to forest protection and development. Many countries have committed to contributing financially to protect and develop forests instead of cutting industrial emissions.

The World Bank (WB) has had programs to regulate the parties "buying" and "selling" greenhouse waste through investment in forest planting and protection. Many international organizations such as: IUCN, WWF, UNESCO, GEE, ... and many developed countries are also very interested in investing in protection and development if we do a good job of promoting and building projects to take advantage.

In the immediate future, the province needs to have a plan to conduct a comprehensive survey and supplement to build an economic-technical argument and an investment project to submit to competent authorities for approval. In which, the Forestry Science and Technology Association will do a good job of consulting, criticizing and social appraising this project.

Architect Nguyen Dinh Vo