Protecting Heritage Populations Against Environmental, Natural, and Human Impacts
Typhoon Yagi swept through Ha Long Bay, tearing away 70% of the vegetation in the primary forest. Ha Long, still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, was further battered by the ruthless fury of nature. Over the past 30 years, the World Natural Heritage site of Ha Long Bay has repeatedly had to "brace itself" against environmental changes, the impacts of climate change, such as Typhoon Yagi, and the indifference of humans in preserving this heritage.
In November, we had the opportunity to return to Ha Long, 30 years after it was honored as a World Natural Heritage site. Ha Long appeared more desolate after the storm, but the inherent vitality of the 400 km² heritage area stood strong against the ravages of time, like a gem that has yet to be fully polished.
Protecting Heritage Must Start with Human Factors
Du Văn Nhặt (born 1989) was born and raised in Cửa Vạn fishing village. Three generations of the Nhặt family chose to make a living in this peaceful little village amidst the Bay because of its natural advantages, with many access points and favorable currents for cultivating seafood, especially fish farming. The villagers of Cửa Vạn have a deep knowledge of the traditional culture of the people from the coal mining region. Nhặt was no different. He was discovered to have a talent for singing from a young age. As he grew older, he was brought to the mainland to learn singing and to be educated about heritage conservation. With sufficient knowledge, in 2011, Nhặt was given the opportunity to become a member of Ha Long Bay Management Department.
Du Văn Nhặt - a member of Ha Long Bay Management Department. Ảnh: THÀNH ĐẠT
Nhặt, like many other locals living in the heart of the heritage site, understands the heritage and the natural environment of his homeland. He has become an active member in the journey of protecting this heritage.
There is no better way to protect heritage than through the active involvement of the local people. Nhặt, like many others living in the heart of the heritage site, understands the heritage and nature of his homeland and has become an active participant in the journey of heritage protection. Having been connected with the Cửa Vạn Floating Cultural Center for the past 11 years, where he receives an average of 400-500 visitors each day, Nhặt is not only a staff member managing the cultural center but also a guide, introducing the culture of the Cửa Vạn floating village through 1,200 vivid images and artifacts. These items are organized into five main themes: the livelihoods of fishermen, the material life of the villagers, water-based living and the human life, spirituality, and mental life. He is also a singer with a very sweet voice, performing traditional love songs.
The fish farming area in Cửa Vạn fishing village. Photo: THÀNH ĐẠT
Là người bản địa, Nhặt thường xuyên lân la với bà con, vừa tuyên truyền, vừa động viên bà con có những hành động thiết thực bảo vệ di sản như: chuyển đổi không sử dụng chai nhựa, không xả rác bừa bãi, không phát sinh những nhà bè đơn lẻ nuôi hải sản làm ảnh hưởng tới môi trường, đánh bắt trái phép thủy hải sản... Đứng trong lòng Cửa Vạn, Nhặt chỉ ra làng chài bảo: Trước đây bà con nuôi thủy hải sản không bảo đảm môi trường, rác nổi lềnh phềnh... thì nay đã được quy hoạch rất gọn gàng. “Nếu có nhà bè kiên cố hơn nữa, tôi nghĩ đây sẽ là điểm hấp dẫn du khách trải nghiệm ngủ qua đêm trên bè”, Nhặt mong mỏi.
Nhặt is not only a staff at the Cửa Vạn Floating Cultural Center but also a guide who introduces the cultural features of the Cửa Vạn floating village.
Photo: THÀNH ĐẠT
In order to create a green, clean, and beautiful Ha Long Bay and make it a friendly and safe destination for tourists, Ha Long Bay Management Department has developed a long-term strategy to change public awareness about heritage conservation.
Over the past 30 years of protecting the heritage, there have been significant changes in the local people's awareness, with positive involvement from the local community in the journey of safeguarding the heritage. Mr. Vũ Kiên Cường, Director of the Ha Long Bay Management Department, shared that each person in Quảng Ninh, and more broadly in Vietnam, clearly understands their responsibility to preserve, protect, and promote the value of the World Natural Heritage.
Trash in Ha Long Bay is regularly collected and processed.
Quảng Ninh has identified environmental protection and the control of activities that negatively impact the biodiversity of Ha Long Bay as a key task. Therefore, the authorities have implemented patrols, controls, and strict penalties for actions that harm ecosystems and species. The Ha Long Bay Management Board has actively sought support from international organizations to implement biodiversity conservation solutions for Ha Long Bay. These include collaborating with UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to carry out the Ha Long Bay Biodiversity Monitoring Program in 2019, and partnering with Osaka University in Japan to implement mangrove ecosystem restoration activities in the Đầu Gỗ and Ba Cửa areas of Ha Long Bay.
“With the efforts of the Ha Long Bay Management Department and related agencies, the vegetation is gradually recovering, and no forest fires have occurred in the Bay. Two months after the typhoon, nature is healing, and the green is returning to the islands. In the spring, Ha Long will wear a beautiful new coat,” Mr. Cường confidently stated.
The Director of Ha Long Bay Management Department mentioned that Ha Long Bay is one of the areas with high biodiversity, hosting unique ecosystems of the tropical limestone archipelago, including: the tropical rainforest ecosystem on limestone mountains; cave ecosystems; mangrove ecosystems; intertidal ecosystems around the islands; coral reef ecosystems; and soft-bottom ecosystems. Notably, it is one of the areas with the highest concentration of saline lake ecosystems in the world, with 81 lakes, and it has the largest number of species in Vietnam, with over 3,000 species of both terrestrial and aquatic life.
Bảo vệ sự đa dạng của hệ sinh thái Hạ Long
Cơn bão số 3 (Yagi) gây ra những ảnh hưởng rất lớn đến các giá trị tự nhiên của Di sản thiên nhiên thế giới Vịnh Hạ Long, đặc biệt là giá trị đa dạng sinh học, trong đó có hệ sinh thái thảm thực vật trên núi đá vôi. Cùng với các chuyên gia của Viện Sinh Thái và Tài nguyên sinh vật, Ban Quản lý Vịnh đã khảo sát, đánh giá hiện trạng tại một số đảo lớn trong tuyến điểm tham quan trên Vịnh Hạ Long cho thấy, toàn bộ khu rừng đặc dụng hơn 5 nghìn ha bị thiệt hại tới 70%. Một kế hoạch khắc phục hậu quả sau bão được ban hành khẩn trương như thu gom rác thải trôi nổi, giảm thiểu các tác động của ô nhiễm môi trường đến các hệ sinh thái, các loài sinh vật; triển khai các giải pháp phòng chống cháy rừng như; triển khai các giải pháp phục hồi hệ sinh thái thảm thực vật tại các khu vực bị ảnh hưởng như dọn dẹp tạo không gian cho cây gãy đổ phục hồi, triển khai trồng bổ sung các loại thực vật bản địa, thực vật quý tại các khu vực bị ảnh hưởng nặng.
Bộ đội Biên phòng Quảng Ninh tham gia dọn rác thải trên Vịnh Hạ Long.
To conserve and ensure the safety of the ecosystems at Ha Long Bay, Ha Long Bay Management Department has implemented many specific solutions, such as strengthening management, protection, and biodiversity conservation efforts. The Department has also carried out numerous scientific tasks and launched programs and plans to survey and investigate the Bay’s biodiversity, gradually building a biodiversity database. These include leading tasks such as "Research on the value of caves and saline lakes in Ha Long Bay" and collaborating with the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources to conduct the task "Supplementary survey and assessment of higher vascular plant biodiversity and searching for plant species with high biological activity on the islands of Ha Long Bay, Quảng Ninh province, and proposing solutions for sustainable conservation and use."
The results obtained from these scientific tasks serve as an essential foundation for developing solutions and management plans to conserve and enhance biodiversity values in particular, and heritage values in general.
Vegetation on the limestone islands. Photo: Ha Long Bay Management Department
Để bảo tồn và bảo đảm an toàn cho các Hệ sinh thái tại Vịnh Hạ Long, Ban Quản lý Vịnh Hạ Long đã triển khai nhiều giải pháp cụ thể như tăng cường công tác quản lý, bảo vệ, bảo tồn đa dạng sinh học, thực hiện nhiều nhiệm vụ khoa học và triển khai các chương trình, kế hoạch khảo sát, điều tra đa dạng sinh học của vịnh, từng bước xây dựng cơ sở dữ liệu đa dạng sinh học, như: chủ trì thực hiện nhiệm vụ“Nghiên cứu giá trị của các hang ngầm và hồ nước mặn trên vịnh Hạ Long”; Phối hợp với Viện Sinh thái và Tài nguyên sinh vật thực hiện nhiệm vụ “Điều tra bổ sung, đánh giá đa dạng thực vật bậc cao có mạch và tìm kiếm các loài thực vật có chứa hoạt tính sinh học cao tại các đảo vịnh Hạ Long, tỉnh Quảng Ninh và đề xuất các giải pháp bảo tồn, sử dụng bền vững”...
Những kết quả thu được từ những nhiệm vụ khoa học là cơ sở quan trọng trong việc đưa ra các giải pháp, kế hoạch quản lý, bảo tồn và phát huy giá trị đa dạng sinh học nói riêng và giá trị di sản nói chung.
The lagoon ecosystem. Photo: Ha Long Bay Management Department
The Department has actively implemented Decision 3363/QĐ-UBND issued by the provincial People's Committee, which approves the establishment of a Special-Use Forest Area to protect the landscape of Ha Long Bay, covering a total area of 5,032.22 hectares of special-use forest within Ha Long Bay. At the same time, the Department has advised the provincial People's Committee to study the creation of a Ha Long Bay Nature Reserve to strictly protect natural resources, particularly the ecosystems within the World Natural Heritage site of Ha Long Bay.
Numerous biodiversity conservation solutions have been implemented, such as: zoning areas for strict protection, especially regions with high biodiversity, including marine ecosystems at risk of impact like coral reefs, cave ecosystems, the pine ecosystem, and areas that concentrate rare and endemic species on the limestone islands. Additionally, efforts have been made to propagate and plant rare plant species for conservation, such as Ha Long palm, Ha Long cycad, and Ha Long orchid.
Mangrove forest of Ha Long Bay. Photo: Ha Long Bay Management Department.
In addition, Ha Long Bay Management Department is implementing a wastewater treatment project using Japanese technology and is currently evaluating the results of a pilot program to expand it to other tourist sites. The goal is to improve the quality of transportation vehicles, gradually replacing wooden boats with steel-hulled boats made from environmentally friendly materials. "This transition is happening very quickly. We aim for all tourist boats operating in the bay to be steel-hulled by 2030. Ha Long also encourages passenger boats to be painted white and to install traditional sails, in harmony with the bay area," said Mr. Cuong.
The Department is also collaborating with the Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to research the biodiversity value of the area. Based on the findings, conservation plans for endemic species of plants and animals in the bay will be developed. This is a key task for the 2026-2030 period, and the Department needs to advise the province on mechanisms, policies, and solutions for implementation.
Seagrass bed. Photo: Ha Long Bay Management Department.
Over the past 30 years, Ha Long Bay Management Department has regularly monitored the conservation status of the biodiversity values of the heritage site according to the Biodiversity Resource Monitoring Criteria; monitored terrestrial priority species; invasive alien species; and surveyed and assessed the current state of the mangrove ecosystem and tidal flats without mangroves in the Ha Long Bay area. The monitoring process has documented the status, built, and updated a database on the resources, values, and biodiversity of Ha Long Bay.
"One of the important tasks for protecting the heritage site that the Ha Long Bay Management Department regularly implements is assessing the carrying capacity of Ha Long Bay to determine the threshold limits, including the carrying capacity of ecosystems. This enables the development of solutions to protect these ecosystems from the impacts of socio-economic activities, especially tourism activities on the bay," said Mr. Cuong.
Ha Long Bay is one of the areas with high diversity of unique ecosystems of the tropical limestone archipelago.
Not overexploiting the heritage.
Since being recognized as a World Natural Heritage site in 1994, UNESCO has repeatedly issued recommendations regarding the conservation of Ha Long Bay in the years 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2021, and 2023. These recommendations focused on issues related to potential threats that could impact the outstanding universal value of the heritage site, such as: the coal mining, cement production, wastewater and waste management industries, aquaculture, tourism infrastructure development, industrialization and urbanization in the buffer zone; major economic development projects and land reclamation activities around the heritage site; strengthening the management capacity of the Ha Long Bay Management Department; implementing visitor management regulations to limit the impact of tourists in critical areas to reduce the pressure on the heritage; and providing maps with clear indicators of the current boundaries and buffer zones of the heritage site.
In Ha Long Bay, cruises are a traditional form of tourism. Photo: VNA.
With its enchanting beauty across a vast area of over 400 km², Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Director of the Ha Long Bay Management Department, stated that managing the heritage site over the past 30 years has faced many challenges. The first challenge is in the conservation of biodiversity because the local area has not yet had a team with sufficient experience, expertise, and equipment to support exploration, surveys, assessments, and the implementation of biodiversity conservation projects. This is a weakness that Mr. Vu Kien Cuong believes needs a timely solution, with thoroughly researched and validated studies to propose measures for preserving biodiversity in the bay.
Additionally, Ha Long Bay faces pressures from the coastal urbanization process and tourism development, which pose potential risks to the environment of Ha Long Bay in general and the habitat of the plants and animals in the bay in particular. The impacts of climate change occurring globally are also affecting the biodiversity value of Ha Long Bay, such as rising sea levels leading to the gradual loss of tidal flats and mangrove ecosystems, increasing sea water temperatures resulting in the decline of coral reef ecosystems, and altering the habitats of various species, especially bivalve mollusks.
Ha Long Bay is listed among the 24 best destinations for 2024. Photo: THANH DAT.
Another challenge that is also a significant issue in heritage management is that Ha Long Bay has been extended to include the administrative boundaries of the Cat Ba Archipelago in Hai Phong City. This is the first inter-provincial heritage site in the country, but legal documents regarding the management of inter-provincial heritage sites have not been fully issued. "The two localities currently lack consistency in management, and it is necessary to cooperate in building a heritage management regulation and an inter-provincial heritage management plan to present to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism for the most effective management of the heritage," Mr. Cuong expressed.
Looking back over 30 years, the challenge of both preserving the heritage values and promoting its value to support the livelihoods of the local community has always been a tough issue for managers. To best protect the heritage and comply with UNESCO’s Convention and the laws on heritage, the Ha Long Bay Management Department absolutely protects the core area (Area 1) of Ha Long Bay. As for the buffer zone (Area 2), Ha Long encourages socio-economic development projects, but these must be regularly evaluated and monitored to ensure that they do not negatively impact the core values of the heritage.
Due to overcrowding at some tourist sites, which places pressure on the heritage, the Management Board has reviewed and reported to the leadership of Quang Ninh Province on plans to close certain tour routes. With about 80% of the heritage resources still untapped, the Management Department has conducted surveys of new tourist sites, focusing initially on areas with significant existing value, to propose them for development and exploitation soon.
The 350-million-year-old Xep Stone Park in Ha Long Bay. Photo: THANH DAT.
"Ha Long Bay has about 20 caves and beaches that are currently untouched by tourism activities. We are proposing that the Provincial People's Committee allow us to pilot visits to these areas. By introducing new tourism products, we not only prevent the waste of resources but also ease the pressure on the currently overloaded sites," Mr. Cuong shared.
According to Mrs. Nguyen Huyen Anh, Director of the Quang Ninh Provincial Department of Tourism, Ha Long still has many pristine destinations with undeveloped beaches, making it an attractive spot for high-end tourists who enjoy day explorations. This is also a direction for Ha Long to develop new tourism products without impacting the natural landscape.
“We are very open to inviting both domestic and international experts to cooperate, explore, and provide advice to the local authorities on the conservation and protection of Ha Long Bay's heritage."
Mrs. Nguyen Huyen Anh - Director of the Quang Ninh Provincial Department of Tourism
According to Mrs. Huyen Anh, over the past 30 years, Ha Long Bay has been recognized by UNESCO twice, serving as the clearest proof of Ha Long's effective heritage conservation efforts. "We are very open to inviting both domestic and international experts to cooperate, explore, and provide advice to the local authorities on the conservation and protection of Ha Long Bay's heritage. Ha Long still faces many challenges in preserving and promoting the value of the heritage, so we hope to receive attention and support from the central government or international organizations to develop better protection strategies for the heritage. Management agencies need to promptly amend laws to align with current realities and encourage the adoption of new technologies in management," Mrs. Huyen Anh expressed.
To improve heritage conservation efforts, the Ha Long Bay Management Department has established and strengthened direct relationships with international organizations. Through these connections, numerous exchange activities with countries both inside and outside the region in the fields of economics, culture, and particularly heritage management and conservation have been carried out. Many funded programs and projects have been implemented, gradually integrating Ha Long Bay into international efforts to protect world heritage. As a result, Ha Long Bay has attracted several projects related to fields such as research, heritage conservation, environmental protection, community education, and enhancing heritage management capacity.
A beach on the Bay. Photo: THANH DAT.
In addition, Ha Long Bay Management Department regularly receives support and advice from experts from IUCN and UNESCO in heritage management, especially in areas such as environmental protection, carrying capacity assessment, and sustainable tourism management. During several terms of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World, the leadership of the Ha Long Bay Management Department was elected as Vice President of the Club, helping to enhance the image and position of Ha Long Bay globally.
The conservation and promotion planning for Ha Long Bay’s heritage, which was set to last until 2020, has long expired. Therefore, Quang Ninh Province is urgently coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to present the Ha Long Bay planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision for 2050, to establish a high-level legal framework for implementing heritage protection, restoration, and value enhancement activities.
Ha Long Bay at night. Photo: baoquangninh.vn.
To promote the value of the Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage site, in the coming time, Quang Ninh Province will focus on researching and developing a monitoring toolset for the conservation status of the World Heritage site, ensuring its feasibility. This will be based on referencing UNESCO's monitoring tools and those of other countries, tailored to the local management practices, context, and conditions. At the same time, the province will seriously implement UNESCO’s recommendations on management, protection, and the promotion of the values of Ha Long Bay as a World Natural Heritage Site.
"We are determined to protect the heritage not by chasing large numbers of tourists and over-exploiting it, but by assessing the carrying capacity of the heritage, so that we can efficiently manage tourism routes without creating pressure on the heritage, damaging the natural landscape, or disrupting archaeological sites."
Vũ Kiên Cường, Director of Ha Long Bay Management Department
Translated by Thuy Ha