Workshop talks biosphere conservation

An international workshop took place in Phu Quoc island district in Kien Giang province to seek measures to conserve and promote the values of Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve.

An international workshop took place in Phu Quoc island district of southern Kien Giang province on December 16 to seek measures to conserve and promote the values of Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve.

The Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, recognised by UNESCO in October 2006, is the second largest among Vietnam’s eight biosphere reserves

Co-organised by the provincial People’s Committee and the German Cooperation Organisation, the workshop focused on the conservation work to serve the sustainable development of the reserve in general and Phu Quoc Island in particular, while making use of the reserve to develop economics and tourism, and improve the community’s awareness of protecting the reserve.

The Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve, recognised by UNESCO in October 2006, is the second largest among Vietnam’s eight biosphere reserves and covers nearly 1.2 million hectares.

It is home to many tropical ecological systems such as marine and coastal ones, mangrove swamps, coral reefs, marsh, primary and secondary tropical forests on Phu Quoc Island and forest on Hon Chong karst mountain.

Kien Giang and the Cambodian province of Kampot signed documents on protecting dugong, and conserving coral reefs and mangrove forests effectively.