Khanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources & Environment in cooperation with Nha Trang University held a workshop on biodiversity and conservation...
Khanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources & Environment in cooperation with Nha Trang University held a workshop on biodiversity and conservation on May 21 with the participation of many organizations and individuals in response to the Day for Biological Diversity (May 22). The high biodiversity as well as conservation in Khanh Hoa was confirmed at the event.
High biodiversity confimed
Khanh Hoa has many bays, lagoons and swamps, over 200 coastal islands and islets, creating favorable conditions for the diversity and variety of marine environment. Coral reef is mostly distributed in 3 places, namely Van Phong, Nha Trang and Cam Ranh with a total estimated area of more than 3,000ha. Thuy Trieu Swamp and Van Phong Bay have approximately 600ha of sea grass carpet, playing a vial role in biology of swamps and bays. Besides, recently, many rare species such as Dugongidae, sea turtles, hawksbill sea turtle, Charonia, Nautilus pompilius and so on have been found in Khanh Hoa, confirms PhD. Vo Sy Tuan, Former Director of Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography.
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Khanh Hoa is rich in species of flora due to biodiversity such as mangrove forest, coastal sand dune forests, tropical woodland, moss forests, etc. Therefore, there are a variety of rare species of flora in Khanh Hoa with 100 species found such as Fokienia, Paphiopedium micranthum, Pinus krempfii, Rhododendron simsii, Afzelia xylocarpa, Dalbergia rimosa, etc. The high biodiversity of fauna is found Khanh Hoa. Hon Ba Natural Reserve alone is home to 429 kinds of animals, including 56 rare fauna such as Nomascus annamensis, Pygathrix nigripes, Rheinardia ocellata, Buceros bicornis, etc, according to Engineer Tran Gioi, Khanh Hoa Nature & Environment Protection Branch.
Preservation boost mentioned
In spite of biodiversity confirmation, attendants have agreed that biodiversity in Khanh Hoa has faced challenges and risks of degradation or even exhaustion due to rapid urbanization, forest destruction, sea invasion, destructive fishing, etc. However, no effective solutions have been proposed.
PhD. Vo Sy Tuan warns of the risks of degradation in ecosystem, over exploitation, pollution, sea and land landscape degradation in Khanh Hoa. Mangrove forests have decreased from 950 ha in 1975 to 17ha in 2014. Tuan Le Sonneratia in Van Ninh District have almost disappeared due to construction of urban areas, roads leading to aquaculture farms. The average coral reef coverage rate has much declined compared with the 1990s. In the framework of the workshop, the Department of Natural resources & Environment in cooperation with Nha Trang University has held an exhibit of nearly 100 photos of bio-diversity in Khanh Hoa and some studies and successful products of the university such as Ophiocordyceps sinensis, marine-derived fungus, production of black garlic, plant cell culture and so on.
Nha Trang Bay Management Board has implemented some law enforcement contents on inspection and supervision and coordinated with other branches and localities in education, propaganda and protection. However, there are some barriers and difficulties related to management, cooperation and information transfer about projects related to the bay ecosystem; the sharing of scientific research results, lack of functional subdivision map, etc, says MA Dam Hai Van, Director of Nha Trang Bay Management Board.
The delegates suggested the province should establish marine protected areas that are protected against fishing; mobilize businesses and communities to participate in conservation effort; use genetic research results in conservation; develop deep-sea farming; evaluate ocean-land interaction; strengthen the planning of protected area development; boost education and propaganda, etc.
Khanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources & Environment will collect and send ideas and suggestions at the workshop to Khanh Hoa People’s Committee to enhance the biodiversity protection and preservation, according to Nguyen Thi Nguyet Ha, Chief of Khanh Hoa Nature & Environment Protection Branch, Khanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources & Environment.
V.Lac
Translated by N.T
