Mr. Bui Duc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation

This event is part of Vietnam’s 2023-2025 initiative to connect ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) in accordance with the national biodiversity action plan, led by the Department of International Cooperation. 

The goal is to create a network, foster information sharing among Vietnam’s AHPs, and strengthen the protection of natural heritage systems, while synchronizing with biodiversity mandates in the 2020 Environmental Protection Law and Decree No. 08/2022/NĐ-CP dated January 10, 2022.

The initiative, “Connecting Vietnam’s ASEAN Heritage Parks (2023-2025) through the National Biodiversity Action Program,” aims to advance international commitments on nature conservation and biodiversity for the 2021-2030 decade, supporting the rights and benefits of stakeholders in the sustainable use of biodiversity under a framework for sustainable development. The Department of International Cooperation, which serves as the secretariat of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Environment (ASOEN), is responsible for the project’s implementation alongside relevant units within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

At the opening, Mr. Bui Duc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation, emphasized that the ASEAN Heritage Parks Program is one of ASEAN’s environmental cooperation initiatives. Established based on the ASEAN Ministers of Environment’s Declaration on Heritage Parks in 2003, the program’s goal is the comprehensive preservation of ASEAN’s unique ecosystems. These parks play a critical role in conserving genetic resources, supporting sustainable ecosystem use, maintaining areas of cultural and educational value, and raising public awareness on biodiversity conservation across ASEAN nations.

Participants taking part in a field trip to Con Dao National Park

During the event, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Vinh, Head of the Natural Heritage Management Department of the Biodiversity Conservation Agency, presented a report on “Sustainable Development Directions for Vietnam’s ASEAN Heritage Parks.” 

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Vinh outlined 11 key strategies, including: establishing and operating a national AHP network, issuing regulations for network operations, building management capacity and conservation effectiveness at AHPs, strengthening coordination mechanisms and policy frameworks for biodiversity conservation, and enhancing partnerships with regional and international organizations to foster collaborative efforts across the AHP network.

Additional efforts should focus on education and community involvement in natural heritage conservation, sustainable livelihood models for local communities around AHPs, and promoting ecotourism linked to the unique cultural features of each park. Enhancing the efficiency of buffer zone cooperatives is also crucial to improving income, supporting sustainable livelihoods, and reducing pressure on natural resources.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Vinh highlighted the importance of biodiversity monitoring and law enforcement in AHPs, with strict action against violations in forestry, fisheries, biodiversity, land use, and environmental protection. He emphasized the need for scientific investment and increased international cooperation for the effective connection of Vietnam’s ASEAN Heritage Parks.
Throughout the roundtable, participants exchanged views on sustainable development strategies, sharing insights and effective management models from Con Dao National Park and Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park—both recognized as ASEAN Heritage Parks (Lo Go-Xa Mat in 2019 and Con Dao in 2023). These discussions included scientific approaches for conservation, management, and sustainable use of biodiversity in Vietnam.

Participants also took part in a field trip to Con Dao National Park, a renowned natural reserve located in the northern part of Con Dao district, established by government decision on March 31, 1993. Con Dao National Park fulfills ASEAN’s selection criteria for heritage parks, valued not only for its unique marine biodiversity but also for its historical and cultural significance to Vietnam.

Ngoc Huyen (NRE Newspaper)