The administration of Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam plans to pour VND76 billion (US$3.2 million) into a project for conserving and raising 100 red-crowned cranes in the next decade in an attempt to protect the area’s biodiversity.

A flock of red-crowned cranes will live in their natural habitat at the Tram Chim National Park in the province’s Tam Nong District, with at least 50 of them living there for the 2023-33 period, according to data released at a meeting held by the provincial administration on Thursday.

Of the project’s total funding, nearly VND13 billion ($555,687) will be used for improving the habitat of the flock of cranes, while organic agricultural production and tourism promotion will account for almost VND6 billion ($256,100) and VND8 billion ($341,900), respectively.

Tran Tiet, director of the Southeast Asian Crane Program, said the project is aimed at not only restoring the flock of cranes, but also protecting biodiversity, recreating their natural habitats, and developing an environment for organic agricultural production so that local residents can enjoy clean and healthy farm produce.

Nguyen Phuoc Thien, vice-chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, asked a consulting unit and relevant agencies to review the project thoroughly, including evaluating issues on recreating the ecosystem, creating livelihoods for local residents in the area, developing ecotourism, and calling on local inhabitants to jointly offer ecotourism services.

The Tram Chim National Park is among a few areas where red-crowned cranes could be found. Red-crowned cranes last flocked to the park in April 2021.

The dwindling number of crane flocks was attributed to habitat loss, limited number of natural paddy fields, toxic emissions from agricultural production activities, and food scarcity.

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