VietNamNet Bridge – GreenViet and the Da Nang–based Centre of Biodiversity Conservation has started construction of the Son Tra Nature Education Centre on Son Tra peninsula to provide a space for students to explore the area’s biodiversity.

1,300 endangered red-shanked douc langurs call the Son Tra Nature reserve in Da Nang home. — VNS Photos Cong Thanh

Deputy director of GreenViet Le Thi Trang told Viet Nam News the centre, which will be built thanks to a VND1.2 billion (US$53,000) investment from donors, will allow school and university students in Da Nang to explore the flora and fauna of the Son Tra Nature Reserve. The centre will teach students about endangered species and raise awareness of environmental protection efforts.

Trang said the centre, located just six kilometres from the reserve, will open its wildlife learning site and start running jungle field trips later this year.

A 1,000-year-old banyan tree is well preserved in jungle of Son Tra, 10 km away from downtown Da Nang City.

Photos, videos and interactive activities will teach students about the area’s wildlife. Children will also gain valuable life skills including critical thinking, debating and teamwork.

She said GreenViet has called for nature lovers and members of the community to donate towards furnishing the centre’s learning facilities.

The centre plans to run weekend trips into the jungle of Son Tra for 20 children at a time. It will host at least 10,000 visitors per year.

In co-operation with the city’s education and training department, GreenViet launched a field education programme for 300 teachers last year. Aimed at junior secondary school teachers, the programme focused on nature and wildlife protection in the reserve.

Students on a field trip to reserve. The Son Tra Nature Education Centre will lead more educational trips for youths.

According to the organisation, more than 25,000 school students and 3,000 local residents joined nature awareness education field trips to the reserve between 2012 and 2017.

A group of 15 local school students also formed a “green guard” team to care for and protect the forest and maintain a safe habitat for the red-shanked douc langur (Pygathryx nemaeus).

The reserve is home to more than 1,300 of the endangered primates, and more than 1,000 plant and 370 animal species

Re-use Everything Institute Inc of Finland had provided $25,000 for biodiversity research to help protect the langurs.

The Frankfurt Zoological Society and the San Diego Zoo have also been working with the city to try and save the primates.

Source: VNS