Towards sustainable green economic development.

Quang Ninh is not only known for its great potential in marine economy and tourism, but also for its rich natural ecosystem with many unique biodiversity values. In its sustainable development orientation, the province is focusing on harmonizing the exploitation of economic potential with environmental protection, considering nature conservation as an important foundation for promoting green growth and improving the quality of socio-economic development.

Preserving biodiversity and promoting natural values.

Blessed with both forests and seas, Quang Ninh is considered one of the provinces with the most diverse ecosystems in the country. The Quang Ninh sea area is home to many valuable species, creating favorable conditions for the development of aquaculture and fisheries. Currently, the province boasts the World Natural Heritage site of Ha Long Bay, along with three nature reserves: Bai Tu Long National Park, Yen Tu National Forest Nature Reserve, and Dong Son - Ky Thuong Nature Reserve. These are considered the "green lungs" and also preserve the province's exceptionally valuable biological resources.

Ancient Trâm trees in the Minh Châu island area (Bái Tử Long National Park).

According to statistics, Quang Ninh currently has more than 7,300 species, genera, and families belonging to 19 phyla of 3 kingdoms: animals, plants, and fungi; along with 19 main ecosystems, including many endemic and endangered species listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Each conservation area has its own unique characteristics in terms of ecosystem and rare genetic resources. Yen Tu National Forest currently preserves standard samples of the ecosystem of Northeast Vietnam with 206 species of vertebrates, more than 20 rare species, and nearly 1,000 species of vascular higher plants. Notably, it has 144 trees recognized as Vietnamese Heritage Trees, creating unique ecological and landscape value.

Besides Yen Tu, the Dong Son - Ky Thuong Nature Reserve is also considered a typical example of the low-mountain evergreen closed forest ecosystem in Northeast Vietnam. This area currently boasts 485 species of vascular plants and 249 species of animals, including over 30 rare species listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Meanwhile, Bai Tu Long National Park is one of the few national parks in Vietnam that has both terrestrial and marine areas, with more than 1,195 species of terrestrial plants and animals and about 1,220 species of marine life, creating a rich ecosystem with significant research value.

In particular, the Minh Chau Island area within Bai Tu Long National Park still preserves a rare and valuable forest of ancient Melaleuca alternifolia trees, comprising 272 trees over 150 years old and more than 2,000 trees under 150 years old. Of these, 150 trees meet the criteria for recognition as Vietnamese Heritage Trees. In addition, there are many Melaleuca alternifolia trees over 300 years old and Melaleuca leucadendron trees around 500 years old growing on the rocky and mountainous islands. These "witnesses" of time not only possess value in terms of biodiversity but also hold special significance for research and conservation of rare genetic resources.

To ensure the continued preservation and sustainable development of these natural values, Quang Ninh province has implemented many comprehensive solutions in planning, technology, and law. The province has developed numerous environmental protection policies in each stage; planned to move aquaculture activities out of the buffer zones and adjacent areas of conservation areas and heritage sites; and strengthened measures to protect the ecosystem and species prohibited from exploitation in the strictly protected area of ​​Ha Long Bay heritage site.

In addition, the province has approved a project to review and determine the current status of resources in the Ha Long Bay Landscape Protection Special Forest Area, encompassing approximately 2,500 hectares of natural rocky mountain forest, in order to update forest management records and serve the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable development of ecotourism . Alongside maintaining and effectively managing Bai Tu Long National Park, Dong Son - Ky Thuong Nature Reserve, Yen Tu National Forest Reserve, and many other special forest areas, the province is also researching the establishment of the Quang Nam Chau Habitat Conservation Area and the Dong Rui Wetland Conservation Area; while also strictly protecting the primary red mangrove and cypress forests in Co To and the mangrove forest in Van Don. These solutions are making a significant contribution to preserving biodiversity and protecting valuable natural resources for today and future generations.

Many solutions for preserving rare genetic resources.

To preserve and develop genetic resources, the province has issued many important documents, most notably the Provincial Genetic Resource Conservation Project for the periods 2015-2020 and 2021-2025. Simultaneously, Resolution No. 13-NQ/TU dated April 28, 2023, of the Provincial Party Committee and the Action Program of the Provincial People's Committee have clearly defined the task of establishing a demonstration area for introducing, transferring experimental models of applied science and technology, and storing genetic resources in Tien Yen, and have issued policies for maintaining and preserving genetic resources in the province.

Many bird species listed in the Vietnamese Red Book are found in the Quang Nam Chau forest (Quang Duc commune, Duong Hoa district).

During the 2021-2025 period, Quang Ninh province will continue to implement 19 tasks to conserve rare and valuable genetic resources, including 7 forestry genetic resources, 7 medicinal plant genetic resources, 2 aquatic genetic resources, and 3 important livestock genetic resources serving agriculture such as Tien Yen chicken, Mong Cai pig, and Huong pig. Currently, many tasks are being implemented to investigate, evaluate, and research mechanisms to support the preservation and conservation of genetic resources such as: Chẹo mushroom, Gù Hương tree, Re Hương tree, short-leaved bamboo pine, Dang Sam tree, Podocarpus tree, and brackish water worm in Dong Trieu ward. In addition, the province is also focusing on implementing state-level genetic conservation tasks such as research and development of the Thanh Mai tree genetic resource, restoration of the Thanh Lan orange variety, and conservation of native orchid species.

Mr. Nguyen Van Bong, Acting Head of the Provincial Forest Protection Department, said: Along with the above solutions, Quang Ninh province has organized the planning and implementation of biodiversity conservation plans until 2020, with orientations to 2030; and plans for three types of forests until 2025, with orientations to 2030. Functional agencies have carried out inventory and protection of approximately 122,656 hectares of natural forest, 19,686 hectares of mangrove forest, 850 hectares of seagrass, and 140 coral reefs. As a result, the forest cover rate of the entire province has increased from 38% in 2000 to 55.06% currently.

The achievements in biodiversity conservation are making a significant contribution to preserving Quang Ninh's unique ecosystems, while also creating a foundation for the sustainable development of ecotourism, marine economy, and green economy.

Thu Trang

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/huong-toi-phat-trien-kinh-te-xanh-ben-vung-3408305.html