Ambassador: US Embassy looks to help Vietnam with biodiversity protection

Lao
Cai (VNA) - One of
the efforts taken by the US Embassy in Vietnam is to help Vietnam with sustainable development, and partner with local communities to protect Vietnam's biodiversity, said US
Ambassador to Vietnam Marc
Knapper.
He made the statement
during a working session with leaders of the Hoang Lien National Park in the
northern border province of Lao Cai on February 22.
Director of the Hoang Lien
National Park Nguyen Huu Hanh expressed his pleasure at welcoming the Ambassador
at the ASEAN Heritage Park recognized by the grouping.
He said the Global
Environment Fund ranked the Hoang Lien National Park at A level, the highest
level of biodiversity value in Vietnam. The International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated the park as a centre of diversity
for plant species. The park also serves as a headwater protection area for the
Red and Da Rivers and plays a vital role in providing water for socio-economic
development in the downstream region.
According
to him, the park boasts many mountain
peaks of over 2,000m, the highest of which is Fansipan at 3,143m. Fansipan mountain is often referred to as the "Roof of Indochina". The park's flora is
characterized by a combination of tropical and temperate elements. It is now
home to about 2,847 plant species, 147 of which are listed in the Vietnam Red
Book and the International Red Book. In addition, there are 555 terrestrial vertebrate
species in the park, including 60 rare and endangered species listed in the
Vietnam Red Book and 33 others in the International Red Book.
Knapper,
for his part, affirmed that both Vietnam and the US have big national parks and are
striving to protect natural landscapes and relic sites there.
Earlier,
he attended an event to raise awareness of human trafficking prevention and
control and safe migration for teachers and students at Kim Dong secondary
school in Sa Pa town. The event was part of a project to help human
trafficking victims reintegrate into the community funded by the Pacific
Links Foundation of the US./.