The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will consider to recognize two sites in Vietnam, Cu Lao Cham (Cham Islands) and Mui Ca Mau (Ca Mau Cape), as world biosphere reserves at a session in South Korea from May 25-29.
Hoi An ancient town’s Party Chief Nguyen Su said that at the invitation of the assistant to UNESCO General Director and the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee, Hoi An’s representatives will join the Vietnamese delegation to the 21st session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) on the South Korean island of Jeju from May 25 to 29.
The conference will discuss activities of MAB program, the construction of biosphere reserves as sustainable development models and have a look at national nominations of world biosphere reserves, including Vietnam’s nominations of Cu Lao Cham in Hoi An and Mui Ca Mau.
According to the Vietnam UNESCO Committee, the two sites are likely to be added to the UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves, conservation areas that focus on sustainable development as well as environmental protection.
Cu Lao Cham are a group of eight islets, about 20 kilometers offshore from Hoi An Town in Quang Nam central province. The largest islet is Hon La, with a total area of 15 square kilometers, a population of 3,000, mostly fishermen.
Cu Lao Cham is home to a wide range of land and marine fauna and flora, with many the species listed as endangered.
Mui Ca Mau, the southernmost point of Vietnam in southern Ca Mau Province, is home to Mui Ca Mau National Park. The most ecologically valuable and largest salt-marsh forest in Vietnam is home to more than 100 rare and endangered species of fauna.
Ca Mau Province, famous for its bird sanctuaries, is also home to the brackish cajeput and mangrove ecosystems.
Vietnam currently has six UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserves, Can Gio Mangrove near HCM City, Cat Ba Island in northern Hai Phong City, Cat Tien National Park north of HCM City, Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve in southern Kien Giang Province, Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve near Hanoi and the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.