Two Vietnamese biosphere reserves receive UNESCO recognition

Vietnam’s biosphere reserves Nui Chua, in the south-central province of Ninh Thuan, and Kon Ha Nung Plateau, in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, were officially recognised by UNESCO at the 33rd session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (CIC-MAB) in Abuja, Nigeria, on September 15.

Nui Chua biosphere reserve in Ninh Thuan Province
Nui Chua biosphere reserve in Ninh Thuan Province

Accordingly, from 2000-2020, Vietnam had 11 biosphere reserves, becoming the country with the second largest number of UNESCO-recognised biosphere reserves in Southeast Asia, following Indonesia.

Nui Chua biosphere reserve, with a total area of 106,646.45 hectares, has a core zone in the national park of the same name. It is the only standard sample of the typical and unique dry forest ecosystem in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Its forest ecosystem is of special value because it belongs to the Greater Annamites, one of 200 global important ecological regions and one of the highest conservation priority areas of all major habitat types on Earth.

Kon Ha Nung biosphere reserve

Covering a total area of 413,511.67 hectares, Kon Ha Nung biosphere reserve consists of two core areas: Kon Ka Kinh National Park and Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve. It has a closed subtropical humid evergreen forest ecosystem which remains relatively intact.

With high biodiversity that is typical of forest ecosystems, forest flora and fauna in the Central Highlands reserve have played an important role in socio-economic development and maintaining ecological balance of the Central Highlands and the Central and Southeast regions.

Both Nui Chua and Kon Ha Nung biosphere reserves contain rich and unique cultural heritage treasures with many outstanding features of tangible and intangible cultural values of the local ethnic minority groups.

UNESCO's titles expressed the recognition from international community for the values of biodiversity as well as efforts in nature conservation and sustainable development of Vietnam while contributing to promoting the image of the land, people and culture of Vietnam to international friends.