International conservation group IUCN has proposed to extend Ha LongBay to include the Cat Ba Archipelago, an adjoining holiday resort area.
Thisis partly because it believes the bay has gone from a pristine naturalenvironment to one that is under considerable threat.
The group,the International Union for Conservation of Nature and NaturalResources, wants to establish partnerships between Government, businessand rural societies to improve environmental management of the bay inthe northern province of Quang Ninh and Cat Ba Archipelago, which ispart of the port city of Hai Phong.
Tim Badman, Director ofIUCN's World Heritage Programme, said that in 1994, Ha Long Bay wasdeclared by UNESCO as a natural World Heritage Site for its remarkablebeauty and geology.
Hai Phong city is now interested in nominating the adjacent Cat Ba Archipelago for inclusion.
Badmanprovided information on the IUCN's strategy at the first meeting of theHa Long- Cat Ba Alliance on May 5 in Ha Long city.
Badmanexpressed concern about threats to Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba which he saidwere threatened by the effects of poaching and hunting which haddepleted the numbers of the rare Cat Ba langur.
Hesaid there were dangers of creating large-scale pollution fromlarge-scale tourism and solid-waste from major urban centres, includingCat Ba town.
"There is clear support from IUCN toextend Ha Long Bay world heritage area to include Cat Ba," he said,adding that this had a good chance of success.
"We need to ensure that visitors are satisfied with the quality of their experience at Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba," he said.
US Ambassador Ted Osius told the meeting that the alliance offeredgreat potential to strengthen the value of the ecosystem.
"In the past, Chesapeake Bay in my home state of Maryland was underserious pressure and we signed the Chesapeake Bay Agreement ofstakeholders to work out solutions," he said.
"Thismeasurably improved environmental conditions in the bay as the result ofa close partnership between government, business, NGOs, and the public.Here in Ha Long and Cat Ba, you have a shared marine eco-system."
The ambassador said companies needed to be sure their activities didnot harm water resources. He suggested that the Government encourageinvestment in clean technology by cruise boats.
"Government also needs to be sure that user fees are re-invested in environmental management," he said.
Based on about 1,000 reviews from the TripAdvisor from March 2014 toMarch 2015, the IUCN presented a summary indicating that reviewersagreed that the Ha Long Bay scenery was outstanding, but 73 percent ofthem mentioned pollution. Travel enterprises including Dao Trang,manager of the Tuan Chau tourist area, shared concerns aboutenvironment.
She founded Green Halong, a group oftourism professionals operating in the Ha Long Bay area, to preserve theenvironment through sustainable tourism. The group asks tourists andcompany staff to pick up rubbish floating on the bay.
"After decades of working in Ha Long Bay, we have seen tourism bringtremendous economic benefits, but we have also seen the bay go from apristine natural environment to one that is under considerable threat,"she said.
"We wish for tourism to grow and flourish in the area, but understand that it must be managed and maintained responsibly."
Nguyen The Hung, Director of the Cultural Heritage Department underthe Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, acclaimed the initiative ofthe IUCN and the alliance's steps to protect Ha Long Bay.
"I agree that protecting the bay's environment is an urgent issue," hesaid. "It's necessary to establish strong regulations to controltourist enterprises.
"I'm glad many tourist enterpriseshelp clean the area, however there are still many cruises and boats thatdischarge sewage directly onto the sea. Local authorities shouldcoordinate with agencies such as the Ministry of Transport to inspectboat sanitary systems," said Hung.-VNA
Thisis partly because it believes the bay has gone from a pristine naturalenvironment to one that is under considerable threat.
The group,the International Union for Conservation of Nature and NaturalResources, wants to establish partnerships between Government, businessand rural societies to improve environmental management of the bay inthe northern province of Quang Ninh and Cat Ba Archipelago, which ispart of the port city of Hai Phong.
Tim Badman, Director ofIUCN's World Heritage Programme, said that in 1994, Ha Long Bay wasdeclared by UNESCO as a natural World Heritage Site for its remarkablebeauty and geology.
Hai Phong city is now interested in nominating the adjacent Cat Ba Archipelago for inclusion.
Badmanprovided information on the IUCN's strategy at the first meeting of theHa Long- Cat Ba Alliance on May 5 in Ha Long city.
Badmanexpressed concern about threats to Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba which he saidwere threatened by the effects of poaching and hunting which haddepleted the numbers of the rare Cat Ba langur.
Hesaid there were dangers of creating large-scale pollution fromlarge-scale tourism and solid-waste from major urban centres, includingCat Ba town.
"There is clear support from IUCN toextend Ha Long Bay world heritage area to include Cat Ba," he said,adding that this had a good chance of success.
"We need to ensure that visitors are satisfied with the quality of their experience at Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba," he said.
US Ambassador Ted Osius told the meeting that the alliance offeredgreat potential to strengthen the value of the ecosystem.
"In the past, Chesapeake Bay in my home state of Maryland was underserious pressure and we signed the Chesapeake Bay Agreement ofstakeholders to work out solutions," he said.
"Thismeasurably improved environmental conditions in the bay as the result ofa close partnership between government, business, NGOs, and the public.Here in Ha Long and Cat Ba, you have a shared marine eco-system."
The ambassador said companies needed to be sure their activities didnot harm water resources. He suggested that the Government encourageinvestment in clean technology by cruise boats.
"Government also needs to be sure that user fees are re-invested in environmental management," he said.
Based on about 1,000 reviews from the TripAdvisor from March 2014 toMarch 2015, the IUCN presented a summary indicating that reviewersagreed that the Ha Long Bay scenery was outstanding, but 73 percent ofthem mentioned pollution. Travel enterprises including Dao Trang,manager of the Tuan Chau tourist area, shared concerns aboutenvironment.
She founded Green Halong, a group oftourism professionals operating in the Ha Long Bay area, to preserve theenvironment through sustainable tourism. The group asks tourists andcompany staff to pick up rubbish floating on the bay.
"After decades of working in Ha Long Bay, we have seen tourism bringtremendous economic benefits, but we have also seen the bay go from apristine natural environment to one that is under considerable threat,"she said.
"We wish for tourism to grow and flourish in the area, but understand that it must be managed and maintained responsibly."
Nguyen The Hung, Director of the Cultural Heritage Department underthe Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, acclaimed the initiative ofthe IUCN and the alliance's steps to protect Ha Long Bay.
"I agree that protecting the bay's environment is an urgent issue," hesaid. "It's necessary to establish strong regulations to controltourist enterprises.
"I'm glad many tourist enterpriseshelp clean the area, however there are still many cruises and boats thatdischarge sewage directly onto the sea. Local authorities shouldcoordinate with agencies such as the Ministry of Transport to inspectboat sanitary systems," said Hung.-VNA
