Tràm Chim National Park in Tam Nông District of Đồng Tháp Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

ĐỒNG THÁP — A ceremony was held in Cao Lãnh City in the Mekong Delta province of Đồng Tháp on Friday to launch a campaign on the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands in Việt Nam.

The ceremony was co-organised by the Centre for Natural Resources and Environmental Communication under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Việt Nam, and Đồng Tháp Province’s Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Speaking at the event, Cao Minh Tuấn, deputy director of the centre, said the event was one of the activities to mark International Day of Biodiversity (May 22) which has the theme “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity” this year.

In Việt Nam, wetlands play an important role in socio-economic development, environmental protection, and climate change response.

With an area of about 12 million ha, wetlands in Việt Nam make an important contribution to ecological balance, habitats of thousands of species of creatures, and providing livelihoods for millions of people.

The diversity of wetland types in Việt Nam has contributed to the diversity of species, which is significant to the country and the world. Wetlands have also contributed to providing food and aquatic products for domestic demand and export.

Tuấn said that the conservation and sustainable development of wetlands in Việt Nam have always been defined as one of the sustainable development goals. The Government has issued many decrees and decisions to promote the value of wetlands and overcome difficulties and inadequacies in wetland conservation and exploitation.

After the ceremony, a conference was held to provide information that is expected to help raise public awareness of the conservation and sustainable use of Việt Nam's wetlands.

Agencies and local authorities also organised the signing of community commitments in conserving Tràm Chim National Park in Tam Nông District of Đồng Tháp Province.

A photo exhibition was opened the same day, displaying winning works in a photo contest on the conservation and sustainable use of Việt Nam's wetlands in 2022. — VNS