Cham Island is eligible to become a world biosphere reserve

The People's Committee of Quang Nam Province has just officially submitted to the UNESCO Vietnam Committee to guide the preparation of scientific documents on Cu Lao Cham (in Tan Hiep commune, Hoi An town) and submitted to UNESCO and the World Committee of People - Biosphere (MAB ) recognizing Cu Lao Cham Island as the World Biosphere Reserve.

Cu Lao Cham is 19 km from the ancient town of Hoi An, is an archipelago of 8 islands, large and small in the shape of a bow on an area of ​​15 km ² .

According to geologists, Cu Lao Cham is an extension to the southeast of Bach Ma - Hai Van - Son Tra granite block, formed about 230 million years ago. Through the process of volatility, tectonic fractures on granite into caves with different shapes, creating beautiful poetic scenes with dozens of pristine beaches with smooth and clean sand.

A corner of Cham Island (Photo: Hoang Duy)

About 3000 years ago, Cu Lao Cham had ancient inhabitants. In the historical process, there are many relics belonging to Sa Huynh, Champa and Dai Viet cultural systems proving the relationship between Cu Lao Cham and other countries in the region and is the stop of the merchant ship. countries on the journey of the Silk Road at sea.

Cu Lao Cham has 135 species of coral, of which 6 species were first recorded in Vietnamese waters. According to scientists, Cu Lao Cham has 947 species of creatures living on the waters around the island, including 178 marine species, more than 50 types of fish, 56 species of molluscs such as snails, pearls, many of which are in Red book of Vietnam.

At present, Cu Lao Cham (Tan Hiep commune) has about 3,000 inhabitants. Here the Cu Lao Cham MPA was born with the sponsorship of the Government of Vietnam and Denmark.

HOANG DUY