Cat Ba archipelago world biosphere reserve in Hai Phong city is considered to be the area with the richest biodiversity in Viet Nam

The plan targets to increase, restore and preserve natural ecosystem; manage and preserve wild wildlife species and rare genetic resources. 

It also aims to build and develop a system of nature reserves, biodiversity corridors, biodiversity conservation facilities, areas of high biodiversity, important ecological landscapes, important wetlands contributing to climate change response and sustainable national development.

The Government plans to expand and upgrade 178 existing nature reserves including national parks, biosphere reserves, species and habitat conservation centers, and landscape protection centers. 

It targets to establish 61 new ones, raising the total areas of terrestrial nature reserves to 6.6 million hectares.

By 2050, important natural ecosystems, endangered, precious and rare species, and valuable genetic resources will be restored and effectively conserved; biodiversity and ecosystem services will be evaluated, used sustainably and bring essential benefits to socio-economic development, contributing to ensuring environmental security, proactively responding to climate change, and sustainable development of the country.

The plan looks to develop eight socio-ecological zones including (1) Red River Delta; (2) Northeast; (3) Northwest; (4) North Central Coast; (5) South Central Coast; (6) Central Highlands; (7) Southeast; and (8) Mekong River Delta.

According to the United Nations Development Program, Viet Nam is one of the countries with the highest level of biodiversity in the world with many different ecosystems, including mountains, tropical forests, limestone mountains, marine and coastal environments. More than 100 bird species and more than 10 percent of the country's plant species are endemic.

Viet Nam has three popular ecosystem groups including inland wetlands, coastal wetlands and marine. The country currently has nine Ramsar sites and 11 world biosphere reserves recognized by UNESCO.

Earlier, the Prime Minister approved the National Strategy on Biodiversity to 2030, with a vision to 2050./.

Kim Anh