Cham Islands Eye on Nature Reserve Promotion
The management board of Cham Islands Marine Protected Area (MPA), 20km off the coast of Hoi An City has been building procedures and requirements for the establishment of the Cham Islands Nature Reserve for extended protection and conservation of natural resources on land and sea.
Deputy director of the MPA, Nguyen Van Vu said the introduction of the reserve will help expand the strict protected area of primary forest and sea under integrated management, improving the conservation of flora and fauna species on both land and water.
“It’s a longer vision plan on boosting biodiversity conservation of the MPA, and improving the natural value of the UNESCO-recognized Cham-Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve site,” Vu said.
He said previously, the MPA managing board was only assigned sea area management and protection, while the land and forest area on the Cham Islands (1,490ha) was managed by local authorities, defense units and businesses.
Vu said the establishment of the natural reserve on 23,500ha will include 1,490ha of the islands, forest and sea area under MPA management.
He said the MPA and Hoi An City’s People’s Committee will complete procedures submitting the nature reserve establishment to Quang Nam Provincial People’s Council for official approval.
“I think the debut of the Cham Islands Nature Reserve would help improve the protection of natural areas for Quang Nam and bring more value in eco-tourism, research, education, investment and ‘green’ growth in the future.
The Cham Islands-Hoi An World Biosphere Reserve, recognized by UNESCO in 2009, covers the ancient town of Hoi An and the lower area of the Thu Bon River, creating it as a unique area in central Vietnam.
The Cham Islands, which include seven islets (Lao, La, Dai, Tai, Mo, Kho and Cu) and the main Cham Island with 2,400 inhabitants, have become one of the most popular destinations in Quang Nam Province.
It’s also one of three main attractions in Quang Nam Province – along with the world heritage sites of Hoi An ancient town and My Son Sanctuary.
According to a report from MPA, more than 80% of the population switched from fishing to the eco-tourism sector.
The islands are the only location in Vietnam which have been promoting the non-use of plastic bags and ‘3R’ (reduce, reuse and recycle) programs since 2011, and fighting over-fishing, making this the first ‘zero waste and plastic waste’ destination in Vietnam.
The 2,400 inhabitants earned $3.6 million per year, 65% of which is from tourism and service of hosting about 400,000 per year.
The MPA and Hoi An allow only 3,000 tourists to visit the islands per day in order to protect the marine ecological system.
Quang Nam Province now has the Sang Thanh National Park – one of the biggest carbon stores in Vietnam, with special protection of biodiversity – two nature reserves of Ng?c Linh and the sao la, Vu Quang ox, spindlehorn, or Asian bicorn (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) (one of the world’s rarest large mammals), and an elephant conservation center in Nong Son District.
The introduction of the Cham Islands Natural Reserve will contribute to Quang Nam Province’s process of building carbon credit exports.(VietnamNews)