The People's Committee of Lao Cai province has decided to transform the Bat Xat Nature Reserve into Bat Xat National Park. This is Vietnam's 36th national park.
Black-faced thrush in Bat Xat National Park - Photo: PHAM HONG PHUONG
The Chairman of the People's Committee of Lao Cai province has just issued a decision to upgrade the Bat Xat Nature Reserve to Bat Xat National Park in Lao Cai province.
This is Vietnam's 36th national park and the second national park in Lao Cai province, alongside Hoang Lien National Park.
Bat Xat National Park is located within the administrative boundaries of three communes: Muong Hum, Den Sang, and Y Ty (Lao Cai province), with a total area of approximately 18,510 hectares.
This includes a strictly protected zone of approximately 14,686 hectares, an ecological restoration zone of approximately 3,441 hectares, and a service and administrative zone of approximately 382 hectares.
The buffer zone of Bat Xat National Park comprises 32 villages and hamlets in three communes: Muong Hum, Den Sang, and Y Ty.
Bat Xat National Park serves the functions of protecting the integrity of forest ecosystems, conserving biodiversity and biological gene resources, providing environmental education, conducting scientific research, and protecting the environment.
Simultaneously, maintaining and ensuring water source stability, linked with the development of ecotourism and the provision of forest environmental services, contributes to improving the lives of people in the buffer zone, promoting socio-economic development, and ensuring national defense and security in the area.
Some animal species at Bat Xat National Park - Photo: K.TRUNG
Bat Xat National Park is the starting point of the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, with high peaks extending from Y Ty commune to Fansipan peak. The diversity of topography and altitude contributes to the biodiversity of this area.
Here, 976 species of vascular higher plants have been discovered, of which 137 are endangered, rare, and precious species that are threatened at the national and global levels in the Vietnam Red Book, the IUCN Red List (2021), and the List of Endangered, Rare, and Precious Species in Vietnam.
In particular, there are 67 endemic species of Northern Vietnam and 38 endemic species of Vietnam, such as the golden thread orchid, spiny Coptis, three-spined Coptis, Chinese Coptis, chicken-footed Coptis, etc.
Waterfall inside Bat Xat National Park - Photo: TRINH HUNG
Regarding animals, 173 species have been recorded, including 42 mammals, 73 birds, 20 reptiles, and 38 amphibians. Many species are endangered, rare, and precious; 18 mammal species, 11 bird species, 6 reptile species, and 17 amphibian species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book, the IUCN Red List, and the list of endangered and rare species in our country.
In particular, several endemic, endangered, rare, and valuable species with high conservation value have been discovered. These species mainly belong to the amphibian class, including the Hoàng Liên horned toad, mountain toad, eyebrowed toad, red-horned toad, and Fansipan horned toad...
This area boasts magnificent natural landscapes, with many of the highest peaks in Vietnam, such as Pu Ta Leng (3,049m), Ky Quan San (3,046m), and Nhiu Co San (2,965m); the Red Waterfall exploration route - the cluster of ancient fir trees on the summit of Cu Nhu San, the Pavie ancient stone road relic, Hong Ngai waterfall, and border marker number 85...