On April 2, 2021, the Da Nang People's Committee issued Decision 1099/QD-UBND on the project "Building Da Nang into an Environmentally Friendly City" for the 2021-2030 period.

Functional bodies releasing wild animals back into the wild. Photo: THANH LAN

Over the past 3 years, the Da Nang Forest Protection Department and local authorities have implemented many solutions to conserve nature and restore ecosystems effectively and sustainably.

During the 2021-2024 period, Da Nang has been concentrating on environmental protection through a number of specific actions such as strengthening pollution control from waste sources, improving environmental quality, managing and sorting solid waste at source, reducing plastic waste, conserving biodiversity, and responding to climate change.

The city has proactively attracted investment resources and technical support to enhance the state management capacity of local localities.

In the city, the Son Tra Nature Reserve and Ba Na - Nui Chua Nature Reserve has high biodiversity, and many different ecosystems such as tropical rainforest ecosystems, and marine and coastal ecosystems, with thousands of rare species of animals and plants.

According to Deputy Head of the municipal Forest Protection Department Le Manh Hung, the forest area of ​​the Son Tra Nature Reserve is 2,520.30 hectares with ecosystems of evergreen broadleaf tropical rainforest, grassland, and non-flooded shrubs.

According to incomplete statistics on plants, there are a total of 1,451 plant species, belonging to 162 families, 8 classes of 4 phyla in the reserve and buffer zone. Of which, the angiosperm phylum has 1,370 species, belonging to 137 families and 2 classes; the fern phylum has 68 species, belonging to 21 families and 2 classes; the conifer phylum has 5 species, belonging to 2 families and 2 classes; and the gymnosperm phylum has 8 species, belonging to 2 families and 2 classes.

Regarding animals, there are 531 animal species, belonging to 144 families, 48 ​​orders of 5 classes. Of which, the mammal class has 45 species, belonging to 21 families, 8 orders; bird class 162 species, belonging to 44 families, 15 orders; reptile class 77 species, belonging to 17 families, 3 orders; insect class 231 species, belonging to 47 families, 12 orders; and fish class 16 species, belonging to 14 families and 10 orders.

Notably, there are many animal species listed in the Red Book such as the red-shanked douc langur and pangolin. Additionally, there are 166 endangered, precious and rare plant species in the conservation area and buffer zone. Of which, 76 species are listed in the Viet Nam Red Book 2007; and 67 species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

As for the genetic resources of endangered, precious and rare animal species in the conservation area and buffer zone, there are 58 endangered, precious and rare animal species. Of which, 28 species are listed in the Viet Nam Red Book 2007, and 31 species in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Like the Son Tra Nature Reserve, the Ba Na - Nui Chua Nature Reserve currently has thousands of rare and precious species of animals and plants, listed in the Red Book and in need of conservation. Specifically, there are 202 species of plants and 101 species of animals that are endangered, precious and rare.

In recent times, the city has proactively and actively got involved in nature conservation and biodiversity. On the other hand, the city has been also implementing many policies and strategies on biodiversity conservation. Included are the National Strategy on Biodiversity to 2030 with a vision to 2050; a project on strengthening the prevention and combat of biodiversity crimes to 2030 with a vision to 2050; the National Biodiversity Conservation Planning for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050; and an conservation programme for endangered, precious and rare wildlife species until 2030 with a vision to 2050.

The municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has recently coordinated with relevant localities and units to organize 7 propaganda classes on the Laws on Fisheries and Sea and Islands for more than 280 fishermen; as well as conducted inter-sectoral patrols on coastal fishing and illegal fishing.

They have also released 80,000 seed fish of various types on Cam Le River, and in Dong Xanh - Dong Nghe Lake in Hoa Khuong Commune, Hoa Vang District so as to regenerate, restore and protect aquatic resources in the city.

Great efforts have been made to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, prevent illegal wildlife trading and smuggling, fight forest fires on the Son Tra Peninsula, destroying 10 camps and 1,026 animal traps in forests, and rescue and release 3 wild animals back to the natural habitat.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by M.DUNG