Cat Ba archipelago - a pilot model of sustainable development

Vietnam is one of the " top " countries chosen by the United Nations and UNESCO to pilot the network of biosphere reserves, heritage sites and geoparks into sustainable learning models. strong. This honor is awarded to the world's first biosphere reserve - Cat Ba archipelago .

Nourish the biosphere reserve

The langur is one of the rare and precious animals in Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve.(Photo: LD)

As soon as the Cat Ba archipelago was recognized as the World Biosphere Reserve, Hai Phong City sent Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Standing Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee to be the Head of the Management Board and immediately issued the Regulation to " preserve and develop " this precious natural property. The planning of conservation and development of biosphere reserve is integrated into the master plan of socio-economic development of Cat Hai district until 2010 with a vision to 2020.

The management has kept close relationships with international organizations, enabling international organizations to implement conservation programs and projects in the area. Model of ecological village in Xuan Chim commune as a typical for ecotourism development and community tourism.

Aquaculture is closely linked to marine environmental protection through planning to arrange rafts, fish cages in the sea, transfer of reproductive technologies and cultivating cultivars, raising fish and mollusks to Filtering water to improve the environment, cultivating seaweed with high economic value, garbage collection .

Forests are zoned for regeneration, promotion of natural forest regeneration and afforestation in the buffer zone. Restoring orange growing in Gia Luan commune, producing safe vegetables and growing bamboo shoots, medicinal plants, and exploiting pine resin in the buffer zone are becoming economic models suitable for local people's life.

Particularly, the two communes of Xuan Dan and Viet Hai are testing models of Economic-Ecological villages .

Revealing the potential to become a model

The idea of ​​viewing biosphere reserves as a pilot laboratory for sustainable development has just emerged at the 19th Plenary Meeting (October 2006) of the International Coordinating Council for Reserves. Biosphere of the Human and Biosphere Program (MAB).

In this trend, the Management Board of the Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve defines six major objectives and content.

- First of all , improve the capacity of conservation and management of forest protection and biodiversity for Cat Ba National Park and Cat Hai District Forest Protection Department.

- Secondly , build biosphere databases, set up programs and plans for conservation of endemic and rare animals such as Golden-headed Langur / Cat Ba Langur, Son Duong, porcupine, tall sand and leopard. fire.

- Thirdly , promote planting and regeneration activities in accordance with ecology.

- Fourthly , preserving and embellishing natural landscapes and approaching world natural heritage criteria.

- Fifth , build a model of economic development quality to convert production towards environmental friendliness, improve people's income.

- Friday , raising awareness of conservation and protection of nature in the community.

The Cat Ba Biosphere Reserve is " revealing the potential to become a Model for both the region and the world " as commented by Dr. Natajaran Ishwaran, Secretary General of UNESCO / MAB Paris.