The Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve has officially become the 580 th biosphere reserve of the world and one of the eight world biosphere reserves in Vietnam.

The People’s Committee of southern Dong Nai province and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) jointly held a ceremony to announce the recognition on May 19.

Covering more than 966,500 ha in Dong Nai, Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong and Dak Nong provinces, the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve includes a core zone of 169,000 ha, a buffer zone of 350,000ha and a transitional zone of nearly 448,000ha.

The reserve is an ideal living environment for creatures, especially mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. It is now home to over 1,400 species of plants and more than 1,700 kinds of animals, including those listed in the Red Book.

The reserve will be a “live laboratory” on scientific research and new ideas on conservation and development. It will also act as a school for people to share the responsibility of environmental protection and sustainable management.-VNA