Scientists consider Ha Long Bay to be a place of high biodiversity with typical tropical marine ecosystems and a diverse range of species and genetic resources. After the devastation of Typhoon Yagi, the most noticeable change was the lush green vegetation on the islands, with many trees uprooted, broken, and crushed, leaving only bare branches that turned a withered brown color covering most of the rocky mountains. This poses a challenge in regenerating and restoring the greenery of Ha Long Bay…
The rocky mountains in Ha Long Bay were once covered in the lush green of diverse plant species.
According to information from the Ha Long Bay Management Board, scientists have so far cataloged approximately 3,000 species of plants and animals living in the unique ecosystems of the limestone archipelago here.
These include 830 species of terrestrial plants, 278 species of phytoplankton, 141 species of zooplankton, 110 species of coral, 156 species of marine fish, 71 species of birds, 53 species of mammals... Notably, there are 15 endemic plant species, and 102 species (including 21 plant species and 81 animal species) are recorded as rare and endangered, as listed in the 2007 Vietnam Red Book.
The ecosystems in the Bay are also very diverse, ranging from island vegetation ecosystems, lagoons, caves, hard and soft bottom tidal zones, sandy tidal flats, mangrove forests to permanently submerged coastal ecosystems and coral reefs. Among these, the island vegetation ecosystem is home to 830 plant species, many of which are endemic, rare, and endangered, as listed in the Vietnam Red Book. Lagoon ecosystems are a characteristic and unique type of ecosystem in the limestone islands of Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Cat Ba Island. The biological communities in the lagoons of Ha Long Bay are quite diverse; to date, over 72 species of plants and animals have been discovered living in these lagoons, including 21 species of seaweed, 37 species of mollusks, 8 species of crustaceans, 6 species of echinoderms, and several species of coral.
The cotton tree is not only endemic to Vietnam, but its blossoms and fruits also contribute to the scenic beauty of the Ha Long Bay heritage site.
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35 mooring points in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay have been publicly announced.(PLVN) – Publicizing the list of mooring points aims to further strengthen state management of ship mooring activities, ensuring the safety of vessels, especially during the rainy and stormy season, while improving the efficiency of managing tidal flats and fishing activities in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay (Quang Ninh province). Similarly, the cave ecosystem is also a unique ecosystem of the limestone sea area of Ha Long Bay. Because the living environment inside the caves is often completely different from the outside, the structure of the biological community is much poorer; however, there are still 2 species of fish and 6 species of crustaceans living in the pools of water inside the caves that have been recorded as endemic to Ha Long Bay.
The coral reef ecosystem in Ha Long Bay is also quite unique, mainly composed of hard coral species. According to a 2015 survey, there are 110 coral species in Ha Long Bay, concentrated most heavily in the areas of Cong Do, Tra San, Hang Trai, and Dau Be, with a coverage of 30-45%. Thanks to its relatively stable environment, with many caves and crevices for shelter and protection from predators, the coral reefs of Ha Long Bay are home to many different species. Among them are many endangered and rare species listed in the 2007 Vietnam Red List…
Coral reefs in Ha Long Bay. Photo provided by the source.
Biodiversity is one of the unique values of Ha Long Bay, alongside its aesthetic, geological, geomorphological, and cultural-historical values. Following Typhoon Yagi, the changes in the water environment due to heavy rains, the accumulation of materials from the coastal areas, and the impact of storm winds causing erosion and damage to the vegetation on the rocky mountains were quite evident. Therefore, to accurately assess the impacts on the vegetation, the Ha Long Bay Management Board recently invited experts from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) to survey and evaluate the current state of Ha Long Bay after Typhoon Yagi and advise on solutions for the sustainable conservation and promotion of Ha Long Bay's values.
A team of experts and officials surveyed the vegetation affected by Typhoon Yagi in Ha Long Bay. Photo provided by the unit.
The survey was conducted in several key areas. Accordingly, the occurrence of trees falling, branches breaking, and leaves falling varied to varying degrees depending on the impact of wind currents.
For example, in the rocky areas around Thien Cung Cave - Dau Go Cave or So Cave - Ba Hang Cave, 100% of the trees were affected, with 70% potentially recoverable and 30% unable to recover due to uprooting or breaking. In Vung Vieng, about 70-80% of the trees lost their leaves or broke.
Areas such as Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Cave, Co Cave, Me Cung Cave, and Soi Sim Cave have many trees with broken tops and branches, a small number uprooted, and a high chance of recovery. The Ha Long palm trees in the Ti Top Cave area are still thriving under the canopy. In the Tien Ong - Cua Van area, the trees were almost unaffected, and the 15 Ha Long palm trees there are developing normally... After the storm, many trees have now sprouted green shoots and young leaves, but it will take 4-6 months to see a full recovery.
Assessments have shown that the decline in vegetation cover on the limestone mountains will negatively impact several endemic and valuable plant species in Ha Long Bay, such as the Ha Long Cycad, Ha Long Palm, Slipper Orchid, and Cottonwood. It will also negatively affect the habitat of wildlife, directly impacting the habitats of several bird and reptile species, as well as the regular food source for the Macaca mulatta monkeys living on the islands within the heritage area. These issues raise the challenge of finding appropriate and effective solutions to mitigate the damage and restore the greenery on the limestone mountains of Ha Long Bay.
In addition, the vegetation on the islands, with its abundance of leaves and dry tree trunks, poses a high risk of forest fires, especially during the upcoming dry season. Therefore, experts recommend that in areas with a high risk of fire, such as the Dau Go - Thien Cung cave area, Sung Sot cave, and Ti Top cave, forest fire prevention measures should be implemented, including the installation of fire prohibition signs and fire safety warning signs, especially at tourist sites.
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