Join hands to protect the My Son forest ecosystem

Recently, the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board (Thu Bon commune, Da Nang city) coordinated with the Inter-commune Forest Protection Department of Region III and the People's Committee of Duy Nghia commune to release a rare python back into the natural environment in the My Son forest area.

Rare animals return to the natural environment

This python was discovered by local people after a prolonged period of heavy rain and floods changed its habitat, causing it to move into residential areas. Local people proactively handed it over to the Duy Nghia Commune People's Committee and the Forest Protection Department for proper handling. After receiving it, the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board coordinated to check its health and select a suitable release location, ensuring safe natural conditions for the python's growth.

Upon inspection, the python weighed about 15 kg, was 1.8 m long, and was in good health. The rangers identified it as a ground python - a species belonging to group IIB, listed as a rare and endangered forest animal that needs to be strictly protected according to the Forestry Law and Circular 27/2025/TT-BNNMT dated June 24, 2025. Not long before, on November 10, a rare golden mountain turtle was also discovered by local people while working and voluntarily handed over to be released back to My Son forest.

The representative of the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board said that receiving and releasing rare animals into the wild not only has the meaning of biological conservation but also spreads the message "protecting wildlife is protecting human life". Recently, the unit has coordinated with the Inter-commune Forest Protection Department of Region III to receive and release many rare wild animals handed over by people such as monkeys, pythons, clouded monitor lizards, mountain cuckoos... These activities contribute to preventing the risk of extinction and demonstrate the awareness of joining hands to preserve the My Son forest ecosystem - the "green lung" of the heritage area.

My Son Forest has unique biological value and is a priceless natural treasure that is being preserved and effectively promoted. Photo: HOANG OANH

Preserving forests for sustainable tourism development

My Son Special Use Forest covers an area of over 1,160 hectares, including natural and restored forests. This is home to many rare species of flora and fauna, including primates, reptiles, wild birds and many endemic tree species in the Central Central region; many species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book.

According to the survey results of the Northwest Forest Planning and Investigation Sub-Institute and the Institute of Ecology and Construction Protection, My Son Relic Landscape Protection Area recorded 238 plant species belonging to 168 genera, 82 families, 43 orders, 5 classes and 4 phyla. The diverse climate and terrain conditions create a rich and endemic flora. Notably, 157 species (accounting for 65.97%) are used in medicine. This place is also home to 28 rare plant species with high conservation value such as black oak, white ghyen, nam thanh nganh, dep thanh nganh...

Regarding fauna, the landscape forest area has 607 species belonging to 169 families, 41 orders in 6 animal classes, including 37 mammal species, 62 bird species, 97 reptile species, 43 fish species, 179 insect species and 189 benthic species. Of the 37 recorded mammal species, there are 4 rare species that need special protection, including the giant loris, Javan pangolin, civet and wild cat. Of the 97 identified reptile species, 52 species are listed in the IUCN Red List and 20 species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book 2007.

With the diverse, rich and rare flora and fauna present here, we can once again affirm the unique biological value - the priceless natural treasure in the heart of My Son valley. This is a valuable resource for developing eco-tourism, attracting tourists and contributing to educating conservation awareness.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet, Deputy Director in charge of the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board, said that the unit always aims to manage and preserve biodiversity in a sustainable manner. The protection and use of more than 1,160 hectares of forest must ensure economic, social and environmental efficiency; aiming to build a quality special-use forest with a rich ecosystem and stable gene source, meeting the criteria of a special-use forest according to the Forestry Law, while attracting visitors and serving scientific research.

The My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board released the rare golden mountain tortoise back into the natural forest on November 10. Photo: THANH NHAN

Increase forest cover to more than 96.5%

In the coming time, My Son aims to strongly develop various types of ecotourism, cultural and spiritual research and resorts. The reserve is expected to restore and improve the quality of more than 113 hectares of depleted natural forests, while developing more than 40 hectares of large timber, native and landscape trees to serve tourism and create livelihoods for people participating in forest protection. My Son also continues to build an internal forest traffic system, firebreaks, fire watchtowers, botanical gardens, nurseries, forest protection stations... aiming to increase forest cover in the Landscape Protection Area to more than 96.5% in the coming time.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/chung-tay-bao-ve-he-sinh-thai-rung-my-son-196251118211017171.htm