"We expect through this recognition, the national umbrella with several hundred members living in the Biosphere Reserve will have the opportunity to benefit from the development and use of their traditional knowledge to improve lives and protect the natural ecology, " said Katherine Muller Marin, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam at the ceremony.

She said that the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve should be considered as a "living laboratory" to test and demonstrate the integrated management of land, water, biodiversity, as well as the use of indigenous practices to mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

Vice Chairman of Nghe An, Thanh Dien Huynh, said, the recognition of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve will help preserve the pristine tropical forests, animal protection, tourism development, remove poverty reduction, bringing the global value.

Covering more than 1.3 million hectares bordering Laos , the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve is the only remaining area in the northern region with unexplored primary forests. It is the largest Biosphere Reserve in Vietnam and South East Asia.

Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve was firstly recognized by UNESCO in 2007, and it is among 564 biosphere reserves in 109 countries in the world (as to June 2010).

The region boasts remarkable biodiversity, ranging from lowland evergreen monsoon forests, to cloud forests at altitudes of 2,300 meters.

The reserve now accommodates more than 884,000 people of seven ethnic minority groups: Kinh, Thai, Kho Mu, Tho, H’Mong, Dan Lai and O Du.

It is home to 70 species of flora and 80 species of fauna listed in Vietnam’s Red Book of endangered species, 295 species of birds, 54 species of reptiles and amphibians, 83 species of fish and 39 species of bats.

Among the indigenous wildlife animals in the reserve, is the Sao La or Vu Quang ox, which was first discovered late last century and is among the world’s most endangered species.

Vietnam now has eight zones of biosphere reserves in the world, including six reserves have been granted a certificate UNESCO biosphere reserve, which includes the Western Nghe An, Can Gio Mangrove Forest, Cat Tien National Park, Cat Ba Island, Reserve Red River Delta Biosphere, Biosphere Reserve and the coastal sea island, Kien Giang biosphere reserve of Ca Mau, and biosphere reserves - Cu Lao Cham.