A photo of a family of the endangered primates – red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) langurs is taken in jungle of the Sơn Trà Nature Reserve in Đà Nẵng. Photo courtesy of Bùi Văn Tuấn

ĐÀ NẴNG — A web portal collecting data of nature resources and wildlife conservation in Đà Nẵng City has been introduced.

It will provide information, documents, photographs and statistics from nature reserves in Sơn Trà and Bà Nà-Núi Chúa, as well as a special-use forest of South Hải Vân in the central city.

The portal (thiennhiendanang.vn), was jointly-built by lecturers of Environment & Biological Resource (DN-EBR) group and Faculty of Biology and Environment from the Science and Education University (University of Đà Nẵng), and the Centre of Biodiversity Conservation, GreenViet.

It contains 1,100 documents, with 1,000 photos and 53 video clips, from a number of organisations, photographers, biologists and the local community.

The portal (thiennhiendanang.vn) introduces 1,100 documents, photos and video clips on rich ecological system of Đà Nẵng's nature. Photo courtesy of GreenViet

Biologist Nguyễn Thị Tịnh from GreenViet said the portal is the first ever data of nature, forest protection, wildlife conservation and research on biodiversity covering a total 43,722ha of nature reserves.

She said the portal will provide a database and information serving for studies and curriculum among 10,000 teachers and 300,000 students in Đà Nẵng.

School teachers could use material from the portal to give lively lectures on nature of Đà Nẵng to students, she said.

“It’s the first time a knowledge data on biodiversity and endangered species has been built in Đà Nẵng," Tịnh said.

"Most of the data and information was voluntarily contributed by the community, organisations, researches and photographers.

“The portal introduces seven items on typical ecological system and species in the two nature reserves and forest in showing off rich nature value of Đà Nẵng and improves the awareness among the community on the importance of biodiversity protection and conservation.”

A viper is snapped by a photographer in jungle of Đà Nẵng. Photo courtesy of Tuấn Ba Gấu

Tịnh said the portal focuses on the conservation of two endangered primates – red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) and grey-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix cinerea) – and key protected flora and fauna of central Việt Nam that are existing in Đà Nẵng.

The development of the portal had received support from the UK-based Synchronicity Earth, VisualViet and Comclick, she said.

GreenViet-managed Nature Education and Experience Centre on Sơn Trà Peninsula has provided nature awareness education activities for more than 25,000 school students and 3,000 local residents exploring the biodiversity of the reserve.

A view from a primary forest area of Đà Nẵng. The city attracts tourists with its rich biodiversity resources near downtown area. Photo courtesy of GreenViet

The European Union (EU) also funded a biodiversity protection and environmental sustainability project in Đà Nẵng City in 2020-23 with total funding of 650,000 euros (US$686,000).

The Sơn Trà Nature Reserve, 10km from Đà Nẵng downtown, is home to more than 1,300 red-shanked douc langurs and more than 1,000 plant and 370 animal species.

It’s also the easiest site in Việt Nam to see red-shanked douc langurs at close range from 30m to 50m in jungle.

The city’s People's Committee approved a master plan on biodiversity conservation in 2030 in line with long-term socio-economic and sustainable development goals. — VNS