UNESCO’s International Coordination Council of Man and the Biosphere Programme (MBA) on May 26 officially recognised the Cham Islands and Ca Mau Cape as global biosphere reserves.

Cu Lao Cham or Cham Islands.

The recognition was announced at the 21^st session of the MBA, which is taking place on the Republic of Korea Island of Jeju from May 21-29.

Nguyen Su, the Hoi An city’s party committee secretary said that the event acknowledged the country’s great efforts in meeting the criteria of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. He added that it is necessary to conserve and develop the world’s biosphere reserves at any cost, especially the protection of the environment and the natural habitat of rare and precious species of fauna and flora.

Apart from the Cham Islands and Ca Mau Cape, three additional biosphere reserves of other nations were also recognised, bringing the total number of the world’s biosphere reserves to 22.

Cu Lao Cham are a group of eight islets, about 20 kilometers offshore from Hoi An Town in Quang Nam central province. The largest islet is Hon La, with a total area of 15 square kilometers, a population of 3,000, mostly fishermen.

Cu Lao Cham is home to a wide range of land and marine fauna and flora, with many the species listed as endangered.

Mui Ca Mau, the southernmost point of Vietnam in southern Ca Mau Province, is home to Mui Ca Mau National Park. The most ecologically valuable and largest salt-marsh forest in Vietnam is home to more than 100 rare and endangered species of fauna.

Ca Mau Province, famous for its bird sanctuaries, is also home to the brackish cajeput and mangrove ecosystems.

Vietnam currently has six UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserves, Can Gio Mangrove near HCM City, Cat Ba Island in northern Hai Phong City, Cat Tien National Park north of HCM City, Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve in southern Kien Giang Province, Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve near Hanoi and the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.

VietNamNet/VOV