VietNamNet Bridge – Scientists warn that ongoing construction work in Bach Ma Forest in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue is threatening the ecosystem, including the habitats of dozens of endangered animals and plants, and reducing forest cover.

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Progress: Trees are logged at Bach Ma National Park to make way for constructions of a road. (Photo: VNS)

"Wild animals are extremely vulnerable to explosions," Pham Khac Lieu of the Hue University of Sciences said.

The construction in the 37,487ha park began in August last year and it is expected to finish in 2012, said Huynh Van Keo, the park’s director.

Bach Ma Mountain Range, which is covered in thick clouds all year round, is renowned for its cool weather and the 139 French built resorts there.

It has been even more attractive to scientists due to its rich ecology, which includes 1,493 animal and 2,147 plant species. Of them, 68 animals and 86 plants are listed as endangered in the Viet Nam Red Book while there is a group of plants whose scientific names end in bachmaensis that are found and nowhere else in the world.

Stone is mined for construction, and trees, many of them a century old and 40cm diameter, are logged to make way for the road.

Many trucks can be seen transporting the stone and the sounds of chain saws echos through the forest.

But Keo justified both the mining and logging by saying it is hard to carry construction materials up from the plains and cutting down the trees is unavoidable for creating space.

Prof Le Van Thang of Hue University Academy said using explosives may be the only way to mine rocks but the explosions must be done in a controlled manner to reduce noise and shock.

Scientists want the park protected and preserved rather than turned into a tourist site.

Lieu of the Hue University of Sciences said: "The park is ecologically more important than other parks and reserves in the country and tourism here should be selective, avoiding mass tourism."

Local residents are worried the construction is not being done in a sustainable manner. Nguyen Van Dung, chief master of the Nghia Dung Martial Art Club, said the builders are blocking the flow of water by building dykes and embankments unlike the French who had used small canals and pipes.

As a result, the road faces the risk of being washed away in the rainy season, meaning repeated construction in the future, he warned.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News