A corner of U Minh Thuong National Park

PANO – The U Minh Thuong National Park in Kien Giang province was officially recognized as a Ramsar site on February 22nd.

This is one of the most important tropical wetland ecosystems in the Mekong Delta, with 254 plant species, 33 animal species, 188 bird species, 89 species of reptiles and fish, 204 species of insects and other various aquatic animals and plants.

The park covers an area of over 21,000ha, including 8,000ha in the forest’s core area, in An Minh Bac and Minh Thuan communes, U Minh Thuong district.

With nearly 300ha of mixed and primeval melaleuca forest, it was recognized as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2013.

Meeting 8 out of 9 criteria according to the Ramsar Convention, the park became the eighth Ramsar site in Vietnam and the 2,228th of its kind in the world.

Translated by Pham Huy