Cat Ba National Park: Evidence for Sustainable Development

 

After being accredited the world biosphere reserve on December 19, 2004, the Cat Ba Islands received special care from the authority of Hai Phong City. The municipality formed a management board for the biosphere reserve and issued the regulations on the conserving and developing of its invaluable natural endowments. Furthermore, the zoning for conservation and development of the biosphere has been inserted in the Cat Hai District economic and social development master plan until 2010 and toward 2020. At the same time, the Management Board for the World Biosphere Reserve is also very proactive in creating and strengthening close ties with international organisations, and facilitating international institutions to carry out their programmes, conservation projects and community aids in the region.

 

Through practical activities in the past, organisations and specialists have conducted many researches on suitable models for sustainable development and growth of the Cat Ba National Park. Particularly, an ecological village in Xuan Dam commune emerged as a byword for the development of ecological and community tourism. In parallel, the aquaculture is tied to the maritime environment protection by arranging fish-rearing cages along the seacoast, transferring technology to multiply snout otter clam, a bivalve species inhabiting warm water, for commercial purposes. 

 

The district also zones forest areas to replant and exploit trees, restores orange growing in Gia Luan commune, grows safe vegetables, bamboo shoots and medicinal herbs and exploits pine resins. The district has piloted the ecological economic village in Xuan Dan and Viet Hai communes, an initiative to create more opportunities for the economic development, improve living standards of the people and develop the world biosphere reserve. In addition, the conservation and development of rare animal and vegetative species like the golden-headed langur, white-headed langur, and Podocarpus fleuryi.

 

To further preserve and build Cat Ba into an example for sustainable development, according to the Management Board for Cat Ba World Biosphere Reserve, the current activities are to enhance the capacity of protecting and managing forests and biosphere in the Cat Ba National Park and the Cat Hai Forest Protection Authority; build up biosphere database; introduce plans to protect local and rare animals like golden-headed langur, Cat Ba langur, chamois, porcupine and red panther; accelerate forest plantation and zoning; preserve and embellish the natural scenery and adopt criteria of world natural heritages; apply a good economic development model to protect environment and improve incomes for the people; and heighten public awareness of the importance of protecting nature.

 

Cat Ba Island is on the path to becoming the best biosphere reserve in Vietnam and in the world. It is an important testimony for the sustainable development of biosphere reserves on the globe.