HANOI (Vietnam News/Asia News Network): Bach Ma and Con Dao National Parks have been nominated to become the 54th and 55th Asean Heritage Parks at the 33rd Asean Senior Officials Meeting on the Environment, being held in Cambodia from Oct 3-7.
The nomination of the two Vietnamese parks, together with the Philippines’ Pasonanca Park and Mount Inayawan Range Natural Park, will be submitted to Asean Environment Ministers for approval.
The certificates are expected to be handed over at the 17th Asean Ministerial Meeting on the Environment.
The Asean Heritage Parks Programme began in 2003 and aims to conserve biodiversity in areas of regional and international importance, help improve public awareness of the environment, and demonstrate the Asean people’s aspiration for nature conservation and sustainable development.
At present, Vietnam has 10 protected areas recognised as Asean Heritage Parks.
Bach Ma National Park in central Thừa Thiên Huế Province spans a total area of 37,487ha.
Its diverse ecosystem includes many rare fauna and flora species, which are listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book.
The recognition of Bach Ma Park is expected to raise awareness of the value of Asean’s biodiversity and improve management and cooperation with other heritage parks in the network.
Meanwhile, the marine national park of Con Dao consists of 14 islands in the Con Son archipelago.
It is located in Ba Ria Vung Tau Province, in the Southeastern part of Vietnam.
Established in March 1993, the park covered an area of over 15,000ha, of which land makes up 6,000ha and sea 9,000ha.
World Bank listed Con Dao National Park as one of the areas of highest priority among the global system of marine protected areas
In 2013, the park was the 2,203th region to be recognised as a wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention. It is also the sixth Ramsar site of Vietnam.
Con Dao is also considered one of a few national parks in the world with four forest and marine ecosystems.
This place is home to hundreds of types of vascular plants as well as many rare animal species.