Yen Thanh - Potential for ecotourism development

(Baonghean) -Yen Thanh is a rice district but has the strength to develop eco-tourism. In recent years, Yen Thanh has actively developed forest capital, well protected flocks of birds and storks, forming bird islands in Ly Thanh, Ve Vung dam - Kim Thanh...

"Stork Island" in Ve Vung Lake (Kim Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh).

Gam Ru (Xuan Thanh Commune) - a famous place and a symbol of Yen Thanh rice land. Coming to Gam Ru, many people are surprised when right next to the rice fields is a vast primeval forest that has been preserved by the local people for generations. Following Mr. Thai Duy Thinh, a resident of Hamlet 9, Xuan Thanh, we went deep into the forest. The scene before our eyes is a vast green carpet of trees covering the mountains and forests. There are also rare and large trees such as mahogany, ironwood, and trac... that 2-3 people cannot hug, and many precious medicinal plants such as agarwood and ivy. The vegetation in Gam Ru is diverse and coexists in clear layers, the fern family covers the ground, climbing plants such as rattan, bamboo, and bamboo... cling to streams and giant trees. The forest grows well, so the animals in Gam Ru are quite rich, such as squirrels, weasels, foxes, wild chickens, and starlings... Underground water from Gam Ru flows to irrigate the fields running at the foot of the mountains of both Bac Thanh and Xuan Thanh. Today, this forest is still preserved almost intact.

Mr. Le Khac Quyen, head of the forest protection team (a volunteer to protect the forest) said: The forest protection allowance is not much but I am still happy, because protecting Gam forest is the pride of our commune. Since taking over the forest protection, he and 3 colleagues have been climbing hills and wading through streams day and night to patrol and guard to promptly prevent forest encroachment. It must be said that people's awareness of forest protection has been increasingly improved, in recent years there has been no deforestation, people do not even go into the forest to chop firewood or catch bees...

To promote the value of the historical relics of Gam Temple, Pagoda and Gam Ru, and to meet the aspirations of the majority of the people of the district, Yen Thanh has identified the construction of the Gam Ru spiritual and ecological tourism area as the key socio-economic development task of the district in the period of 2011-2015; The Provincial People's Council has included the plan to build the Gam Ru spiritual and ecological tourism area in the province's socio-economic development program in the period of 2011-2015. On March 1, 2011, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Decision No. 515/QD-UBND-CN on approving the detailed planning task of building the Gam Ru spiritual and ecological tourism area in Xuan Thanh and Tang Thanh communes and approving the budget estimate for surveying and making detailed planning for building the Gam Ru spiritual and ecological tourism area. Up to now, the spiritual and ecological tourism project of Ru Gam is under construction with a total area of ​​over 300 hectares, of which over 150 hectares are primeval forest surrounding Gam Pagoda, creating a poetic landscape. The complex of relics of Gam Temple, Pagoda and Ru Gam is expected to attract a large number of tourists to enjoy the mountain and forest scenery of Ru Gam.

Next to that is Ve Vung reservoir in Kim Thanh - Dong Thanh - Quang Thanh communes with a water surface area of ​​over 720 hectares, a reserve of 20 million cubic meters of water. Ve Vung lake is a famous irrigation project of Yen Thanh district. Not only is it valuable for irrigating thousands of hectares of rice and crops in the district, Ve Vung lake is also an attractive eco-tourism destination for tourists. To exploit this potential, in recent years, Yen Thanh has focused on developing the forest capital here to create landscapes, generate water resources, especially protecting flocks of birds that come to nest on the islands on the lake.

Phan Trong Luong's motorboat took us across the vast lake, surrounded by majestic mountains. When the sun sets, thousands of white storks fly back, hovering, looking for a home on the islands covered with green trees. With his enthusiasm and passion for the forest, over the years, Phan Trong Luong has volunteered to protect the flock of birds. Mr. Luong shared: The flock of storks flock here to perch in the sky, "hunters" from everywhere come to hunt and trap birds indiscriminately. Therefore, it is necessary to have preventive measures, otherwise in a short time the bird species in the Ve Vung dam area will disappear. People will no longer be able to see the scene of tens of thousands of birds flying back and hovering over the Ve Vung lake every afternoon. Although only receiving partial financial support of 400,000 VND/month from the Forest Protection Department, Mr. Luong guards and protects the flock of storks to stay here. In addition to protecting the flock of birds, Mr. Luong also takes care of and protects 180 hectares of chestnut trees and plants over 40 hectares of acacia trees around Ve Vung Lake, creating a variety of forest trees for the lake area.

Tourists canoe to visit "stork island".

In 2013, the provincial People's Committee approved a 96-hectare special-use forest area of ​​the Ve Vung reservoir in Kim Thanh commune (mainly planted on 5 islands on the lake). People in the surrounding area are more aware of protecting and developing forest capital. Mr. Thai Van Que, Head of Trai Mat hamlet, Kim Thanh commune, added: The islands on the lake are all covered with green trees. To protect the forest, for many years now, the hamlet has had a convention and village covenant on forest protection and protection of the stork flock. Every month, the hamlet sends a coordinated force to patrol and control the forest. If any suspicion is detected, it is reported to the forest rangers for timely handling or reported to the commune authorities for making a record of punishment. Thanks to the good forest protection work of the community, the forest in Ve Vung has not been cut down or burned for charcoal for many years. To prevent erosion on the islands and increase the habitat for storks, the 126 households in Trai Mat hamlet have planted over 600 bamboo bushes on the islands and over 100 hectares of raw material forests. This is a source of economic development and contributes to preventing erosion and stabilizing the water source of Ve Vung lake.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dan - Chairman of Kim Thanh Commune People's Committee said: Kim Thanh Commune currently has 1,400 hectares of forest, in addition to the planned area of ​​96 hectares of special-use forest, the commune also protects well over 200 hectares of Ve Vung upstream protection forest. In addition, communes around the lake such as Tay Thanh, Quang Thanh, Dong Thanh have newly planted over 2,000 hectares of raw material forest, creating a green belt surrounding the entire Ve Vung lake area. Thanks to that, the vegetation in Ve Vung lake is increasingly rich, contributing to regulating the climate for the entire western region of Yen Thanh, providing irrigation water for over 2,000 hectares of rice in Kim Thanh, Quang Thanh, Phuc Thanh, Hoa Thanh, Van Thanh communes... Not to mention the freshwater fish of all species thriving with an estimated yield of over 150 tons, with many grass carp weighing over 30 kg. In addition to the birds and storks that come to live, there are also rare flamingos and herons... In recent years, tourists from near and far have known Ve Vung Lake as a familiar address. In addition to the pleasures of cruising, sightseeing, mountain climbing, fishing, immersing themselves in the fresh freshwater..., visitors can also enjoy grilled fish, sip a cup of country wine and enjoy the folk songs and folk songs. Based on the planning of the eco-tourism area, Mr. Phan Trong Luong - the owner of the lake has also spent billions of dong to invest in motorboats and ecological restaurants by the lake to attract tourists.

In Lang Thanh commune, which few people know about, there is an ancient Lim forest of over 100 hectares (in 2013, the Provincial People's Committee planned a special-use forest). The largest Lim tree here has a diameter of 0.8 to 1 meter. According to the village elders, this Lim forest is hundreds of years old, through the ups and downs of history, war, and fire, but still grows green and flourishing. Currently, this forest annually attracts a large number of tourists to visit.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Thuc - Head of Yen Thanh Forest Protection Department added: The exciting thing is that the Provincial People's Committee has issued Decision No. 6220/QD-UBND Nghe An, dated December 20, 2013 on approving the "Planning for conservation and development of special-use forests in Nghe An province until 2020". In which, Yen Thanh alone is planned to have 1,019 hectares including: Xuan Thanh 500 hectares, Lang Thanh 112 hectares, Kim Thanh 94 hectares, Bac Thanh 147 hectares... After the official decision on special-use forests is made, the protection work will be more favorable.

The forest area will be handed over to relevant units for management, the forest rangers are the spearhead of forest protection. Well-protected special-use forests contribute to: Protecting biodiversity and developing rare animal and plant genetic resources. Protecting and developing forests associated with historical and cultural relics and scenic spots. From there, the district plans to build works to serve, collect and preserve forest flora and fauna, forest models with scientific research value, historical landscape value for scientific research, ecotourism. Not to mention improving the lives of people in the region through forestry, agricultural activities, tourism services, environmental services...

Van Truong