(KPL) Over the recent years, the government has insisted that the socio-economic development and poverty reduction must meet sustainable and green development trends and receive active participation from the public.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the number of natural parks has increased from two decades ago to more than twenty today. They cover more than 4 million hectares and all of them have become a major green economic potential of the country.

Nam Kan National Park is located in Huayxay, Bokeo Province. It is located 84 km to the south of the central administration hub of the northern province. The park has an area of 136,000 ha of mixed deciduous forest. Traces of traditional agriculture can be seen alongside the road running from Thailand to China.

It was announced the 21^st national park of the country in September, 2008, two years after its discovery. The park not only contributes to carbon dioxide absorption but also serves as an interesting tourist destination.

Founded back in 2004, the Gibbon Experience is first and foremost a conservation project that helps protect part of the national park, according to Rain Forest Cruises. The project sustains itself by inviting tourists to make the journey deep into the jungle and stay overnight in wooden huts at the top of high trees – allegedly the highest treehouses in the world. During the day, visitors explore vast expanses, traveling above the forest on a crazy 15 kilometers of a zip line, as well as going on some hiking adventures on the jungle floor too.

Gibbon Experience is a tourism-based conservation programme operated by French investor Jean Françoise Reumaux. The project involves forestation and wildlife protection efforts to promote biodiversity protection in the park.

Most of Gibbon Experience visitors are from EU and US. The number of foreign visitors is expected to rise due to the facilitation of recently launched Laos-China railway, and other cross-border connectivity projects.

KPL