Vietnamese sites Bach Ma National Park and Con Dao National Park have been put forward by ASEAN environmental officials to become the 54th and 55th ASEAN Heritage Parks.
Bach Ma National Park (Photo: Internet)
This information was announced during the 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN) which was held in Cambodia from October 3 to October 7.
The national parks, along with Pasonanca Natural Park and The Mount Inayawan Range Natural Park of the Philippines, are set be submitted to the ASEAN Environment Ministers for approval. They will subsequently be certificated at the 17th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment.
At present Vietnam boasts 10 ASEAN heritage parks, namely Hoang Lien National Park in Lao Cai province, Ba Be National Park in Bac Kan province, Bai Tu Long National Park in Quang Ninh province, Vu Quang National Park in Ha Tinh province, Ngoc Linh Nature Reserve and Chu Rom Ray National Park in Kon Tum province, Kon Ka Kinh National Park in Gia Lai province, U Minh Thuong National Park in Kien Giang, Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong, and Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park in Tay Ninh province.
The recognition greatly contributes to the conservation of ecosystems and raise greater public awareness of biodiversity conservation throughout the region.
In order to achieve such recognition the sites have had to meet specific criteria, including maintenance of ecological processes and life support systems, preservation of genetic diversity, the guarantee of sustainable utilisation of species and ecosystems, and the maintenance of wilderness with scenic, cultural, educational, research, recreational, and tourism values.
