DONG NAI: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially recognised Cat Tien National Park in southern Vietnam as the 72nd addition to its prestigious Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.
The park is the second Green List site in Vietnam, along with Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, which was recognised in 2021.
“The park is the first national park in Vietnam to be recognised as an IUCN Green List,” said Pham Xuan Thinh, director of Cat Tien National Park.
“This prestigious recognition underscores our commitment to preserving the unique biodiversity and natural heritage of Cat Tien.”
Nguyen Quoc Tri, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: “This recognition opens opportunities for Vietnam to elevate its efforts and collaborate with other conservation areas around the world in nature conservation.”
Jake Brunner, Head of IUCN’s Lower Mekong Sub-region, remarked that “Achieving Green List status is not merely about pursuing a title, it represents a long-term commitment.
“The fact that two of the three Green List sites in South-East Asia are in Vietnam reflects the determination of Vietnam’s government to improve standards of protected area management.”
The effort is supported by the USAID Biodiversity Conservation Activity, part of the Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation project – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam, in collaboration with IUCN.
Cat Tien National Park, on an area of more than 82,000ha in the provinces of Dong Nai, Lam Dong and Binh Phuoc, is a rich diverse natural site in Vietnam.
It has implemented biodiversity monitoring since the early 2000s, with data on key species populations like birds, primates, deer and crocodiles.
The national park has pursued IUCN Green List certification through rigorous efforts in conservation with community engagement since 2016.
Cat Tien Park’s journey towards Green List certification began with an in-depth assessment of its conservation measures and monitoring, including habitat restoration and species conservation projects. — Viet Nam News/ANN
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