More natural reserves protected




Ha Noi, Feb. 19 (VNA) -- The Government has given both the protection and establishment of nature reserves nationwide much attention.

The Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry has carried out many projects on building nature reserves and national parks, namely Ba Vi in northern Ha Tay province, Bien Lac-Nui Ong in central Binh Thuan province, Lung Ngoc Hoang in southern Can Tho province, Cat Tien in southern Dong Nai province and Con Dao and Binh Chau-Phuoc Buu in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

Its Forest Protection Department has coordinated with relevant agencies to protect wild animals and devise plans for establishing Ba Mun national park in northern Quang Ninh province, U Minh Thuong and Phu Quoc national parks in southern Kien Giang province.

As a result, forests in those areas have been recovered and buffer zones have been developed.

Viet Nam has 2.3 ha of special forests, helping keep forest ecological systems and wildlife gene resources intact, especially of rare and endangered animals.

The country now has more than 10.9 million ha of forest or a coverage rate of 33.2 percent. It plans to grow 220,000 more ha of forest this year, bringing forest coverage to 34 percent.--VNA