The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) turned World Wetlands Day observance on February 23 into action with participants planting trees at one of the largest wetlands reserves in the north.

The celebration began with a mass meeting held at the Van Long Wetlands Natural Reserve in northern Ninh Binh province to hear calls from Deputy MNRE Minister Nguyen Van Duc for greater efforts to raise public awareness and improve management and exploration quality in regard to wetlands for sustainable development.

“The preservation of wetlands should be integrated into poverty-alleviation programmes and go along with regular surveys on natural resources and measures to strengthen international cooperation in environmental protection,” said Mr Duc.

The meeting was concluded with participants planting trees along an entrance lane and releasing fish into the Van Long wetlands reserve.

The nation now boasts some 10 million ha of wetlands, including 4.2 million ha of rice fields, 2 million ha of fish raising ponds and 1 million ha of natural wetlands.

The Van Long wetlands reserve alone covers almost 3,000 ha. The park has a rich biological system as home to over 30 aquatic species listed as endangered in Vietnam. It is also a sanctuary of over 60 white-rumped langur (Delacour’s langur) individuals, which are found only in Vietnam and one of the five endangered primate species worldwide.

Source: VOVNews/VNA