Lung Ngoc Hoang Species and Habitat Conservation Area, Hau Giang

Melaleuca Forest in Lung Ngoc Hoang Species and Habitat Conservation Area (Hau Giang) – Source: https://thamhiemmekong.com/

Lung Ngoc Hoang Wetland Nature Reserve, covering over 2,800 hectares in Hau Giang province, is not only known as the “green lung” of the Mekong Delta but is also the most unique biodiversity conservation area in the country today.

Like other strictly protected forests such as Vo Doi (Ca Mau), Tram Chim (Dong Thap), U Minh Thuong National Forest (Kien Giang)…, by the end of October 2009, Lung Ngoc Hoang is still being protected day and night. This is one of the conservation areas that is less vulnerable, has a clean environment, and in recent years, there have been no serious fires.

The forests in the current Lung have a full range of flora belonging to the wetland ecosystem with very diverse populations. These are species of vines growing at the base or on the trunks of Melaleuca, reeds, reeds, and water mimosa… There are also quite a few terrestrial species such as cassava, hairy yam, mua, and galangal…

Through research and synthesis, it is shown that Lung Ngoc Hoang currently has over 330 plant species with 224 genera and 92 families. Of these, 56 species are newly discovered. With such a rich number of plant species, Lung Ngoc Hoang will be a place for scientific research, protection of precious vegetation, and at the same time, combining the development of eco-tourism and regenerating habitats on the rare remaining wetlands of the Mekong Delta region.

With a rich and pristine system of valleys combined with strictly protected cajuput forests, Lung Ngoc Hoang is a suitable place for countless amphibians, fish and shrimp to live. This place was once considered the fish navel of the western region of Hau River.

Lung Ngoc Hoang currently gathers many rare animal species, including species listed in the Vietnam and world red books such as hairy-nosed otters, caped turtles, cobras… There are 206 species in total, including nine rare bird species such as silver-cheeked otters, cuckoos, snail-shaped storks, sen-like storks, gray storks, magpies… and mammals such as dog bats, otters, martens, foxes and cats, and other rare species such as mangrove claws, horseshoe crabs, golden turtles, worm frogs, and heron fish…