Rare special-use forest ecosystem
Bac Lieu Bird Garden is located about 4km from the center of Bac Lieu city (old), near Nha Mat and Quan Am Phat Dai tourist areas. This location is considered convenient for connecting local ecotourism, sea tourism and spiritual tourism routes.
Bac Lieu Bird Garden species and habitat conservation area currently has a core area of 125.8ha. Of which, the forest area is 120.6ha, including 74.4ha of natural forest and 46.2ha of planted forest; specialized land area 5.2ha. Forest cover reaches 96.46% of the core area.
The ecosystem here is formed from the natural accretion of the East Sea coastal vegetation, over time it has become a typical mangrove forest of the Mekong Delta region. Not only playing a role in biodiversity conservation, this area is also considered a "green lung" contributing to regulating the climate and balancing the ecological environment for the surrounding urban area.
Survey results show that the flora here is quite rich with 184 species, mainly mixed forests characteristic of the Southern mangrove region such as red dates, toads, tra, giá and many shrubs and vines.
Regarding animals, the conservation area records 101 species of birds, including 10 rare species listed in the Vietnam Red Book such as Indian stork, black-headed stork, gray-legged pelican, coc de, black stork, split-tailed stork, black lemongrass, swallow stork... In addition, there are 8 species of frogs, 21 species of reptiles, 96 species of freshwater and brackish water fish, and 16 species of animals.
With its special biological value, Bac Lieu Bird Garden has been included in the list of nature reserves of Vietnam and is in the planning of the national special-use forest system. This area is not only meaningful for preserving precious gene sources, but also serves scientific research, environmental education and ecotourism development.
Untapped potential
Thanks to its unique ecosystem and convenient location, Bac Lieu Bird Garden has long been considered a potential destination for ecotourism development in the locality.
In 2010, Rong Viet Investment and Tourism Company started the Bac Lieu Bird Garden eco-tourism project with a total capital of about 100 billion VND on an area of more than 130ha. The project is expected to include 12 items, including conservation areas to ensure that tourism activities do not affect the ecosystem and living environment of animal and plant species.
However, after the initial implementation phase, the project was not continued as expected. The investment in tourism infrastructure in this area has therefore not been implemented synchronously.
Currently, Bac Lieu Bird Garden mainly performs the task of nature conservation and scientific research. Visition activities are still limited, and services serving tourists have not been developed.
Meanwhile, with a large forest area and tens of thousands of bird individuals residing year-round, this area is assessed to have many conditions to develop ecotourism types such as forest tours, bird observation and nature experience.
According to many opinions, if appropriately planned and invested, Bac Lieu Bird Garden can become a typical ecological destination of the locality, contributing to diversifying tourism products and more effectively exploiting the value of available natural resources.
Bac Lieu Bird Garden - formerly known as Bac Lieu Bird Garden - formed more than a century ago on a mangrove ecosystem accreted from the East Sea alluvium. Favorable natural conditions have created habitats for many species of flora and fauna, especially wild birds, to reside and nest in large numbers.
The 2011 survey results of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Tropical Biology recorded that the area has 104 plant species and 250 animal species, including 109 bird species; 27 species listed in the Vietnam Red Book and the World Red Book (IUCN).
In the 1960s, this area was guarded and exploited by local people, and was also a place of activity for revolutionary forces. After 1975, local authorities began to implement measures to protect this natural resource area.
In 1978, when Dong Hai Farm was established, the forest area was narrowed to about 40ha. However, the forestry sector of Minh Hai province at that time proposed to keep the remaining forest to preserve the bird sanctuary.
By 1986, Bac Lieu Bird Garden was included in the list of nature reserves of Vietnam. In 1987, the Bird Garden Management Board was established directly under the Minh Hai Provincial Forest Protection Department.
Conservation work continued to be strengthened through many stages. In 1989, the Brehm Foundation (Federal Republic of Germany) supported funding for re-planning the area, digging ponds, planting flooded trees and building observation huts. In 1996, the province invested in building dykes and canal systems to restore the flooded ecosystem. In 1999, the Bird Garden conservation project was approved; in 2001, it was assigned to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for management; in 2005, it supplemented land area for conservation.
As of October 30, 2014, according to Decision 1976 of the Prime Minister on planning the national special-use forest system, Bac Lieu Bird Garden continues to be identified as a national-level nature reserve, contributing to biodiversity conservation, serving scientific research and ecotourism development.
