Vietnam/ Reawakening the potential of forest ecotourism

Forests not only provide economic benefits, but also have immense potential for the development of ecotourism, resort tourism and other related services.

Vietnam has a vast and diverse reserve of forest resources and forest land, spread over almost every locality in the country. The development of forest ecological services will create sources of income and employment for local people, making a significant contribution to sustainable poverty reduction in mountainous areas.

According to the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, income from four types of forest ecological services namely timber and forest product supply services; forest environmental services; carbon absorption and storage services; ecotourism services) are estimated to be worth around 40.000 billion dôngs per year. Of this amount, forest tourism services are worth around 2,000 billion dôngs.

With its diversity of flora and fauna, Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh is devoting a great deal of attention to the development of ecotourism, particularly that linked to rescue activities and the preservation of wild plant and animal species.

In Pu Mat National Park in the central province of Nghê An, there are currently many forest-based ecotourism sites run by organizations, individuals and businesses.

Since 2018, thanks to the growing development of community-based tourism and increased public awareness of forest protection, forest damage no longer occurs.

According to experts, Vietnam needs to adopt more appropriate policies, strategies and approaches to promote the diversification of forms of forest ecological service provision.

It is also important to raise people's awareness of the need to respect forest values, in order to multiply collective gestures in favor of forest protection in particular, and the preservation of nature and biodiversity in Vietnam in general.

Source: lecourrier.vn/