Proposing Xuan Thuy National Park as an ASEAN Heritage Park

In a document dated September 18, the People's Committee of Nam Dinh Province directed Xuan Thuy National Park to coordinate with relevant units to develop documents and ensure compliance with the procedures and instructions of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Nam Dinh Provincial People's Committee assigned the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, and relevant units to guide Xuan Thuy National Park to deploy in accordance with regulations. Being recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Park has great significance for the conservation of ecosystems with biodiversity; raising awareness and promoting protective actions of the government and the people.

Xuan Thuy National Park is located at the Ba Lat estuary, on one side is Giao Thuy district (Nam Dinh) and on the other side is Tien Hai district (Thai Binh). It is a wetland ecosystem in the estuary area. In 2003, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 01/2003/QD-TTg on converting Xuan Thuy Wetland Conservation Area into Xuan Thuy National Park, with a total area of 7,100 ha, including 3,100 ha of floating land and 4,000 ha of flooded land.

Previously, in 1989 Xuan Thuy National Park joined the Ramsar Convention (Convention on the conservation of wetlands of special international importance as waterfowl habitats, signed in the city of Ramsar, Iran in 1971, with the aim of preserving and wisely using wetlands, signed in the city of Ramsar, Iran in 1971, with the aim of conserving and wisely using wetlands through local, regional, national actions and international cooperation to contribute to achieving sustainable development goals worldwide). By 2004, the Park was recognized by UNESCO as the core area of the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve.

The characteristics of the Park are the vast number of tiger parrot trees and vast lagoons with many aquatic species. This is also a "bird station" for migratory birds every year. “ASEAN Heritage Garden” is meant as a nature and biodiversity conservation title of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. On December 18, 2003, ASEAN Environment Ministers jointly signed the ASEAN Declaration on the Establishment of Heritage Parks, with the purpose of cooperation and comprehensive conservation of important and unique natural ecosystems of the region. The recognition of the title of ASEAN Heritage Park makes an important contribution to the conservation of ecosystems with biodiversity in each country and region. At the same time, it contributes to raising awareness of biodiversity conservation among people in ASEAN countries.

Up to now, Vietnam has 10 "ASEAN Heritage Parks", including Hoang Lien National Park (Lao Cai, Lai Chau), Ba Be National Park (Bac Kan), Vu Quang National Park (Ha Tinh), Bai Tu Long National Park (Quang Ninh), Ngoc Linh Conservation Area (Kon Tum), Chu Mom Ray National Park (Kon Tum), Kon Ka Kinh National Park (Gia Lai), U Minh Thuong National Park (Kien Giang), Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park (Lam Dong), Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park (Tay Ninh).

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nam Dinh province has just issued a written response to Giao Thuy district police on determining the forest area in Xuan Thuy National Park that was violated during the incident of sand suction for beach improvement and cutting down of casuarina trees and mangrove trees in the Con Lu area located in the ecological restoration subdivision of Xuan Thuy National Park.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Nam Dinh province said, according to the report of Xuan Thuy National Park, Giao Xuan Hai Forest Ranger District, Forest Protection Department; minutes of field inspection in the Con Lu area in the administrative management area of Giao Lac commune (adjacent to Giao Xuan commune, located in the ecological restoration subdivision of Xuan Thuy National Park) show that, as of August 23, 2023, in Xuan Thuy National Park, 6,804 square meters of land with mangrove trees and naturally regenerated casuarina trees were cut down (including about 500 mangrove trees and 130 casuarina trees); 5,605m2 of alluvial land has been arbitrarily renovated. The entire above area belongs to the ecological restoration subdivision of Xuan Thuy National Park.