Hanoi (VNA) - Con Dao National Park in Ho Chi Minh City has been awarded the coveted IUCN Green List designation, an international accolade reserved for protected areas demonstrating exceptional management and sustainable conservation practices.
Pham Hong Luong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Forestry Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment made the announcement on September 24.
The recognition makes Con Dao Vietnam's second national park and third protected area overall to achieve this distinction, following Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve in northern Ninh Binh province and Cat Tien National Park in southern Dong Nai province.
The IUCN Green List certification is valid for five years, during which a mid-term review will be conducted to validate continued alignment with the standards. The IUCN also advises Con Dao to continue updating the progress of meeting the requirements to maintain its status until 2030.
According to Luong, the inclusion of the park in the IUCN Green List until 2030 is an important milestone. This is not only a recognition but also a testament to the efforts to fulfil commitments to biodiversity conservation and the natural values in Vietnam as well as in Con Dao National Park.
At the same time, this also represents a responsibility for Con Dao to continue maintaining and enhancing the achievements that have been made.
To be listed, Con Dao National Park underwent a rigorous multi-stage assessment involving independent experts, conservation organisations, and local community representatives. The park’s management was evaluated on criteria including governance, design, planning, and the effectiveness of conservation outcomes.
The park covers an area of over 15,000 hectares of land and nearly 14,000 hectares of marine area, regarded as one of the most important marine and island conservation areas in Vietnam. It is home to a diverse ecosystem of special-use forests, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests, playing a key role in ecological balance and climate change adaptation.
Con Dao is famous for being the largest sea turtle nesting site in the country, welcoming thousands of mother turtles each year to lay their eggs. The park has implemented a sea turtle conservation programme for decades, resulting in millions of hatchlings being incubated and released into the ocean, contributing to the preservation of rare sea turtle populations in the Southeast Asian seas.
The park’s biodiversity is remarkable, with 1,077 plant species, 155 forest animal species, and 1,725 marine species, including 360 coral species, 205 reef fish, 187 mollusks, and 116 crustaceans. Among these, 76 forest and 72 marine species are classified as endangered.
In addition to conservation efforts, the management team also focuses on developing eco-tourism linked to environmental education.
Experiential programmes such as watching turtles lay eggs, visiting mangrove forests, snorkeling and exploring marine ecosystems are organised under strict control processes.
These initiatives not only create livelihoods for local people but also raise tourists' awareness of nature conservation. These models have contributed to affirming Con Dao’s status as a unique destination, harmonising economic development with resource conservation.
Con Dao National Park team has continuously expanded international cooperation, working with various conservation organisations, research agencies, and development partners to enhance management capacity, apply advanced monitoring technologies, and share experiences.
Technical and financial support projects from international organisations not only help improve conservation effectiveness but also contribute to connecting the local community in efforts to protect forests, seas, and wildlife./.
