Being the home to many important species, Xuan
Thuy National Park plays an important role in preserving ecological system and
developing eco-tourism of the Red River Delta.
An overview
Located in the Giao Thuy
District, Nam Dinh Province, Xuan Thuy National Park was declared Vietnam's
first Ramsar site of Vietnam in January 1989. More than one quarter of the
park's 12,000ha is covered with mangroves that support many aquatic species - including
fish, crustaceans and molluscs. These species provide food and livelihoods for
the poor, local people of the area. The park houses the “Cá Mòi Co”
(Clupanodon thrissa), a fish listed in Vietnam's Red Book as vulnerable and at
risk of extinction. It is also recognized as a platform for migratory water
birds, including the “Cò thìa” (Black-faced Spoon-Bill), and eight other listed
endangered species.
To date, more than 200 bird
species have been recorded at Xuan Thuy. The site is the most important staging
and wintering area for migratory waterbirds in the coastal zone of the Red
River Delta. It regularly supports large numbers of commoner migratory
waterbird species, including Black-tailed Godwit, Spotted Redshank and Eurasian
Curlew. Many rare species can also be found at Xuan Thuy, including the largest
wintering population of Black-faced Spoonbill in Vietnam, with around 60 birds
each winter in recent years. Other rare species that regularly occur at the
site include Saunders's Gull, Spotted Greenshank, Spoon-billed Sandpiper and
Asian Dowitcher. In addition to its importance for waterbirds, Xuan Thuy is
also an important migratory stop-over for non-waterbirds, with large numbers of
passerines and cuckoos passing through the site during the spring and autumn
migrations. During the summer months, small numbers of Painted Stork and
Spot-billed Pelican occur as non-breeding visitors.
The park has a rich,
biodiverse coastal wetland environment that is home to about 110 aquatic plant
species, 500 species of benthos and zooplankton. Many aquatic species of high
economic value, like shrimps, fish, crabs and oysters, are also found in the
area. Fish, shrimps and crabs provide the main income of the local community.
The tourism
As a staging and wintering
site on the East Asian-Australian flyway, the best time to visit Xuan Thuy is
September to April. In August and September, it is still possible to see
non-breeding Painted Stork, as well as early migrants, such as Black-winged
Stilt. Later, from October onwards, it relatively easy to find wintering
Black-faced Spoonbills, particularly at their roost sites in the shrimp ponds.
In Xuan Thuy National Park,
you can ask for the assistance from park staff, who know the site very well and
are able to show us where to watch particular bird species. It will be so good
if you can get a guide from the park. Basically, you can take the hiking routes
or boating routes to the sites of interest. It means that you can travel by
foot to some places of interest; or you can only be reached by boat at high
tide.
Hiking
Routes: Walking through the natural and artificial
habitats along the dike system in Con Ngan Island, where the park headquarters
is located. Especially, in the high tide time, you can find numerous bird
roosting in the shrimp ponds, including Black-faced Spoonbill, gulls, ducks and
waders.
Boating
Routes: In the high tide time, you can get boat to
reach the offshore mudflats and sandy flats, where Spoon-billed Sandpiper can
be found among large flocks of waders. An alternative boat route involves
visiting Con Xanh island, which supports some Casuarina forest, where
is very suitable for the migrating non-waterbirds. In the island, you can find
the pittas and other passerines during migrating season. Another way, you can
take boat to the off shore mudflats and sandy flats areas of Giao Xuan Commune,
where is the best area for watching the shorebirds. In this site, you can find
big flocks of waders and especially Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann's Greenshank,
many species of gulls including Saunders's Gull, duck species and sometime
Black-faced Spoonbill and Black-headed Ibis.
The preservation matter
In terms of preservation
matter, Xuan Thuy National Park has the following objectives and tasks:
To preserve the typical
submerged land ecological system of the Red river-mouth region, the specific
fauna and flora species of the submerged land ecological system, especially
aquatic species, water birds and migration birds.
To build material and
technical bases in service of training, scientific research, environmental
education and eco-tourist development, thus contributing to socio-economic
development and creating jobs for local population communities.
To serve scientific research,
environmental education and eco-tourist development.
To maintain Xuan Thuy National
Park as a Ramsar site through conservation of biodiversity and responsible
fisheries.
To raise public awareness and
also recognized local community efforts in the conservation of Xuan Thuy
National Park, the sustainable and wise-use of the park's resources, and responsible
fisheries and management.
Xuan Thuy National Park is the pride
for local people in their wetlands area, its relevance as a Ramsar site, its
importance for their eco-tourist development...
