As the first rays of sunlight begin to shine down on the poetic Han River, flocks of storks spread their wide wings across the blue sky. The positive signal indicates that the wetland ecosystem of the Han River is increasingly being rejuvenated, with various species of flora and fauna flourishing, transforming the city's environment into a serene and peaceful landscape.

When the wetland ecosystem is restored, hundreds of flocks of storks frequently return to Green Island to live. Photo: Doan Luong

Thanks to improvements in residential wastewater and the cleaning of waste along the Han River, a wetland ecosystem stretching from the Tran Thi Ly Bridge to the Tuyen Son Bridge is gradually being restored. This not only contributes to making the living environment increasingly fresh but also creates a green space likened to a “lung” in the heart of the city.

Joyful signal from flocks of storks

According to a report from the People’s Committee of Hai Chau District, the area of Green Island and the wetland extending from the Tran Thi Ly Bridge to the Tuyen Son Bridge previously covered about 100 hectares, however, it is now about 30 hectares. This area hosts mangrove species along with resident and migratory birds, including 8 species of storks and 2 bird species listed in the world’s red list.

Directly involved in counting and conducting in-depth research on storks around Green Island, Master’s degree holder Pham Tai Minh, working for Teaching and Research Team of Environmental and Biological Resources- University of Da Nang (UD), stated that among the 8 species of storks found here, there are large storks, cattle egrets, small egrets, and others.

When the water in the upper Han River basin is kept clean, and the necessary scientific parameters of the water source remain within permissible limits, aquatic organisms can thrive. This provides a year-round food source for the storks and other birds. With this positive change, it is expected that in the future, more stork species will continue to migrate to the wetland areas along the Han River.

As an advisor to the project on Building a Plan for the Protection and Sustainable Development of the Wetland Ecosystem along the Han River, Associate Professor Dr. Vo Van Minh, Rector of the University of Science and Education- UD, noted that the Han River historically hosted many mangrove trees such as Sonneratia and Rhizophora. In the past 20 years, urbanization has led the city to construct embankments along both sides of the river, yet the wetland ecosystem from Tran Thi Ly Bridge to Tien Son Bridge remains. Preserving this ecosystem will protect the urban area along the river from erosion and restore mangrove trees, creating a buffer zone that helps mitigate flood pressures and natural disasters.

“The wetland ecosystem is a confluence of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, thus having a high biodiversity, including shrimp, fish, and various other flora and fauna, which absorb pollutants. Plants absorb nitrogen, phosphorus, and CO2, contributing to climate change mitigation as population density and vehicle numbers increase. The restoration of the wetland ecosystem holds significant meaning as migratory flora and fauna return, making the city more friendly. This signifies a livable city in the true sense where all people and flora and fauna coexist harmoniously. When storks choose to live around Green Island, it indicates that the environment here is in good condition,” emphasized Associate Professor Dr. Vo Van Minh.

The importance of exploiting and protecting the wetland ecosystem

As early as 2020, the Da Nang People’s Committee issued Decision No. 3410/QD-UBND approving the Biodiversity Conservation Project until 2030, with a vision to 2045, with a focus on wetland areas and high biodiversity value areas outside conservation boundaries. Therefore, developing a management and protection plan, and sustainably developing the ecosystem of the wetland, Green Island, and along the Han River along Thang Long route, are necessary to manage, protect, and increase green spaces, making it an ecological highlight of the central district and thus improving the quality of life for residents.

Assessing the birth of the idea of building a project to Protect and Sustainably Develop the Wetland Ecosystem along the Han River by the People’s Committee of Hai Chau District, Associate Professor Dr. Vo Van Minh believed that the district leaders' attention to the wetland ecosystem is crucial in changing perceptions and practices. This aligns with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration; the global trend is now green growth and sustainable development. This project also aligns with the goal of building Da Nang into an Environmentally Friendly City for the 2021-2030 period, meeting the ecological urban orientation according to Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW of the Politburo (XII) on building and developing Da Nang to 2030, with a vision to 2045. However, effective exploitation is not simple without thorough research.

It can be seen that a favorable environment allows plants to thrive as vegetation is an indicator of natural quality. Particularly, native plants create environmental value. When the ecosystem is restored, everything will gradually develop positively. If the natural environment in the wetland area along the river is good, mangroves and other plants will grow quickly and vice versa. The resulting effect is that flocks of storks and other birds not only come here to feed but also to nest. This will create new types of tourism for the city, such as eco-tourism and community-based tourism. “Tourism development is essentially natural; where the landscape is beautiful, harmonious, and impressive, tourism can develop. When the wetland ecosystem is restored, it will develop into a tourist attraction as a very livable spot, attracting visitors to learn and explore. Essentially, tourism is a connective economy, and people travel to see, learn, and explore things different from their usual. Thus, if understood correctly, tourism will have more positive than negative impacts,” explained Associate Professor Dr. Vo Van Minh.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Vo Van Minh, the important thing is choosing the right customer market and pricing, rather than focusing on increasing numbers, as catering to tourists in a way that just meets their demands can destroy the environment. Places like this need environmentally conscious tourists who strictly obey regulations to protect the environment. By creating such methods, tourists will not only be aware of environmental protection but also respect the place they visit.

According to the Ramsar Convention- the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, wetlands are marshy areas, natural or artificial lands with static or flowing water, fresh, brackish, or saline water.

Reporting by DOAN LUONG, TRUONG AN - Translating by TRUC VY