The Cat Tien Natural Park - part of the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve in the southern province of Dong Nai. (Photo: quehuongonline.vn)
DongNai (VNS/VNA) - Authorities in southern Dong Nai province want toconsult with UNESCO over construction of a bridge and road in Dong Nai BiosphereReserve.
Theplanned Ma Da Bridge and National Highway 13C will run through approximately40km of the reserve, which is considered the ‘green lungs’ of the southeast.
Officialsare concerned over possible effects it will have on the ecosystem and habitatof wildlife.
TheNational Committee for the Programme on Man and the Biosphere of Vietnam(MABVN) have recommended the bridge not be built, saying it would cause seriousimpacts on the core area and the conservation of three national historicalrelic sites.
Overthe years, the province has protected forest areas, planted new trees and rareanimals have re-appeared.
Ifthe bridge is given the greenlight, UNESCO could use their powers to revoke thetitle of ‘World Biosphere Reserve’.
Afterthe province receives feedback from UNESCO, it will report to theGovernment and the Prime Minister for further consideration.
Thebridge spanning the river of the same name, will be part of Provincial Road 753upgrade and expansion project with a total investment of 655 billion VND fromthe State budget.
Lastmonth, the provincial People’s Committee of neighbouring Binh Phuoc proposedthe Government allow developing the Ma Da Bridge project to connect theprovince with Dong Nai.
Onceopened, the bridge can shorten the distance between Binh Phuoc province and LongThanh International Airport project by over 60 km and help connect the CentralHighlands provinces with Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port.
Underthe plan approved by the Prime Minister in September last year, Provincial Road753 will be upgraded into National Highway 13C running from Dong Xoai city in BinhPhuoc province to Dong Nai province’s Trang Bom district.
TheDong Nai Biosphere Reserve was expanded and renamed (from Cat Tien) in 2011 dueto its rich biodiversity and cultural values.
Itcovers an area of almost one million ha and is situated in the centre of theSouth-east region of Vietnam, only 70km from Ho Chi Minh City and 40kmnorth of Bien Hoa city.
Thecore zone covers over 170,000 ha and consists of three protected areas- Cat Tien National Park (72,000 ha), Dong Nai Nature Reserve (68,000 ha)and the Inland Wetland Protected Area of Tri An - Dong Nai (32,400 ha)./.
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The Cat Tien Natural Park - part of the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve in the southern province of Dong Nai. (Photo: quehuongonline.vn) 
