Human responsibility for biodiversity

Vietnam ranks 14th in the world and is among the three Southeast Asian countries with the highest levels of biodiversity. This achievement is not only due to nature’s generosity but also the result of persistent human efforts in conservation.

The black-shanked douc, one of the species listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book, lives in large numbers in Bu Gia Map National Park, Dong Nai Province. Photo: Dinh Thap

The role of humans—especially forest protection officers and forest owners working at 35 national parks across the country—is crucial in safeguarding and promoting this valuable biological resource.

Effective conservation work

Cat Tien (Dong Nai Province) is Vietnam’s first national park awarded the Green List designation, a prestigious recognition granted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) based on global standards to honor protected areas with outstanding conservation achievements. The park boasts one of the richest and most diverse assemblages of plant species within the special-use forest system of southern Vietnam, including terrestrial flora, semi-flooded areas, and characteristic wetland ecosystems. It is home to more than 1,600 plant species and over 1,700 animal species, many of which are rare, endangered, or endemic to Vietnam and the world. These exceptional values affirm Cat Tien’s importance in national and regional biodiversity conservation.

As a volunteer working at Cat Tien National Park, Martina Junges (from the Federal Republic of Germany) commented that this is a wonderful environment for the growth of animal and plant species. The greenery here provides an excellent habitat for wildlife. She added that animals in the park live peacefully without human threats thanks to strict forest protection.

Alongside Cat Tien is Bu Gia Map National Park, located at the southern end of the Truong Son range, spanning Bu Gia Map and Đăk O communes of Dong Nai Province and Quang Truc Commune of Lam Dong Province, with an area of nearly 26,000 hectares.

According to Vuong Duc Hoa, Director of Bu Gia Map National Park, the latest biodiversity survey recorded 1,100 plant species, 105 mammal species, and more than 400 bird species, many of which are listed in Vietnam’s and the world’s Red Data Books. Bordering conservation areas in Cambodia, the park contributes significantly to protecting globally endangered species such as the yellow-cheeked gibbon, Javan pangolin, Asian elephant, black-shanked douc, pygmy loris, and many other rare species.

“This is one of the national parks recognized by conservationists as highly unique, with exceptionally rich species diversity. In the coming period, we will focus on researching, analyzing, and reassessing biodiversity, and will submit proposals to UNESCO to have the area recognized as a biosphere reserve. The park is also significant for scientific research, with many expert teams conducting field studies. We hope that with financial support from the Government and non-governmental organizations, biodiversity studies here can be expanded further,” Hoa said.

According to assessments by delegations from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Vietnam National Committee for the Man and the Biosphere Programme, Bu Gia Map National Park has met all 10 criteria for ASEAN Heritage Parks and has been proposed for recognition as part of the global biosphere reserve network, with the park serving as the core zone. Hoa emphasized that the national forest closure policy and the forest environmental service payment program have played key roles in these achievements, as an increasing number of local residents volunteer to protect forests, while forest-adjacent communities have become more conscious of forest preservation.

To halt biodiversity loss, the Government issued Decision No. 149/QĐ-TTg on January 28, 2022, approving the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050. The strategy affirms that biodiversity is a vital component of natural capital for green economic development; biodiversity conservation is both an immediate and long-term, sustainable solution for environmental protection, disaster prevention, and climate change adaptation.

Protecting and sustaining biodiversity

Vietnam currently has 35 national parks— forest ecosystems of critical importance that preserve and protect the country’s diverse, rare, and endemic genetic resources. Despite ongoing challenges, national parks have consistently undertaken numerous tasks: patrolling and preventing illegal logging, addressing threats that degrade ecosystems, and implementing effective forest restoration measures. Replanting native species and closely monitoring the development of flora and fauna have also helped enhance the biological quality and value of forests. Thanks to the quiet but persistent contributions of conservation personnel, forests are not only being protected but are becoming increasingly rich in biodiversity. Human responsibility is therefore pivotal—not only in protection but also in shaping and nurturing long-term sustainability, helping maintain Vietnam’s position on the global biodiversity map.

According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tri, Chairman of the Vietnam National Committee for the Man and the Biosphere Programme, biodiversity is becoming more crucial than ever. If any component of a biodiversity system is destroyed by any factor, humans will also be severely affected—potentially even unable to survive. “To take a simple example: the air we breathe every day exists thanks to photosynthesis by trees and other living organisms. Plants absorb CO₂ and release oxygen—the essential source of life for humans. When we breathe, we bring a part of nature into our own bodies. Humans are therefore a product of nature; without this atmosphere, we cannot exist. Nature and humans are not two separate entities but two closely interconnected parts that coexist and depend on each other,” Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tri emphasized.

The importance of biodiversity to humanity is clear. However, promoting biodiversity can only be achieved when awareness is raised across every sector, profession, family, and individual. And of course, action for biodiversity must go beyond words.

By Minh Nhat, Translated by Trieu Ngan – Thu Ha