vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn  

HA NOI — Sa Pa’s Hoang Lien nature reserve in the mountainous province of Lao Cai is set to become a national park soon.

Sprawling over 29,845ha, the park will have various demarcated areas: 11,800ha of strictly protected area, 17,900ha of ecology recovery area besides administration and tourism services areas.

It will also have a buffer zone of 38,724ha bordering some communes in the three districts of Van Ban, Than Uyen and Phong Tho in Lai Chau Province.

Hoang Lien national park will cover the communes of San Sa Ho, Lao Chai, Ta Van, Ba Ho in Sa Pa District and a part of Muong Khoa commune in Than Uyen District.

The park will border Phong Tho District in Lai Chau Province to the east, the communes of Ho Mit, Pac Ta, Nam Can in Than Uyen District to the south and communes Ta Giang Phin, Ta Phin, Ban Khoang, Trung Chai in Sa Pa District to the north.

Hoang Lien is one of the most bio-diverse areas in the whole country.

The reserve, containing Viet Nam’s highest mountain, Phan Xi Pang, also has many rare plant and animal species, including the globally-threatened Fokienia hodginsii.

Of its diverse flora, over 400 species are considered to have medicinal properties.

Hoang Lien’s population is made up of a number of ethnic minorities like the Mong, Dao, Giay and Tay, each of whom is dependent to a greater or lesser extent on the natural resources. — VNS