About Xuan Thuy mangrove forest

The alluvial plain at the mouth of the Xuan Thuy coastal river (Ninh Binh) is home to Vietnam's first protected area recognized under the Ramsar Convention - the international convention on the conservation, rational and appropriate use of wetlands…

The Xuan Thuy wetland area is known as the international "bird station".

From the early morning, Mr. Pham Vu Anh (Deputy Director of Xuan Thuy National Park) was waiting for us at the ferry dock. The Xuan Thuy National Park's speedboat slowly weaved through the bushes along the bank to leave the dock and head upstream towards the river mouth.

Along the waterway, mangrove forests, including Sonneratia caseolaris and Sonneratia longifolia, are covered with vibrant pink and purple blossoms of the Sonneratia caseolaris tree. Beneath the dense canopy are countless beehives brought in by local beekeepers and those from neighboring provinces to collect honey.

The canoe weaved its way under the mangrove canopy before heading straight out to the mouth of the Ba Lạt River, where the tidal currents were incredibly complex, with large waves that only experienced boatmen dared to navigate.

Mr. Pham Vu Anh pointed to the sandbar on the other side of the river, explaining that it was Con Vanh in Hung Yen province (formerly Tien Hai district, Thai Binh province), and on this side was Con Lu in Ninh Binh province (formerly Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province). The Ba Lat estuary is the final stretch of the Red River as it flows into the sea.

In the past, Ba Lat was an important waterway gateway to Thang Long ( Hanoi ); today, this river mouth serves as a natural boundary between Ninh Binh and Hung Yen provinces.

According to Mr. Ngo Duc Dang (Giao Minh commune, Ninh Binh province), who has been raising shrimp, crabs, and fish in this mangrove area for 30 years, every summer, the entire mangrove area is bustling with people catching crabs, mussels, and razor clams; traders flock to buy them; hundreds of beehives are brought in to collect nectar; and pond owners begin stocking their ponds with new stock for the following month.

His family invested in building a large sluice gate to draw water and natural food from the river and sea into the lagoon, so the shrimp, crabs, and fish in their 6-hectare extensive aquaculture lagoon have sweeter, more naturally flavorful meat than those raised entirely on industrial feed.

Sometimes, to get good water with plenty of nutrient-rich plankton, he had to monitor the water levels for a whole month before daring to open the sluice gates to let water flow into the pond. At those times, even a slight mistake—allowing in contaminated water, water with insufficient salinity, or water contaminated with pesticides from the fields—could kill the entire pond, rendering all the money and effort of the season meaningless.

For many years, extensive aquaculture models for shrimp, crab, and fish in the Xuan Thuy mangrove area have been a source of livelihood for local people, saving costs, producing high-quality aquatic products, and causing minimal impact or harm to the environment.

On average, each aquaculture household here earns from several hundred million to one billion VND per year. There are dozens of seafood purchasing centers in the area. Just the main center owned by Mr. Pham Van Hiet in Giao Hoa commune alone buys more than 500 kg of various types of oysters, mussels, and crabs daily, then sorts, packages, and delivers them to restaurants.

The demand for seafood in this area is very high. During the crab season, locals only need a few hours to catch about five kilograms, which they sell to traders for 110,000 to 120,000 VND/kg, earning an average of 200,000 to 500,000 VND per day, and sometimes even a million VND.

(Mr. Pham Van Hiet, Giao Hoa commune, Ninh Binh province)

Mr. Hiet said that the demand for imported seafood in this area is very high. During the crab season, people only need a few hours to catch about five kilograms to sell to traders at prices ranging from 110,000 to 120,000 VND/kg, earning an average income of 200,000 to 500,000 VND per day, and sometimes even a million VND.

The people of Giao Minh, Giao Hoa, and Giao Phuc communes have access to various types of wetlands, including tidal flats with mangrove forests, muddy tidal flats without mangrove forests, shrimp ponds, sandbars, islets, tributaries, and tidal creeks.

Each type of ecosystem has its own characteristics regarding environmental conditions and habitats, leading to specific features of the biological community.

Director of Xuan Thuy National Park, Doan Cao Cuong, shared that with its diverse ecosystem, Xuan Thuy National Park records many plant communities and 386 species of large benthic invertebrates. These are tropical species widely distributed along the western Pacific coast. In particular, Xuan Thuy National Park is considered an "international bird station" for migratory waterbirds, including many rare species such as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, the Black-tailed Straight-billed Sandpiper, the Spoonbill, and the Black-headed Duck...

With its diverse ecosystem, Xuan Thuy National Park boasts numerous plant communities and 386 species of large benthic invertebrates. These are tropical species widely distributed along the western Pacific coast. Notably, Xuan Thuy National Park is considered an "international bird station" for migratory waterbirds, including many rare species such as the Spoon-billed Sandpiper, the Black-tailed Straight-billed Sandpiper, the Spoonbill, and the Black-headed Duck.

(Director of Xuan Thuy National Park, Doan Cao Cuong)

According to Mr. Doan Cao Cuong, field surveys recorded 222 bird species, including 166 migratory species. In winter, migratory birds migrate from the north to overwinter, while in summer and autumn they migrate from the south to escape the heat. For example, herons and pelicans from southern provinces and Cambodia choose this area as a refuge during their annual migration cycle.

Notably, in March 2023, a team of conservation experts discovered the fishing cat in this area. This species is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) according to the 2007 Vietnam Red List.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuoi, from the Party cell of Hamlet 3, Giao Minh commune, said that the Party cell holds monthly meetings to evaluate the activities of local industries; organizes conferences to disseminate information on mangrove forest conservation and sustainable livelihood development. As a result, the awareness of environmental protection, wildlife conservation, and natural forest preservation among the people is very high.

Visiting Xuan Thuy National Park, a mangrove area with a history spanning hundreds of years, formed from the fertile alluvial soil of the Red River, visitors can witness the changes in the lives of coastal fishermen. This area was once one of the first 10 localities to achieve advanced new rural standards, yet it still preserves the pristine beauty of its mangrove forests.

That effort deserves to be rewarded with the title of "ASEAN Heritage Garden," which the Garden is currently in the process of being officially recognized.

LOYALTY

Source: https://nhandan.vn/ve-rung-ngap-man-xuan-thuy-post907812.html