Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Quoc Tri has reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong commitment to working with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to build a green, sustainable and prosperous region.
Speaking at the 8th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference (AHP8) held on December 3 in Quang Ninh province, Tri said that as one of the world’s biodiversity-rich countries, Vietnam views regional cooperation as essential to realising shared conservation goals.
The bloc now recognises 69 ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs), including 15 in Vietnam. These parks have played a key role in implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and ASEAN’s Biodiversity Action Plan.
Turning commitments into concrete action
The AHP conferences are convened every three years. The 2025 edition, co-organised by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and Vietnam’s Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency (NBCA), brought together national park authorities, conservation managers, technical experts and institutional partners to strengthen regional dialogue and cooperation.
Under the theme “ASEAN Heritage Parks: ASEAN’s contribution to the implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan,” the event highlighted how protected areas across Southeast Asia are contributing to global biodiversity targets through nature-based solutions, climate adaptation, sustainable resource management and inclusive governance.
Tri stressed that Vietnam’s hosting of AHP8 reflects the country’s proactive and responsible role in ASEAN’s environmental and biodiversity efforts. He noted that Vietnam’s ecosystems - from forests and wetlands to coral reefs, seagrass beds and limestone mountains - are among the region’s most diverse.
In recent years, Vietnam has strengthened its biodiversity policies, updated its laws, improved management structures and expanded community engagement and partnerships with businesses and civil society.
The country is committed to continuing implementation of its National Biodiversity Strategy and the ASEAN Heritage Parks Action Plan to 2030, promoting harmonious conservation–development management, fair benefit-sharing from genetic resources and sustainable eco-tourism.
Vietnam will also deepen cooperation with the ACB, the AHP Secretariat and development partners to share knowledge, mobilise resources and expand conservation initiatives, Tri added.
Say “No” to environmentally harmful projects
Representing the host province, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh People’s Committee Nguyen Van Cong said Quang Ninh strictly adheres to its biodiversity conservation plans and resolutely rejects investment projects that could damage the environment, regardless of economic benefits. The province is also implementing ocean plastic reduction initiatives and coastal ecosystem restoration.
“These efforts not only protect the shared home of Quang Ninh’s people, but also honour the trust the region and the world place in our heritage sites,” he said.
ACB Executive Director Dr. Jerome Montemayor expressed his appreciation for Vietnam’s cooperation in organising AHP8, adding that the conference was an opportunity to highlight the essential role of indigenous people, local communities, women and youth in achieving biodiversity targets.
The programme includes plenary sessions, technical discussions, an interactive exhibition and field trips showcasing best practices in protected area management and ecosystem restoration. Technical topics cover nature-based climate solutions, the biodiversity–health nexus, community participation, the 30x30 conservation goal and sustainable financing for protected areas.
Over the coming days, experts, managers and scientists from across the region and beyond will discuss practical, forward-looking initiatives to strengthen the ASEAN Heritage Parks network.
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The ASEAN Heritage Parks Programme was established in 1984 by ASEAN environment ministers to highlight the global significance, uniqueness and outstanding values of the region’s protected areas. The programme emphasises effective management to maintain ecological processes, protect genetic diversity and ensure the sustainable use of species and ecosystems, while preserving sites of scenic, cultural, educational, scientific, recreational, and tourist value./.
