Over the past six decades of formation and development, Cuc Phuong has continuously affirmed its mission as the "conservation capital" of Vietnam, a great "school" in the middle of the jungle, annually conveying messages and love of nature to over 150,000 responsible domestic and international tourists.
Cuc Phuong - The cradle of biodiversity
In 1962, a historic event marked an important turning point in nature conservation in Vietnam: Cuc Phuong National Park (NP) was officially established. This was not only the first national park but also a symbol of pioneering and self-reliance in efforts to protect biodiversity and sustainably exploit the multi-use value of forests.
Located about 120km southwest of Hanoi , in the territory of three provinces of Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh and Thanh Hoa, Cuc Phuong National Park possesses an extremely rich and unique tropical rainforest ecosystem. With an area of over 22,408 hectares, Cuc Phuong is home to thousands of rare species of animals and plants, many of which are endemic.
The flora of Cuc Phuong is a living museum with the presence of more than 2,234 species of vascular plants, belonging to 917 genera and 231 families. The diversity of plant species not only contributes to maintaining ecological balance but is also a valuable genetic resource for scientific research and medicinal development.
More impressively, Cuc Phuong National Park currently has 135 species of mammals, 336 species of birds, 76 species of reptiles, 46 species of amphibians, 11 species of fish and thousands of species of insects. This is the home to many rare and endangered animals in the Vietnam and world Red Book such as the white-thighed langur, clouded leopard, Asian black bear and birds such as the white-tailed pheasant.
The presence of these species not only affirms the conservation value of Cuc Phuong but also proves that the living environment is clean and the ecosystem is maintained sustainably.
From scientific research to ecotourism
Not only stopping at the conservation role, Cuc Phuong National Park has been using scientific products and conservation rescue as a foundation to exploit environmental education services, effectively promoting its multi-purpose values, becoming a model for sustainable development.
With its rich ecosystem, Cuc Phuong has become an ideal natural laboratory for domestic and foreign scientists. Hundreds of research projects on biodiversity, ecology and conservation solutions have been carried out here. Scientific projects such as: Botanical gardens, wildlife rescue and conservation programs, visitor centers, Cuc Phuong museums have become reliable interpretive addresses, affirming the organic relationship between forests and life, attracting tourists to raise awareness of nature protection and biodiversity conservation for the younger generation.
Ecotourism is one of the multi-purpose values that Cuc Phuong has effectively exploited, bringing in significant revenue for conservation and improving the lives of local communities. Tourism activities in Cuc Phuong are designed to minimize negative impacts on the environment while maximizing benefits for local people. Visitors can participate in many exciting activities, such as: trekking, bird watching, insect research, exploring prehistoric caves, or participating in environmental education programs.
In particular, the development of accommodation and catering services managed by local communities has created sustainable livelihoods for people in the buffer zone, helping them become more involved in forest protection. This model not only reduces deforestation but also turns people into true "forest guards" who directly benefit from conservation.
Overcoming challenges, creating achievements
The development of Cuc Phuong National Park has not always been smooth. Major challenges have always existed, from population pressure, poaching, illegal logging to climate change. However, with a pioneering and self-reliant spirit, Cuc Phuong has gradually overcome these difficulties.
Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh, Director of Cuc Phuong National Park shared: "Self-reliance is clearly demonstrated through the National Park's proactive adherence to the Park's sustainable forest management plan for the 2021-2030 period to develop management plans and implement conservation solutions based on internal capacity and investment from the state budget, and support from international organizations". Forest patrol, hunting control, and anti-illegal exploitation programs are carried out regularly and effectively. The application of modern technology in forest monitoring and management also contributes to improving conservation efficiency".
“One of the outstanding achievements of Cuc Phuong is the successful protection of many rare animal species from the risk of extinction. The programs to release animals back into the wild after being rescued and rehabilitated have brought new hope to many species. The close cooperation with the forest rangers, police and local authorities has created a solid network in the fight against violations of forest protection laws. The park has been focusing on ensuring forest security to try to soon establish a stable ecosystem before re-wilding some rare and endangered animal species in Cuc Phuong forest,” emphasized the Director of Cuc Phuong National Park.
Towards sustainable development and international integration
In the context of complex globalization and climate change, Cuc Phuong National Park continues to set higher goals for the future. That is to continuously improve the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation, especially endangered and rare species; promote scientific research, apply new technology in management and conservation; take conservation as the foundation for developing ecotourism in a professional, sustainable direction, closely linked with the local community.
Strictly implementing Vietnamese laws and responsibly implementing international conservation commitments, along with learning from the experiences of typical national parks around the world, will be the key for Cuc Phuong to improve its position.
"Cuc Phuong is not only a special-use forest, but also a story about the pioneering, self-reliance and aspiration to preserve nature of the Vietnamese people. From the early days of its difficult establishment to its current position, Cuc Phuong has proven that protecting biodiversity is not only a responsibility but also a path to sustainable development, bringing benefits to both people and nature. With positive values and great development potential, Cuc Phuong will certainly continue to be the pride of Vietnam, an eternal green symbol in the heart of Mother Earth" - Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh shared.
On June 12, 2025, Cuc Phuong National Park held the Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term, evaluating the achievements in the past term and setting out directions for the next term. The Congress also once again affirmed the policies and strategies that the Party Committee and the Park's Board of Directors have chosen in the process of continuing to build, innovate and affirm Vietnam's conservation position internationally.
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/cuc-phuong-thu-do-bao-ton-tien-phong-tu-cuong-khai-thac-gia-090346.htm
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