Xuan Thuy National Park: Towards the goal of becoming an ASEAN Heritage Park (Part I)

Xuan Thuy National Park is home to many rare bird species. (Photo: Tran Hung)

Part I: Outstanding ecological values

Xuan Thuy National Park is located in the southeast of Giao Thuy district with a total area of ​​15.1 thousand hectares, of which the core zone accounts for 7,100 hectares and the buffer zone is 8,000 hectares, located in 5 communes: Giao Thien, Giao An, Giao Lac, Giao Xuan, Giao Hai. This is a typical coastal estuarine wetland with natural terrain formed according to the law of deposition and erosion of the estuary of the Northern Delta. Xuan Thuy National Park is the first coastal wetland in Vietnam to be recognized as a Ramsar site in 1989. The main types of wetlands in Xuan Thuy National Park include: tidal flats with mangrove forests; tidal flats without mangrove forests; shrimp ponds, sandbanks on the outer edge of Con Lu and sandbanks blocking the river mouth - Con Xanh, Con Mo, tributaries and tidal creeks; estuarine waters (limited by the outer shore of Con Lu, Con Xanh). Each type of ecosystem has its own characteristics in terms of living environment, habitat... leading to characteristics of biological communities. In Xuan Thuy National Park, 203 species of vascular plants belonging to 145 genera, 65 families, including 14 main mangrove species, etc. have been recorded. This is the habitat of 202 species of higher plants; the vegetation has 7 biomes; 112 species of floating plants have been recorded; 110 species of floating animals have been recorded; 385 species of invertebrates; 155 species of fish; 427 species of insects...

In particular, Xuan Thuy National Park is an important stopover and wintering place for migratory waterfowl. The results of field surveys and research projects have recorded 222 bird species belonging to 42 families of 12 orders; of which 166 are migratory birds. Among the rare and precious species prioritized for protection in Xuan Thuy National Park, the bird group that receives the most attention for conservation is the migratory bird group. There are 2 types of migratory birds: migratory birds from the North to winter, and migratory birds from the South to avoid the heat in summer and autumn. Therefore, Xuan Thuy National Park is an important "International Bird Station" for many rare and precious bird species, especially the habitat of many waterfowl species. This is also one of 6 important bird areas of key wetlands in the Northern Delta and is located on the East Asia - Australia migratory waterfowl flyway (EAAFP). There are also many aquatic species with high economic value such as: fingernails, honey clams, mud crabs, grouper, bald fish...

Assessing the diversity of flora and fauna in Xuan Thuy National Park, Mr. Doan Cao Cuong, Director of Xuan Thuy National Park, said: Monitoring and tracking results over the past 20 years show that the number of spoonbills fluctuates annually from 36-93 individuals/year. The number of spoonbills in 2020-2024 is 2-2.5 times higher than in 2011-2015. Especially in 2023-2024, the number of spoonbills migrating to Xuan Thuy National Park remains high at 80-81 individuals/year.

Staff of Xuan Thuy National Park regularly perform the task of monitoring hydrometeorological data in accordance with regulations. (Photo provided by the facility)

In March 2023, a group of conservation experts recorded the fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) in Xuan Thuy National Park. This species is classified by IUCN as vulnerable (VU), according to the Vietnam Red Book (2007) as endangered (EN). Fishing cats are only distributed in South Asia and Southeast Asia, they live along rivers, streams and flooded swamps. Over the past decade, the population of this species in most of its distribution areas in Asia has seriously declined. Thus, the total number of mammal species recorded in Xuan Thuy National Park to date is 9 species. The collection of previously available survey data shows that the number of known species in Xuan Thuy National Park and the surrounding area, Ba Lat estuary is 1,656 species belonging to the groups of plants, plankton, seaweed - seagrass, benthos, fish, insects, reptiles, frogs - amphibians, birds and mammals.

The diversity and abundance of flora and fauna have created outstanding ecological values ​​of Xuan Thuy National Park and demonstrated ecological integrity, representativeness, naturalness, etc. These are important criteria for Xuan Thuy National Park to be recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Park in the near future.

(To be continued)
Van Dai

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/tieu-diem/202505/vuon-quoc-gia-xuan-thuy-huong-toi-muc-tieu-tro-thanh-vuon-di-san-asean-bb16157/