QuangNinh (VNA) – Environmental protection is viewed as a focal, consistent,and priority task during the management, preservation, and sustainablepromotion of the world natural heritage site of Ha Long Bay, stated head of thebay management board Vu Kien Cuong.

Tohelp Ha Long Bay remain a green, clean, and beautiful destination attractive todomestic and international visitors, joint efforts by all local residents, tourists,and the international community are necessary, he said.

Locatedoff the coast of northern Quang Ninh province, Ha Long Bay, the first worldnatural heritage site of Vietnam, was recognised by UNESCO in 1994 for itsnatural landscape value, and in 2000 for the values of natural landscape, geology, and geomorphology. It was listed as a specialnational relic site in 2009 and became one of the new seven natural wonders of theworld in 2011.

InSeptember 2023, the World Heritage Committee approved the extension of theworld heritage site’s boundary to the neighbouring Cat Ba Archipelago of HaiPhong city.

Boastingglobally and nationally outstanding values and holding many domestic andinternational titles, the bay has long been a tourist magnet in Vietnam as wellas the region and the world.

However,this heritage is now under multidimensional pressure, especially environmental issues,as its onshore areas are adjacent to many localities with fast urbanisation whilethe bay is a venue for a wide range of socio-economic activities such astourism, aquaculture, fishing, and sea transportation.

Cuongsaid realising the importance of environmental protection, the bay managementboard and local authorities have paid consistent attention to communications toenhance the local community, businesses, and tourists’ sense of responsibilitytowards the task.

Henoted that the board has stepped up the collection and treatment of waste andwastewater, as well as the control over waste sources. Waste collection focuseson two zones – along the edge of the bay to prevent waste discharged from urbanand concentrated residential areas, and in the bay’s core areas wheretourism, services, and other socio-economic activities take place.

HaLong Bay is also taking the lead in applying scientific and technologicaladvances to environmental protection, especially wastewater treatment, he said,noting that with support from Japanese experts, the waste treatment system atplaces of interest is being upgraded to use the Jokaso technology, which treatswastewater at source by Japan’s biotechnology.

Thequality of the bay’s water environment has been monitored quarterly and foundto be within the permissible level under Vietnam’s standards. Besides,wastewater from tourist vessels, attractions, and coastal residential areas hasalso been handled.

In2019, a campaign named “Ha Long Bay free of plastic waste” was launched by the baymanagement board and has received strong support from businesses, travellers,and locals to eradicate the use of single-use plastic products in tourismactivities, Cuong continued.

Inaddition, authorities have also promoted the replacement of polystyrene infloating facilities on the bay with sustainable materials. In the core zone ofthe heritage site, tens of thousands of polystyrene objects have been replaced,reaching 94%, the official said, describing this as encouraging./.