Relevant agencies in the northern province of Lao Cai are joining efforts to plant and recover forests in the Hoang Lien National Park, which were destroyed by a fire from Feb. 8-15. They will conduct a field survey before providing plant varieties to cover 300 ha in Ta Van and Ban Ho communes.

For a long-term protection of the forest, the provincial authority requests that the government assists in resettling thousands of households of Sa Pa district, who are living in the buffer and core zones of the national park.

Hoang Lien National Park is a primeval forest that covers nearly 30,000 ha and recognised as an ASEAN Heritage Park.

It was reported that the recent fire ravaged about 1,700ha of forest, including 1,000 ha at Ban Ho and Ta Van villages, 700ha in the area between Lao Cai and neighbouring Lai Chau province. The destroyed areas are mainly alang grass and replanted forests.