08:33, 11/12/2023
At the end of the rainy season, Yok Don forest appears lush and full of life. On the roads leading to the core of this large national park, many forest patches are being truly regenerated with dipterocarp forest habitat, interspersed with semi-evergreen tropical forest.
It can be said that the ecosystem under the "roof" of Yok Don is gradually recovering completely, compensating for the damaged areas due to the problem of forest encroachment that has been going on for many years.
The forest is peaceful again
As Ms. Hoang Thi Hanh, a legal officer of Yok Don National Park, said: The forest here is like a body that is getting healthier and stronger thanks to the increased focus on protection and management. Yok Don forest has returned to peace thanks to the situation of "forest encroachment" being controlled and limited to the lowest level, with each year being less than the previous year.
If in previous years (2010 - 2020) the number of forestry law violations reached hundreds, then in the past few years it has decreased significantly. For example, in 2022, the number of forestry law violations detected and handled by the forest rangers was nearly 70 cases, but in the first 10 months of 2023, this number has decreased by half and thanks to that, compared to previous years, the pressure on the forest here has gradually lessened.
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| Be friendly with elephants in Yok Don National Park. Photo: M. Thuan |
Mr. Pham Trung Kien, Head of Forest Ranger Station No. 6, shared: The pressure on the forest is no longer as "hot" as before because the lives of people in the buffer zone are increasingly improving; agricultural - forestry and service and tourism projects invested by the State and enterprises in Buon Don have created livelihoods for many poor households to rise up, so they limit going into the forest to make a living.
In addition, the propaganda and mobilization work for people to receive forest protection contracts has been strengthened in terms of both awareness and the area assigned to them. Up to now, more than 3,200 hectares of forest have been effectively managed and protected by people and communities in Ea Huar, Ea Wen, and Krong Na communes; thanks to that, Yok Don forest has gradually established its ownership and quickly recovered.
Now, the park's rangers have less tension and conflict with the "forest-eating forces" pouring in from outside, and thanks to that, they have the conditions to patrol with the forest owners and protect the valuable forestry resources of this national park. Especially in the core areas with an area of tens of thousands of hectares possessing rich biodiversity (with more than 1,000 plant species, nearly 660 animal species living there), Yok Don forest rangers are always on duty day and night to limit negative impacts.
Preserving forests for tourism development
Mr. Vu Duc Gioi, Deputy Director of Yok Don National Park, acknowledged: Only when the forest is peaceful can tourism be developed - and in fact, that is increasingly present here.
The “roof” of Yok Don is attracting hundreds of visitors to visit and experience every month thanks to its unique and strong tourism products such as: being friendly with domesticated elephants; taking a motorboat to admire the natural scenery along the Serepok River; traveling by off-road vehicle to learn about birds and wild animals; camping in the wild and staying overnight...
These types of tourism are being improved, connected more comprehensively, sustainably and effectively to meet the needs of tourists to "return to nature", while increasing the emotional experience as well as increasing the length of stay at this destination.
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| The Yok Don Discovery Trail run organized by Yok Don National Park attracts many tourists to experience and admire the forest trails. Photo: Hong Ha |
Moreover, at Yok Don forest protection stations/posts, staff and rangers also participate in tourism based on forest resources there, contributing to diversifying products for this important economic sector.
Mr. Doan Chi Linh, Deputy Head of Forest Ranger Station No. 2, said: When tourists come here, they are also taken fishing, watching wild orchids along the Cay Lang spillway, then enjoying a culinary party prepared from the rich resources of nature (fish, shrimp, stone crabs and wild vegetables). As for Forest Ranger Station No. 6, tourists can enjoy a more complete and meaningful cultural and ecological tour.
According to Mr. Pham Trung Kien, in addition to the above activities, visitors coming here will be able to learn about the life and cultural activities of the Ede people in Drang Phok village, row a boat on Suoi Hong irrigation lake, light a campfire and enjoy grilled meat (chicken, pork, goat, even beef) raised by the brothers in the station.
It can be said that under the current “roof” of Yok Don, anyone who comes here can feel the peace of nature as well as the people that have appeared. That peace is the condition and opportunity for this national park to preserve and develop commensurate with the valuable forest resources in terms of economy, society, culture and science in Dak Lak in particular and the whole country in general.
Dinh Doi
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