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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has officially recognised Cát Tiên National Park in southern Việt Nam as the 72nd addition to its prestigious Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.

The park is the second Green List site in Việt Nam, along with Vân Long Wetland Nature Reserve, which was recognised in 2021.

Jake Brunner, Head of IUCN’s Lower Mekong Sub-region and Phạm Xuân Thịnh, Director of Cát Tiên National Park present the certificate recognising Cát Tiên National Park's inclusion in the IUCN Green List. (Photo: Trần Khánh An /VNS)

"The park is the first national park in Việt Nam to be recognised as an IUCN Green List," said Phạm Xuân Thịnh, Director of Cát Tiên National Park.

"This prestigious recognition underscores our commitment to preserving the unique biodiversity and natural heritage of Cát Tiên."

Nguyễn Quốc Trị, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said: "This recognition opens opportunities for Việt Nam to elevate its efforts and collaborate with other conservation areas around the world in nature conservation."

Jake Brunner, Head of IUCN’s Lower Mekong Sub-region, remarked that “Achieving Green List status is not merely about pursuing a title, it represents a long-term commitment. The fact that two of the three Green List sites in Southeast Asia are in Việt Nam reflects the determination of Việt Nam's government to improve standards of protected area management.”

The effort is supported by the USAID Biodiversity Conservation Activity, part of the Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation (VFBC) project – Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), World Wide Fund for Nature in Việt Nam (WWF-Việt Nam), in collaboration with IUCN.

Cát Tiên National Park, on an area of more than 82,000ha in the provinces of Đồng Nai, Lâm Đồng and Bình Phước, is a rich diverse natural site in Việt Nam.

It has implemented biodiversity monitoring since the early 2000s, with data on key species populations like birds, primates, deer, and crocodiles.

The national park has pursued IUCN Green List certification through rigorous efforts in conservation with community engagement since 2016.

Cát Tiên Park's journey towards Green List certification began with an in-depth assessment of its conservation measures and monitoring, including habitat restoration and species conservation projects.

Educational programs and initiatives have been implemented to raise awareness about the importance of protecting natural resources and local community members have been involved in conservation activities, providing them with sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Furthermore, Cát Tiên National Park has strengthened its management practices by enhancing its monitoring and enforcement capabilities.

Cát Tiên National Park. (Photo: Hoa Anh, VNA/VNS)

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List is a global initiative for successful nature conservation, aiming to recognise and increase the number of protected and conserved areas that deliver long-lasting conservation results for people and nature.

It offers an assured verification process, awarding certificates to sites that can demonstrate that they meet and maintain the full set of 17 globally consistent criteria and 50 indicators that address four themes: good governance, sound design and planning, effective management and successful conservation outcomes.

At its heart is the Green List Sustainability Standard, which provides a global benchmark for how to meet the protected and conserved area management challenges of the 21st century.

There are more than 300 engaged sites around the world, of which 108 are formally committed to the IUCN Green List.

Việt Nam has been one of the first countries in Asia to adopt the Green List since 2015, along with China and the Republic of Korea.

The project sites participating in the IUCN Green List programme in Việt Nam also include Cúc Phương National Park, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Vũ Quang National Park, Bạch Mã National Park, Đồng Châu-Khe Nước Trong Nature Reserve, Sông Thanh National Park, Bidoup-Núi Bà National Park.

Two other sites, Côn Đảo National Park and Pù Mát National Park, are in the registration and application phase.

(VNS)