Xuan Lien Nature Reserve officially becomes National Park

Khu Bảo tồn thiên nhiên Xuân Liên chính thức trở thành Vườn Quốc gia- Ảnh 1. — Xuan Lien National Park is known as a "treasure" of biodiversity in Vietnam.

Journey from Reserve to National Park

Xuan Lien National Park has a total management area of over 25,000 hectares, of which over 23,800 hectares are special-use forest land. Xuan Lien National Park is located in the transitional area between the two ecological regions of the Northwest and North Central. This special geographical location has created a diverse and rich ecosystem, becoming an important conservation center of the region.

Xuan Lien National Park is known as a "treasure" of biodiversity in Vietnam. According to surveys by scientists , this area records 1,228 species of higher plants belonging to 659 genera, 181 families, including 56 rare plant species, with 11 species listed by IUCN and 39 species listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Regarding animals, the park has 1,811 species belonging to 241 families, 46 orders, with 94 endangered and rare species, including 34 globally threatened species according to the IUCN Red List and 56 species in the Vietnam Red Book.

A special highlight of Xuan Lien National Park is the existence of the Roosevelt Mang (also known as Pu Hoat Mang), a species that was thought to have been extinct in the world for nearly 100 years, since 1929. The discovery and identification of this species through DNA analysis in Xuan Lien marked a turning point in conservation work, making the Roosevelt Mang endemic to this area. In addition, the park is also the world's largest distribution of white-cheeked gibbons with 62 groups, about 200 individuals, and is home to more than 224 gray langurs, along with many other primates such as monkeys and lorises.

In addition, Xuan Lien also recorded 10 new species for science, including 4 endemic species of the region (Xuan Lien oak, Xuan Lien magnolia, Xuan Lien asphodel, Xuan Lien cypress) and 6 endemic species of Vietnam and the region. The park also owns more than 5,000 hectares of primeval forest with many ancient trees hundreds to thousands of years old, notably species of po mu, sa moc dau, vu huong, sen mat, re ginger, tau mat quy, do xanh. In particular, two po mu and sa moc dau trees over 1,500 years old have been recognized as Vietnam Heritage Trees.

In addition to conservation, Xuan Lien National Park also focuses on research and development of rare genetic resources of high economic value. The park management board has been successful in conserving and developing orchid species such as hairy slipper orchid, cloud slipper orchid, pink narcissus, as well as medicinal species such as wild custard apple and seed-eating giổi. Notably, Xuan Lien is the first place in Vietnam to successfully propagate two species of northern cloud slipper orchid and hairy slipper orchid using in vitro technology, opening up great potential for conservation and economic exploitation of rare plant species.

In addition, the park also conducts research and development of animal species such as palm civets and palm civets, contributing to the conservation of gene sources and creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities.

Xuan Lien National Park plays an important role in protecting the headwaters of the Cua Dat irrigation and hydropower system. With more than 3,000 hectares of lake surface in the park area, the water flow reaches over 1.5 billion m³, this system provides irrigation water for 86,000 hectares of agricultural land and domestic and industrial water for the downstream area of Thanh Hoa province. Forest protection in Xuan Lien not only helps regulate water resources but also minimizes erosion and flooding, protects the ecological environment and ensures a stable water source for production and life.

According to Mr. Tran Quang Bao, Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), upgrading Xuan Lien Nature Reserve to the 35th national park of Vietnam is a great achievement, demonstrating the continuous efforts in nature conservation and biodiversity. Mr. Bao suggested that the Park Management Board establish a system of periodic biodiversity investigation and monitoring to build an accurate database, serve management and research work, and support state agencies in making timely decisions.

With the potential of natural landscapes, Mr. Bao suggested that Xuan Lien should develop high-quality tourism products, contributing to increasing income for the park’s staff and workers and enriching the locality. He also said that the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection will establish a connection mechanism between national parks across the country, creating conditions for sharing experiences and initiatives in management, protection, scientific research, tourism development and environmental education.

Do Huong

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/khu-bao-ton-thien-nhien-xuan-lien-chinh-thuc-tro-thanh-vuon-quoc-gia-102250426075124822.htm