A grey-shanked douc at Bạch Mã National Park in the central province of Thừa Thiên Huế. — VNA/VNS Photo Đỗ Trưởng

HÀ NỘI — Bạch Mã and Côn Đảo National Parks have been nominated to become the 54th and 55th ASEAN Heritage Parks at the 33rd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on the Environment, held in Cambodia from October 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, Việt Nam has 10 protected areas recognised as ASEAN Heritage Parks. 

Bạch Mã 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 Việt Nam’s Red Data Book. 

The recognition of Bạch Mã 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 Côn Đảo consists of 14 islands in the Côn Sơn archipelago.

It is located in Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu Province, in the Southeastern part of Việt Nam. 

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 Côn Đảo 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 Việt Nam. 

Côn Đảo 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. — VNS