ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) represent the efforts of ASEAN member states to conserve biodiversity and promote tourism in the region.

“Biodiversity is our life source. It is where we get our food, ingredients for medicine, materials for our clothing and shelter, and raw materials for businesses and industries. Thus, biodiversity and environmental issues and concerns are interconnected with all development sectors.” Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim, ACB Executive Director

The ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) program was launched in 2006 by the ASEAN Center for Biodiversity (ACB) after its establishment. ASEAN member countries agreed on “an ASEAN region where biodiversity is conserved, sustainably managed and used, and equitably shared for the well-being of its peoples.”

The AHPs program was set up by ASEAN environmental ministers with the goal of conserving areas of particular biodiversity importance or exceptional uniqueness at regional and international levels, according to Dr Nguyen Van Tai, general director of the Vietnam Environment Administration. The program aims to raise environmental awareness and show the desire of the people of ASEAN countries to conserve natural resources and promote sustainable development.

On December 10, 2019, a ceremony was held in Da Lat to honor Vietnam’s four new ASEAN Heritage Parks, bringing the total number of AHPs in Vietnam to 10, the highest number in the region.

Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park is home to 1,923 speices of plants, including rare and precious ones such as flat-needle pine, red pine, and five-needle pine. The park is regarded as the capital of orchids in Vietnam with 297 species.  At Chu Mom Ray national park in Kon Tum, visitors can explore the culture of Gia Rai and Re Mam ethnic groups. Photo: VNP  U Minh Thuong national park is an attractive weekend tourist destination in Kien Giang and the southwestern region. Photo: VNP   Ngoc Linh nature reserve has 1,091 species of plants, including 40 species listed in Vietnam's Red Book and 25 species named in the world's Red Book.iới. Photo: VNP Hoang Lien National Park is one of the largest and most important special-use forests in Vietnam. Photo: VNP The 7,610 ha Ba Be Natiional Park is rich in biodiversity and owns typically ecological features of lowland evergreen forests, lakes on mountains, and evergreen forests on limestone mountains. Photo: VNP  U Minh Thuong National Park's flora and fauna are rich and diverse. Photo: VNP

At the ceremony, held by the Vietnam Environment Administration and ACB, Nguyen Van Tai and ACB representative Clarria C. Adida, conferred the AHP certificates on Bidoup-Nui Ba national park in Lam Dong province; Vu Quang national park in the adjacent area of Nghe An and Quang Binh provinces; Lo Go-Xa Mat national park in Tay Ninh province, and Ngoc Linh nature reserve in Kon Tum province.

Rare and precious species of birds, turtles, snakes and others are strictly protected at Vietnam’s 10 AHPs. Photo: VNP

The recognition of AHPs has made important contributions to conserving ecosystems of biodiversity importance and cultural and historical values for each member state and the whole region, while raising awareness about biodiversity conservation within ASEAN countries.

“While in Da Lat, we had a chance to visit Bidoup-Nui Ba national park, enjoy the natural scenery, and learn about the culture here. UNESCO-recognized Bidoup-Nui Ba national park and Langbiang world biosphere reserve where ethnic inhabitants live have distinctive values in need of conservation.” Clarria C. Adida, ASEAN Center for Biodiversity

By VNP