The southern province of Dong Thap will allocate more than 31 billion
VND for a project to sustainably preserve and develop Tram Chim
National Park from 2013-2020.
The project is focused on
preserving cajeput forests, submerged grassland and protecting rare
species of flora and fauna, especially red-headed cranes. It will also
form an improved management system in the park.
With the participation of the local community, the project will help
prevent and reduce forest fires through improving preparation and
investing in effective tools for fighting sudden blazes.
Work
began at the beginning of this year, and the park has already remarkably
reduced the number of forest fires in the dry season.
Located in Tam Nong district, Tram Chim National Park boasts rich
biodiversity that in 2012 saw it named as the 200 th entry onto the
Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
Established in 1985, the 7,313-hectare area became a national park in 1998.
The park’s plentiful green vegetation is inhabited by more than 130 species of flora.
Water life in the park is also high, with over 150 species of
freshwater fish – many of which are listed in Vietnam’s Red Book for
rare animals, including the clown feather-back fish and the archerfish.
Nearly 180 species of algae, 26 species of epifauna, 350 species of
plankton and 34 species of amphibian are also present in the park.
Tram Chim is home to 198 bird
species, including 16 that are rare, such as black-faced spoonbills,
black eagles, great-billed herons and spotted-billed pelicans. It has
been recognised as one of the most important bird sanctuaries in
Vietnam.
The impressive
diversity is largely attributable to the geography of the park, which
lies in the low-lying area of Dong Thap Muoi (Plain of Reeds) and
benefits vastly from the flood cycle generated by the Mekong River.-VNA