VietNamNet Bridge – Unlicensed mineral exploitation, tourism and construction activities are seriously threatening the existence of the Ba Vi National Park in Hanoi.

The Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) has called on to apply urgent measures to protect the Ba Vi National Park from the current unlicensed mineral exploitation, tourism and construction activities.

National Park cut into small pieces

Right after people voiced their concern about the Ba Vi National Park which has been trespassed, scientists have conducted survey and made fact-finding trips to the national park.

Located next to the Ba Vi National Park, the Minh Quang pyrite mine has been left idle for the last 10 years, where rocks and waste ores have still been left on the site. Scientists have reported that the waste water here has the red color like the blood because it is rich in iron and sulfuric acid. The water seeping from the mine has a very low pH (around 2-3) and may contain arsenic.

There on the area, no plant can grow, except a plant called by local residents as ”chut chit” which easily gets flammable in the dry season. The waste water from the mine streams down the river, and soaks into the groundwater basin.

The asbestos mine in the Quyet hamlet of Yen Bai commune was exploited 3-4 years ago. However, the exploiters have done nothing to restore the environmental situation, leaving asbestos ore pieces and deep holes.

Scientists have also voiced their concern about the construction activities in the western slopes of Mount Ba Vi. The need to frequently reinforce the road will lead to the expansion of the road, which will make the artificial diverge from the natural landscape of the park.

Sometimes ago, local residents complained about the implementation of the project on building the Dong Xo lake-irrigation dam developed by the owner of the Thien Son-Suoi Nga tourism site, close to the Dong Xo Lake. The construction has caused the serious pollution to the stream in the lower section.

Moreover, the operation of the six resort projects namely Thien Son-Thac Nga, Ao Vua, Khoang Xanh, Thac Da, Tien Sa has also reportedly caused the environment pollution and forest encroachment.

Scientists urge to take actions

Scientists have expressed their concern about the inappropriate attention to the measures to protect the national park.

Nguyen Phi Truyen, Deputy Director of the Ba Vi National Park, said that though the mining activities are carried out on the foot of the Ba Vi Mount, not in the national park, but he has to send officers to the sites to supervise the operation activities in order to prevent possible bad impacts.

Regarding the tourism projects, Truyen said that the national park has found 23 points capable to develop tourism under the forest canopy. The areas would be leased to enterprises to develop tourism, while the enterprises must be capable to protect the forest and make reasonable contribution to the livelihood of local residents.

Dr Luu Duc Khai from the Hanoi National University has pointed out that not only the mining activities at Minh Quang mine, but the gold exploitation in Xoan hamlet of Van Hoa Commune and many other localities have also made the waster of the stream from Ba Vi Mount muddy.

Dr Ngo Dinh Tuan from VACNE said that the current activities around the Ba Vi National Park have been badly affecting the valuable assets of the park, calling management agencies to take actions to protect the national park, or it is too late.

Dat Viet