Bai Tu Long National Park becomes 38th ASEAN Heritage Park

The title was awarded on May 19 in Ha Long city at a ceremony jointly hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee.

The ASEAN Heritage Park Program forms part of initiatives of the ASEAN Working Group on natural preservation and biodiversity since 2002.

Bai Tu Long National Park is the sixth Heritage Park of Viet Nam and the 38th of ASEAN.

The national park met six criteria of ecological intact, representative nature, high preservative manner, management planning, preservation and legal protection.

Located in Bai Tu Long Bay area and adjacent to the World Natural Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long National Park is seen a "treasure" in the biosphere in the northeastern coast of Viet Nam.

The Park has a total area of 15.783 hectares, of which sea area covers9.658 hectares, high is lands account for 6.125 hectares, boasting1,909 species of flora and fauna, including 72animal speciesand 30 plant species listed in the Viet Nam Red Book.

The five other Vietnamese heritage national parks are Ba Be, Hoang Lien, Kon Ka Kinh, Chu Mom Ray and U Minh Thuong.

(Source: VGP)