management and conservation of special-use forests. Some national parks under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in addition to the central budget, also have easy access to funding sources from international investment organizations; while national parks and conservation areas under the province depend largely on the economic potential of the province, funding sources accessed from international organizations are very limited, depending on the administrative management mechanism of the province. Therefore, in the management system of special-use forests, there is an imbalance, there are forests that receive a lot of investment and vice versa, significantly affecting biodiversity in forest conservation work.
Regarding labor: Most national parks and conservation areas do not have staff trained in conservation and tourism, but only through short-term training courses. Therefore, knowledge about conservation and ecotourism business is limited, which significantly affects the management and exploitation of ecotourism.
Labor in national parks still depends on the payroll, civil servant and public employee recruitment according to the quota approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development or the People's Committees of the provinces. National parks are not proactive in recruiting according to actual needs at each time.
Regarding biodiversity conservation: According to the 2000 Biodiversity Law, conservation areas are classified into 4 types: National Parks, Nature Reserves, Species - Habitat Conservation Areas, Landscape Conservation Areas and no scientific research or experimental areas. Thus, there are differences in the division and use of terms between the 2004 Forest Protection and Development Law and the 2000 Biodiversity Law. One side uses "special-use forests", the other side uses "Conservation Areas". Meanwhile, according to the 2004 Forest Protection and Development Law, "Conservation Areas" are located in special-use forests and under National Parks. This creates inconsistency in usage, making management difficult.
Maybe you are interested!
-
Solutions for managing and exploiting ecotourism in Vietnam's national parks towards sustainable development: Case study of Cuc Phuong National Park - 20 -
Developing community tourism in Cuc Phuong National Park - 11 -
Solutions for managing and exploiting ecotourism in Vietnam's national parks towards sustainable development: Case study of Cuc Phuong National Park - 21 -
WTP Level of Tourists to Cuc Phuong National Park -
Summary of Scale, Structure of Tourist Amount and Revenue in Tourism Development in Cuc Phuong National Park, Cat Ba National Park and
The scale of the area of special-use forests is mostly limited within the administrative boundaries of the province, without paying attention to the area of typical ecological zones, areas with endemic, endangered, precious, rare species, etc. (meaning that no attention has been paid to the establishment of inter-boundary conservation areas), which has a significant impact on the existence of species and ecosystems. For national parks, conservation areas have not been identified.
clearly defining conservation areas and development areas, thus creating confusion in management as everywhere is strictly preserved and protected.
Regarding resource protection: The protection of special-use forest resources is currently being implemented mainly through the management board of national parks directly contracting forest protection to households living near the forest. Local authorities have not really participated directly in this process. Therefore, forest resource management has not attracted the attention of local communities, so the effectiveness of forest management and exploitation of the potential of special-use forests is not high.
3.2. Introduction to Cuc Phuong National Park
3.2.1. History of the formation of Cuc Phuong National Park
Geographical location Cuc Phuong National Park is located on the border of 3 provinces: Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Hoa Binh, located from 20 0 14' to 20 0 24' North latitude and from 105 0 29' to 105 0 44 East longitude.
Decision 72/TTg dated July 7, 1962 on the establishment of a forbidden forest with an area of 20,000 hectares marked the birth of the first protected area in Vietnam; Decision 18/QD-LN dated January 8, 1966 converted Cuc Phuong Forestry Enterprise into Cuc Phuong National Park; Decision 333/QD-LN dated May 2, 1966 stipulated the functions and responsibilities of the Management Board.
3.2.2. Functions and tasks of Cuc Phuong National Park
Cuc Phuong National Park is classified as "a protected area with comprehensive use value in terms of nature protection, scientific research, cultural relic conservation, and tourism services". Cuc Phuong National Park is defined as having the following three basic functions:
- Protect nature, preserve cultural relics
- Research and scientific research services
- Organizing tourist services
To perform the above functions, the specific tasks are as follows:
+ Manage and protect the entire natural ecosystem of the Park, all cultural, historical, archaeological resources, landscapes of special aesthetic value, and restore areas that have been impacted or destroyed.
+ Organize scientific investigation, research and experiments to serve the protection, restoration, management and reasonable exploitation of resources.
+ Provide good ecotourism services based on respecting the laws and principles of protecting and using the resources of the National Park, creating conditions for everyone to visit, study, entertain, enjoy the values of the National Park, and raise awareness of environmental protection...
3.3. Conditions for developing ecotourism in Cuc Phuong National Park
3.3.1. Natural tourism resources
. .1.1. Forest flora
Cuc Phuong National Park has 20.47 ha of forest in a total area of 22,200 ha (accounting for 92.2%). The vegetation here is evergreen tropical rainforest, Cuc Phuong is a place with a very diverse structure of species composition in the flora. With an area of only 0.07% compared to the whole country, but the number of plant families accounts for 7.9%, the number of genera 6.09% and the number of species accounts for 17.27% of the total number of families, genera and species in the whole country.
Cuc Phuong is a convergence of many migratory plant streams living together with many native species. Representatives of the native component are species in the Lauraceae , Magnoliaceae and Meliaceae families . Representatives of the migratory stream from the warm South are species in the Dipterocarpaceae family . Representatives of the plant stream originating from the North are species in the Fagaceae family .
Cuc Phuong still has a significant area of primary forest, mainly concentrated on the limestone mountains and in the central valleys of the Park. Especially in the very small area of Cuc Phuong, there are 19 species of vascular plants (Cuc Phuong Flora List 1997). Due to the special location, the species composition of Cuc Phuong forests is very rich.
In particular, Cuc Phuong has many rare endemic species listed in the Vietnam Red Book. The structure of the tropical rainforest makes Cuc Phuong a multi-layered forest with many large trees and fruits on their trunks, which are fascinating factors for tourists. The rich and attractive flora of Cuc Phuong is also reflected in the diversity of woody climbing plants, epiphytic plants, etc. This diverse and rich plant resource is not only valuable in terms of science, but also attracts tourists with admiration and respect.
. .1.2. Forest fauna
The fauna of Cuc Phuong is also very rich. According to survey data, Cuc Phuong has 9 species of mammals, 07 species of birds, 110 species of reptiles and amphibians, 6 species of fish and nearly
2,000 species of insects. Among the mammals in Cuc Phuong, many have been classified as rare such as the Clouded Leopard, the Red Leopard, the Asian Bear and many endemic species such as the Red-bellied Squirrel. Cuc Phuong has very beautiful primates that exist nowhere else in Vietnam. These are the White-rumped Langur, the Red-headed Woodpecker, and the Ground Phoenix. Therefore, Cuc Phuong is chosen as one of the ideal bird-watching spots for domestic and foreign scientists. Regarding insects, Cuc Phuong has recorded 1,800 species belonging to 200 families. Many species are and have high scientific value such as stick insects, especially the butterfly fauna with many colors.
3.3.2. Human tourism resources
. .2.1. About population
After many years of construction and development, Cuc Phuong National Park has successfully completed its assigned tasks, the forest is protected and developed. Cuc Phuong is likened to "a green oasis" in the middle of a "sea of people". Spread over 1 commune in 4 districts of the province, with a population of nearly 0,000 people, mainly the Duong ethnic group, the average density is 1 person/km2 , of which 4 communes with people located within the boundaries of the park are:
Cuc Phuong commune belongs to Nho Quan district - Ninh Binh. Thach Lam commune belongs to Thach Thanh district - Thanh Hoa.
An Nghia and Yen Nghiep communes are in Lac Son district - Hoa Binh.
The total population of the 4 communes is about 6,000 people.
Due to the population characteristics mainly concentrated in low-lying areas near traffic routes, the distribution of labor and production is also mainly concentrated here. The main ethnic groups are the Duong and Kinh people. The Duong people are mainly distributed in mountainous villages in the communes of Yen Nghiep, An Nghia, Cuc Phuong, and Thach Lam. The Duong people often live in small villages of 20-40 households in valleys with stable water sources. The Kinh people live in villages near traffic routes and towns.
The population growth rate is quite high, production and living habits are still backward. For many centuries, the Tuong people have settled and developed in the highlands and are completely independent of the Kinh people living in the plains. The Tuong people have developed their own customs and language that are different from other ethnic groups.
However, the villages near the traffic routes no longer retain their unique identities and are integrating with the Kinh people's way of life. Only a few villages in the west of the Park, in the Buoi River valley area such as Khanh village, Vooc hamlet... still retain some indigenous cultural features.
. .2.2. Cultural and historical factors
The long-standing residents here are the ethnic group of the Duong, who have their own unique and special cultural and social features. The Duong live in stilt houses on the hillsides of the villages. They have lived here for 00 years. Their main occupation is agriculture, along with weaving brocade, mainly for household use, and beekeeping for honey. Their traditional production tools are imbued with their own identity, such as water, water-powered rice mortars, bamboo-tube water channels, handmade weaving looms, wooden crossbows, etc. In addition, there are unique costumes, a typical lifestyle of many generations living together in one house, the custom of drinking rice wine, the Gong festival, and the custom of throwing con in the spring. They live honestly, closely, love each other, and are very hospitable.
Regarding historical factors: Archaeological sites contribute to increasing the tourist attraction in Cuc Phuong. Traces of archaeological sites have been found in several caves such as Nguoi Xua cave and Con Oong cave:
Ancient People Cave: In 1966, the Vietnam Archaeological Institute, in collaboration with Cuc Phuong National Park, with the help of German experts, excavated this cave. The archaeology sector has collected stone axes, bone points, stone knives, snail shells and many animal bones, animal teeth, especially discovered an ancient tomb with fossilized human skeletons that are still quite intact. Using the radiocarbon method 14, scientists have determined that these skeletons are about 7,000 years old. The dead bodies were buried in a curled-up position, surrounded by a dike, the bottom lined with crushed stone and surrounded by ochre. This is the first ancient tomb structure discovered in sites belonging to the Hoa Binh culture, recalling the early ideas of primitive religious beliefs. Ancient People Cave is located on the axis to the center of the cave, with a bridge built by trees and stairs leading up in the middle of the primeval forest, further increasing its appeal to tourists.
Con Oong Cave: discovered in 1976. The results of excavations at Con Oong site clearly show the chronological framework for the development of Stone Age culture in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
There are also other caves such as Pho ã Giáng cave, Crescent Moon cave, Thuy Tien cave.
These sites have become valuable scientific evidence, and at the same time, they are also factors that attract the interest and curiosity of visitors. Visitors can witness ancient artifacts displayed in the Park's museum and can visit the symbolic tombs in the caves.
3.3.3. Infrastructure conditions
. . .1. About traffic
Cuc Phuong National Park is 20km from National Highway 1A, from Gian Khau to Nho Quan town via Pha De road. From Nho Quan to the Park gate is about 1km, a concrete road convenient for tourists from Hanoi and the delta provinces to visit the National Park.
In addition, other inter-district roads also facilitate visitors from neighboring provinces to visit the National Park.
The inter-provincial highway from Nho Quan to Yen Thuy - Lac Thuy (Hoa Binh); the highway from Lac Son - Thach Thanh (Thanh Hoa), located on National Highway 1B (Ho Chi Minh trail) has been completed, making it easier to visit Cuc Phuong National Park.
The main route from the Garden gate to the Bong center is a wide asphalt and concrete road - , m. Passenger cars go straight to the center, where the routes and attractions in the Garden are gathered. The total length of all the sightseeing trails is about 0km.
However, during the rainy season, some sections of the road from National Highway 1A to Nho Quan town and from the administrative area to the center of the Park are flooded, making it difficult for tourists to visit. In addition, the quality of some inter-provincial roads is still low, limiting the ability to attract tourists to visit from these routes.
3.3.3.2. Electricity and water system
In the Garden gate area, there is a tap water system to ensure hygiene and safety. The Bong center area uses natural water through a tank. Cuc Phuong natural water is clean, but has a high lime content without treatment. If used for a long time, it will have a negative impact on health.
Domestic wastewater is treated by percolation and decomposition through septic tanks. Domestic waste is not classified but only crudely treated by burning or burying.
The power grid system is connected from Nho Quan to the garden gate, ensuring convenience for the use of essential facilities for the work of staff in the garden and the daily life of visitors.
In addition, the National Park has two generators with a capacity of 7 KVA and 1 KVA. One is used as a backup for the main headquarters of the Garden Gate. The other generates electricity at the Bong center in the evening (from 6:00 to 10:00 because this area is not yet supplied with electricity from the national grid).
. . . . Communication system
Currently, the electricity grid, mobile phone signal, fax and email system are equipped from the Garden gate to the Lake area (1km from the Garden gate). However, deep into the Bong center, there is no electricity grid and phone signal.
3.4. Current status of management organization at Cuc Phuong National Park
3.4.1. Management organization model
Tourism activities are completely managed and supervised by the Board of Directors. The Director is the head and directly manages all activities of the Garden. The Deputy Director assists the Director.
The main affiliated units are as follows:
- Financial Planning Department : Manage the Garden's capital and assets, advise the director on the effective use of business capital, increase rapidly, and on behalf of the Garden inspect and control the Garden's business activities.
- Department of Science and International Cooperation : The main task of this department is to carry out projects in the Park and to cooperate with foreign organizations to carry out investment projects in scientific research on species conservation.
- Forest ranger unit : The main function of this unit is to manage and protect forests.
- Center for ecotourism services and environmental education : Mainly responsible for welcoming visitors to the garden and guiding visitors. In addition, a very important job is to do propaganda work so that people and tourists are aware of the importance of conservation.
According to diagram 4, we can see that with the management model, tourism activities are completely operated and supervised by the National Park Management Board. This is a favorable condition for combining tourism activities with conservation work of the National Park. The National Park Management Board can be proactive in planning and adjusting tourism activities to suit the tasks and functions of the park, which are to conserve and raise awareness and consciousness of environmental protection.