Photo shows a corner of Ca Mau National Park in southern Ca Mau Province. A long-term plan has been set up to conserve biodiversity in the mangrove swamp's ecosystem. — VNA/VNS Photo Huynh Lam

Encompassing Dat Mui, Vien An and Dat Moi communes in Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau province, the park covers over 41,800ha, including 26,600ha of coastal areas and 15,200ha inland.

It is home to 93 species of birds, 26 species of mammals, 43 species of reptiles, nine species of amphibians, 139 fish species and 53 mollusc species. Of these, many are listed in Viet Nam's Red Book and the Red Book issued by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature that heralds the plight of endangered species.

In 2009, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation recognised Ca Mau Cape National Park as a World Biosphere Reserve.

In April this year, the park became the 2,088th Ramsar site in the world (wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar convention) and the fifth Ramsar site in Viet Nam. The others include the Xuan Thuy Natural Wetland Reserve in the Red River Delta province of Nam Dinh, Ba Be Lake in the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan, Bau Sau in Cat Tien National Park in the southern province of Dong Nai and Tram Chim National Park in the southern province of Dong Thap

Ca Mau's provincial authorities are making every effort to conserve the Ramsar site by experimenting with conservation models that use the mangrove swamp's resources in a sustainable fashion, promoting the economic value of wetland ecosystems.

The park's management board has been working with the local authorities and agencies as well as domestic and foreign organisations to hold regular education campaigns to raise the public's awareness of the laws and regulations on forest and sea management and protection. This will increase the local community's involvement in helping to conserve the park's biodiversity.

At present, 12 monitoring groups have been set up to patrol and protect the park.

Several community-based programmes are also underway to safeguard the park, while the park itself has come up with several ways of getting the local people to contribute to the ecotourism operation in whatever way they can.

However, more research on the fauna and flora in the park is urgently needed, as well as projects to categorise and supervise the biodiversity and the wetland areas as well as upgrade the park's management. 

(VNS)