Representatives of Can Tho University have proposed building MekongDelta Museum of Natural History in Can Tho since the city is the centreof the delta, The Saigon Times Daily reported.
The newspaperquoted Associate Professor Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, the president of theuniversity, as saying: “Can Tho University wants to build the museum asCan Tho city is the centre of the Mekong Delta.”
Dr. Duong VanNi, deputy head of the museum project board, said the Mekong River basinis undergoing a lot of negative changes because intensive farming,expansion of agricultural land, industrial and residential areadevelopment, forest exploitation, and damming. They have caused seriousimpact on natural ecosystems and endangered a lot of species of theregion.
“Therefore, it is urgent and necessary to build a museum of natural history for the Mekong River basin,” he said.
Themuseum would comprise four main areas, with three areas for storingdata, specimens, and books, documents, movies, web pages, and one fordisplay.
Among them, data, specimens, and related documents arefor academic purposes while the display area is for public education andeven for tourism.
“Can Tho University now needs support in termsof land and investment to build the display area for the museum. Helpfrom the authorities and enterprises would be needed,” Ni said.
Apartfrom Can Tho University, which will manage, train staff and providefacilities for studying and collecting specimens and documents for themuseum, other parties expected to be involved in the project include theUS Consulate General in HCM City, colleges in the delta, ministries ofscience and technology, natural resources and environment, andagriculture and rural development, as well as 13 provinces in the MekongDelta.
For paddy alone, Can Tho University has collected andpreserved nearly 4,000 paddy species in the Mekong Delta, he added, andspecies for the museum should be collected from the delta and the MekongRiver area also.
“For example, there are around 100 riverdolphins in Stung Streng area in Cambodia. If two more hydropower damsare built in the area, this dolphin species will become extinct.”
LeManh Tung, deputy director of the Department of Planning andInvestment, said the museum, which is not in the list of 12 priorityprojects for State funding until 2020 of Can Tho city, needs more than200 billion VND (9.17 million USD) and an area of 50-60 hectares.
A location for the project should be prepared first before calling for private investment, he said.
ViceChairman of Can Tho People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam assignedthe Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work with Can ThoUniversity over the project before the city government responds to theuniversity.
“HCM City plans to build the Southern Museum ofNatural History, including the Mekong Delta, and with the Mekong DeltaRice Research Institute working on the Mekong Delta Museum ofAgriculture, the new museum of Can Tho University may affect the masterplan for museums in the south,” Nam explained.-VNA
The newspaperquoted Associate Professor Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, the president of theuniversity, as saying: “Can Tho University wants to build the museum asCan Tho city is the centre of the Mekong Delta.”
Dr. Duong VanNi, deputy head of the museum project board, said the Mekong River basinis undergoing a lot of negative changes because intensive farming,expansion of agricultural land, industrial and residential areadevelopment, forest exploitation, and damming. They have caused seriousimpact on natural ecosystems and endangered a lot of species of theregion.
“Therefore, it is urgent and necessary to build a museum of natural history for the Mekong River basin,” he said.
Themuseum would comprise four main areas, with three areas for storingdata, specimens, and books, documents, movies, web pages, and one fordisplay.
Among them, data, specimens, and related documents arefor academic purposes while the display area is for public education andeven for tourism.
“Can Tho University now needs support in termsof land and investment to build the display area for the museum. Helpfrom the authorities and enterprises would be needed,” Ni said.
Apartfrom Can Tho University, which will manage, train staff and providefacilities for studying and collecting specimens and documents for themuseum, other parties expected to be involved in the project include theUS Consulate General in HCM City, colleges in the delta, ministries ofscience and technology, natural resources and environment, andagriculture and rural development, as well as 13 provinces in the MekongDelta.
For paddy alone, Can Tho University has collected andpreserved nearly 4,000 paddy species in the Mekong Delta, he added, andspecies for the museum should be collected from the delta and the MekongRiver area also.
“For example, there are around 100 riverdolphins in Stung Streng area in Cambodia. If two more hydropower damsare built in the area, this dolphin species will become extinct.”
LeManh Tung, deputy director of the Department of Planning andInvestment, said the museum, which is not in the list of 12 priorityprojects for State funding until 2020 of Can Tho city, needs more than200 billion VND (9.17 million USD) and an area of 50-60 hectares.
A location for the project should be prepared first before calling for private investment, he said.
ViceChairman of Can Tho People’s Committee Truong Quang Hoai Nam assignedthe Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work with Can ThoUniversity over the project before the city government responds to theuniversity.
“HCM City plans to build the Southern Museum ofNatural History, including the Mekong Delta, and with the Mekong DeltaRice Research Institute working on the Mekong Delta Museum ofAgriculture, the new museum of Can Tho University may affect the masterplan for museums in the south,” Nam explained.-VNA
