1/5/2016 9:11:00 AM

To cope with pollution in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh provincial authority has carried out many solutions and initiatives as well as called for supports of international community to protect environment at this world nature heritage.

 

Ha Long Bay, twice recognized as the world heritage site and selected as new world nature wonder in 2012, has been threaten by challenges such as environmental pollution, damages on geological resources and ecosystem caused by economic and tourism development activities as well as limited awareness of local residents and visitors. Therefore, the conservation at this site has become an urgent issue.

 

Many definitive actions

 

Stopping discharging waste oil into the Bay is considered the strongest decision of the provincial authority in order to protect environment. According to this decision, from the beginning of November 2015, 150 out of total 240 cruises which lacking of oil-water separation system will be stopped their operation. This action aims to prevent discharging wastewater from these cruises which is an accepted issue for many years.

 

The Quang Ninh province has recently established the Ha Long environmental protection and education association. It aims to focus on mobilizing all social entities participating in environmental protection; propagandizing to raise awareness of community; supporting and developing environmental volunteer network; sharing experience on environmental education; and carrying out other missions assigned by the government.   

 

“Establishment of the Ha Long environmental protection and education association not only contributes to raising awareness of local residents and community on protecting environment in general and environment in Ha Long Bay in particular but also is the next step of the province in protecting landscape and biodiversity of Ha Long Bay. This is a new effort of the province in preserving and promoting heritage values of Ha Long Bay”, said Hoang Ba Nam – Provincial Union Secretary.

 

International cooperation

 

During recent years, Quang Ninh province has called for investment attraction and assistances of organizations and governments of other countries in environmental protection of Ha Long Bay.

 

The “Initiative on Ha Long-Cat Ba coalition” project has obtained successes when it has received financial, technical supports as well as experience in handling with environmental pollution in this location. This project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development with more than US$ 691,000, of which non-refundable amount of US$ 623,000 and the counterpart fund of more than US$ 68,000. The project has implemented from beginning of 2015 to middle 2017.

 

The project aims to enhance preservation of landscape and environment; manage effectively exploiting and using natural resources towards sustainable development in Ha Long Bay; form and practice effective cooperation manners between stakeholders in managing and exploiting effectively Ha Long Bay.

 

At the end of December, the provincial leaders had a meeting with the Rent A Port Corporation (Belgium) on the environmental restoration in Ha Long Bay. At the meeting, Marc Stordiau – General Director promised to support the province in collection and treatment of waste generated both in the mainland and at sea. At the same time, a project to construct wastewater treatment system from mining activity was also proposed with its total investment cost of about US$ 129 million from ODA fund and counterpart fund in 10 years.

 

If both sides obtain agreements, the project will start at 2016. The project is expected to contribute to solving the conflicts between industry and tourism, ensuring industrial development while protecting environment and preserving landscape of Ha Long Bay.

 

Speaking at the meeting, the provincial leaders expect to receive supports from the Kingdom of Belgium and other European countries in environmental protection projects in Ha Long Bay.

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