To celebrate the forests and their importance for communities in Thua Thien Hue, a series of photographs were commissioned by WWF, to highlight the important role of forests and to promote the new truly ‘eco’ tourism project, ‘One Day, One Night, One Adventure,’ in A Loui. The works, by two highly celebrated and internationally recognized local photographers, Mr. Pham Ba Thinh and Mr. Dang Van Tran, portray the interrelationships between the forests and people’s livelihoods, and further investigates the significance of this relationship in the culture, economy, and daily lives of the local people.

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To begin the story we start in the enchanting city of Hue, world renown for its historical and cultural value and home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites. While strolling through the streets of Hue one will happen across the ancient citadel of the Nguyen Dynasty, a myriad of historic temples scattered throughout, and of course the legendary Huong (Perfume) River which gently meanders to bisect the city.

If one looks upstream to the source of the majestic river, they would soon discover magnificent forests which not only harbor the origin of Hue’s lifeblood, but also an amazing amount of biodiversity of global conservation significance. Hidden inside these tropical forests, stretching from the peak of Bach Ma National Park, to the northern edge of Quang Tri province, on to Phong Dien Nature Reserve and bordering Laos PDR, is a wealth of species unique to this area, known as the Central Annamites. In the 1990’s three of the last large mammals to be discovered were found here, including the saola, an elusive and unusual species of cattle, and as scientists survey the area a plethora of new species continue to be found. This area of forest in Hue is believed by some to be one of the best locations in Vietnam for long-term conservation of the saola; remarkable considering the location was heavily sprayed with dioxin during the American war.

The majesty of these regal forests is shared by the communities found within. The Ca Tu and Ta Oi people depend upon the forests for rattan, bamboo, medicinal plants and other non-timber forest products, as they have for centuries, for a majority of their household income. As populations grow and more forestland is converted for other use, the forests, and the people who depend upon them, teeter between survival and collapse.

To combat the surmounting issues at hand, WWF and the Forest Protection Department have been working with local community members in the establishment of ‘community forests’, which will take pressure off the forests while making life for the people easier, and ensure that their resources will be secured for the long-term. By managing the forest in this way, it is expected that one of the last remaining habitats for Hue’s unique natural heritage may have a chance at survival.

Alongside the community forest projects, WWF has helped advise the local people in the development of eco-tourism. In this way the forest and the unique cultures of the people who reside within will be not only preserved, but celebrated.

Visiting Thua Thien Hue

In the newly opened tourism areas in A Luoi, such as the A Roang commune tucked away along the Ho Chi Minh highway, tourists seeking a truly eco-friendly and rewarding experience can take part in a ‘One Day, One Night, One Adventure.’ These excursions offer visits to historical sites, such as the infamous Hamburger Hill, to local communities to see how handicrafts are made, and home stays with the gracious and welcoming Ta Oi people, offering a chance to see first hand the lives of this unique community. For those seeking to find the wild side of A Luoi, these excursions may offer the best bet, as the forests are home to many gibbons--apes known for their ethereal morning calls, 100s of bird species, countless species of wild orchid, and of course, if one is very lucky, the chance to see the elusive saola with their very own eyes

Keeping conservation in mind, it is recommended that tourist follow some simple rules to help maintain this pristine area.

Please visit these areas responsibly:

- Do not collect anything from the forest.

- Do not collect wild orchids or buy from vendors, many are very rare and will become extinct if taken from these forests.

- Do not litter.

- Try to take your refuse with you. As these areas do not have a centralized system for garbage removal, taking refuse with you would greatly help.

- Do not consume exotic or wild animals even when offered, as they may be a part of the illegal wildlife trade.

- Do not purchase wildlife products as gifts or keepsakes, as they may be a part of the illegal wildlife trade and traveling with them internationally will very likely be prohibited.

For further information about the area and conservation work in the Central Annamites region please visit - www.huegreencorridor.org