About 2,000 people participated in the day for cleaning environment and growing mangrove trees at the Biosphere Reserve of the southern province of Kien Giang on Nov. 8.

This is part of activities of a four-year project on conservation and development of Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve implemented by the Germany Technical Cooperation Organisation (GTZ) from 2008.

The 1.7 million EUR project, funded by Australia, aims to improve management capacity of the protected areas and sustainable management of the natural resources of Kien Giang province.

The project has been implemented in U Minh Thuong national park, Phu Quoc National Park and the Kien Luong-Hon Chong Coastal Area.

The three places boast unique biodiversity characteristics and views with U Minh Thuong National Park being one of the last remaining wetlands in the Mekong Delta. Covering nearly 150,000 ha, the park is home to several rare animals and provides fresh water and fish for people living around the park. However, biodiversity in these areas are being threatened due to unsustainable development activities.

In order to help Vietnam protect the natural resources and environment sustainably, since 1993, GTZ has carried out many sustainable development activities in Vietnam.

The organisation is currently implementing 20 projects in health care, natural resource management and economic development in Vietnam with funding from the German Government.

Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve is said the largest one in the Southeast Asian region. Covering nearly 1.15 million ha, the area consists of both coastal and marine ecosystems with wetlands, swamps, mangrove forests, coral reefs and tropical primeval forests and specious species of animal, including dugong, turtle, and grey douc langur.

The area was recognised the world’s biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2006, becoming the largest out of nine biosphere reserves in Vietnam receiving the title./.