Invaluable heritage on Dong Van plateau

Dong Van - Meo Vac stone plateau is being recorded to recognize as a national geopark and join the global geopark network.

The geological park profile (CVDC) is expected to be completed in 2010. This heritage value is based on paleontological values, a result of research by scientists. However, this result can be permanently lost to the situation of many people who do not understand the value of stone, which is destroying the stone plateau.

Nearly 20 years of research

The concept of CVC was born in China in 1985, understood as some or many types of geological heritage, with clear administrative boundaries. But besides geomorphological values, within the nature of the reserve, the values ​​of landscapes, biodiversity, culture, history, archeology . are particularly, especially, different from the conservation area. common nature, all those values ​​are studied and evaluated, including the role of the community to be directly conserved, exploited and used in a sustainable way.

Comparing with this concept, since 1993, the Institute of Geosciences and Mineral Science (VIGRM, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) has focused on collecting, synthesizing, studying and evaluating the current status of geological heritage conservation at Vietnam.

A corner of Dong Van stone plateau.Photo: Trung Kien

Economic doctorate (TSKT) Tran Tan Van, Deputy Director of VIGMR said that the Dong Van - Meo Vac plateau area has 80% of the limestone area, is composed of environmental conditions and development stage. Very different, very valuable in the history of earth evolution. The research results show that on the Dong Van stone plateau, there are sediments from the 800m-thick Cambrian-Ordovician limestone, dating back to 600-400 million years, Devon 300m thick limestone century, dating back 390- 360 million years, Carbon-Permian limestone is over 1.00 0m thick and Trias limestone is 400-600m thick, dating from 360-310 million years.

From these results, VIGMR has built a geological map at the scale of 1 / 200,000, showing the geological heritage of stratigraphic, tectonic and mineral structures; 1 / 50,000 geomorphological map showing geological, geomorphological heritage, cave drawings, rich set of pictures and specimens.

VIGMR also pointed out that the Dong Van stone plateau area converges on 20 karst landscapes that have both scientific meaning and value to enrich the landscape such as: Khau Vai flower garden, Lung Pu and Bai Hai rock zoo. Van Chai, Hoang Tung stone desert . and rich cave system.

Values ​​need to be preserved

The ancient geological and karst values ​​have been studied by scientists and found to be the basis for documenting the construction of Dong Van - Meo Vac plateau area to become CVC and proceeding to join the global CVDC system. . It is a sign of celebration not only for Ha Giang province, but also for the whole country to have a world natural heritage.

For people in Dong Van - Meo Vac plateau area, when being recognized as CVD, people can directly participate in the preservation of heritage by developing tourism products in the area of ​​CVDC. . TSKT. Tran Tan Van said that this is the biggest difference between CVĐC and other natural heritages.

People can directly participate in the preservation of heritage by developing tourism products.Photo: Trung Kien

However, while scientists and authorities are rushing to complete the accreditation dossier, many landscapes in this area are facing the risk of being destroyed and degraded.

Dr. Vu Cao Minh said that the legacy of the history of earth evolution in Dong Van plateau such as: Ma Le, Lung Cu, Si Phai pass (Dong Van town) is very valuable in scientific research, Education and training are falling into vulnerability due to natural conditions and especially the destruction of people.

'Landscapes and landscapes such as Khau Vai flower garden, Lung Pu Rock Garden, Van Chai seal yard . and a series of caves in this area are unconsciously destroyed by local people. The values ​​that nature takes tens of millions of years to create for people are gradually lost forever , 'Dr. Minh stressed.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Thuong, Director of Ha Giang Department of Culture and Information, said that the provincial People's Committee has just decided to set up a Dong Van Highland Geopark Center. The center has carried out the most important 8-point sea plug, dense relics to be handed over to the CPC for protection. The center is also promoting the contribution and participation of construction businesses and exploiting the tourism value of these areas.