Da Nang steps up biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism development

According to the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Da Nang is now home to 50 distinctive green and eco-tourism destinations, including 6 conservation areas and national parks.

Notably, the Cu Lao Cham Nature Reserve and the Son Tra Peninsula boast many rare and endangered species of plants and animals prioritized for conservation and listed in the Vietnam Red Book. These are also among the city’s popular tourist spots that attract a large number of visitors.

At the same time, tours offering coral reef diving and fish-watching around the Son Tra Peninsula also are very inviting to visitors at both home and abroad in the summer.

Mr. Phan Minh Hai, Deputy Head of the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourist Beaches, said that the unit has always identified tourism development as closely linked to the conservation of natural resources, aiming for the sustainable development.

Since 2020, Da Nang has issued Decision No. 3410/QD-UBND approving the Project on Biodiversity Conservation until 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Under the project, by 2030, the city will put into operation a number of upgraded and newly established conservation areas; improve the quality and quantity of endangered species populations; perfect conservation mechanisms and policies; and at the same time stabilize the livelihoods and lives of people in buffer zone.

The focus will be on protecting key natural ecosystems, including the Ba Na - Nui Chua Nature Reserve, the Son Tra Nature Reserve, and the Nam Hai Van Landscape Protection Area, along with coral reefs, seagrass beds, and wetland ecosystems.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Van Minh, Rector of the University of Education and Science - the University of Da Nang, it is necessary to strongly apply data technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in conservation efforts. Included are SMART technology to help monitor and report forest patrol activities; digital camera traps and drones to support forest fire monitoring; and GIS and remote sensing to serve forest cover mapping, and monitor land changes.

He also noted that AI and IoT (Internet of Things) can analyze satellite images and environmental sensors in order to provide early warning of deforestation or habitat degradation. Combining advanced technology with open databases not only enhances monitoring efficiency but also increases transparency and community participation in protecting natural resources.