Vietnam Province to Set up New Nature Reserve to Boost Biodiversity Preservation

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam’s central province of Nghe An has decided to establish Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, the second in the locality, in a move to boost biodiversity preservation. The establishment of Pu Hoat Nature Reserve will contribute to protecting the ecosystem, biodiversity, genetic resources, historical sites, cultural landscapes and forest environment in the province. Covering an area of 90,000 hectares, the nature reserve is home to 763 species of plants with more than 30 species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam, 176 species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Nghe An has to date had two nature reserves and one national park, comprising of Pu Huong and Pu Hoat Nature Reserves, and Pu Mat National Park. Vietnam, among the world’s top ten countries in terms of biodiversity, is home to 10% of the world’s known species. The country has actively participated in many international conventions on biodiversity conservation such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, International Conventions on Wildlife and others. (vietnamplus.vn June 30)