 The Bureau approves the recognition of Nui Chua Biosphere Reserve |
The decision was made by the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program at a session in Nigeria on Wednesday.
With the latest recognition, Vietnam has now boasted a total of 11 global biosphere reserves, ranking second in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.
Located in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, Nui Chua Biosphere Reserve covers a total area of more than 100 thousand hectares and has a typical and unique dry forest ecosystem in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. It is one of the 200 globally important ecological regions and one of the highest conservation priority areas of all major habitat types on Earth.
 The Bureau approves the recognition of Kon Ha Nung Plateau Biosphere Reserve
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Meanwhile, Kon Ha Nung Plateau Biosphere Reserve is located in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, covering a total area of more than 400 thousand hectars. The reserve has a closed subtropical humid evergreen forest ecosystem which remains relatively intact. It boasts high biodiversity, typical for forest ecosystem, forest flora and fauna in the Central Highlands.
The Biosphere Reserve also plays an important role in fostering socio-economic development and maintaining ecological balance of the Central Highlands and the Central- and Southeast regions.
In addition, the two Biosphere Reserves both contain rich and unique cultural heritage treasures with many outstanding features of tangible and intangible cultural values of ethnic minority groups living there.
 Ambassador - Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to UNESCO Le Thi Hong Van talks to a VOV reporter. (Photo: VOV in France)
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Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Chief Representative of the Vietnamese Delegation to UNESCO, said this is an international recognition of the diversity and development of natural and biological values and cultural values of the communities as well as the efforts of local people in conserving sustainable biodiversity.
“UNESCO's registration of our two biosphere reserves is not just a title but really opens up many opportunities for us to learn from experiences, promote initiatives in environmental protection, conserve biodiversity, restore ecosystems, promote sustainable development models, and ensure people's livelihoods,” Ambassador Van said.
“The recognition is very important as the world is entering the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 and we are making efforts towards post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development. This is also an opportunity for us to demonstrate Vietnam's commitment to joint efforts in ensuring biodiversity, responding to climate change, protecting the environment, and contributing to global sustainable development efforts,” she said.