Vietnam advocates recognition of Phong Nha–Ke Bang as World Biosphere Reserve at MAB-ICC 38
WVR - From June 3-6, the 38th session of the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB-ICC 38) will take place in Hernandarias, Republic of Paraguay.
Latest
 |
| Vietnamese delegation attending the MAB-ICC 36 session in Morocco, May 2024. |
Under the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the Vietnamese delegation, including representatives from various ministries and localities, will attend the session with a key focus on advocating for the nomination of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park as a World Biosphere Reserve.
The MAB-ICC 38 session is organized at the Itaipu Róga Conference Center, located within the ITAIPU Transboundary Biosphere Reserve of Paraguay and Brazil.
MAB-ICC is the most important international forum of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, where strategic directions of the MAB Programme are reviewed, and decisions on the recognition, expansion, and adjustment of World Biosphere Reserves are made.
The session will be attended by UNESCO leaders, the MAB Programme Secretariat, representatives from 34 member countries of the Council, policymakers, conservation experts, scientists, and representatives of Biosphere Reserves worldwide.
The agenda focuses on implementing the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan for 2026-2035, approved at the 37th MAB-ICC session (Hangzhou, China, September 2025); promoting the MAB Programme's contribution to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework; establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the new phase of the MAB Strategic Action Plan; enhancing the role of youth in nature conservation; and reviewing periodic reports and approving nominations, expansions, and renaming of World Biosphere Reserves.
To enhance proactive international integration, affirm Vietnam's active role and commitment in multilateral cooperation on nature conservation and sustainable development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, directly through the Secretariat of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, has actively coordinated central ministries and local People's Committees to prepare and participate in the MAB-ICC 38 session.
Since early 2026, the Secretariat of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO has coordinated with the People's Committees of 17 provinces and cities with World Biosphere Reserves and those preparing nomination dossiers, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Vietnam Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB Vietnam) Subcommittee, and 11 World Biosphere Reserve Management Boards in Vietnam to inform, coordinate, and prepare professional content, organize delegations, and work with UNESCO and related parties.
The Vietnamese delegation attending the session includes representatives from the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, along with working groups from several provinces and cities, including the delegation from Quang Tri Province led by Mr. Le Van Bao, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and delegations from Dong Nai and Ca Mau provinces.
At the MAB-ICC 38 session, the Council will review and decide on three dossiers related to Vietnam, including the new nomination of the Phong Nha - Ke Bang World Biosphere Reserve.
Previously, at the 32nd session (February 9-13, 2026, at UNESCO Headquarters, Paris), the International Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves (IACBR) highly appreciated the nomination dossier of Phong Nha - Ke Bang for its outstanding value of tropical forest ecosystems on limestone mountains, high biodiversity, associated with World Heritage, and recommended the MAB-ICC Council to approve it. IACBR also proposed integrated management between the Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage according to the Multi-Internationally Designated Areas (MIDAs) model.
The Phong Nha - Ke Bang Biosphere Reserve has a total nominated area of 515,830 hectares, spanning 15 communes in Quang Tri Province, including a core zone (123,326 hectares), a buffer zone (220,055 hectares), and a transition zone (172,449 hectares).
This area possesses a primeval tropical forest ecosystem on karst limestone mountains, typical of Southeast Asia, with one of the highest levels of biodiversity in Vietnam, along with a system of over 500 caves of outstanding global geological and geomorphological value. The area is also home to approximately 159,000 residents from various ethnic groups, including the Chut and Bru-Van Kieu people, who have a close relationship with nature over generations.
Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was inscribed as a World Natural Heritage in 2003, expanded in 2015, and in 2025 became the first transboundary World Natural Heritage in Southeast Asia along with Hin Nam No National Park (Lao PDR).
If recognized by the MAB-ICC 38 Council, Phong Nha - Ke Bang will simultaneously hold three international titles and become Vietnam's 12th World Biosphere Reserve, five years after the recognition of Nui Chua and Kon Ha Nung Biosphere Reserves in 2021.
Besides the Phong Nha - Ke Bang dossier, the Council will also evaluate and approve the 10-year periodic reports of the Langbiang World Biosphere Reserve (Lam Dong) and the Red River Delta World Biosphere Reserve (Ninh Binh, Hung Yen).
 |
| The Vietnamese delegation attending the 5th Global Conference of World Biosphere Reserves and the 37th MAB-ICC session, in Hangzhou, China, September 2025. |
Within the framework of the session, the Vietnamese delegation will actively organize meetings with the UNESCO MAB Programme Secretariat to discuss priorities and cooperation directions; advocate for the approval of the new Biosphere Reserve nomination and Vietnam's periodic evaluation reports; promote new nomination proposals, including the Vu Quang Biosphere Reserve (Ha Tinh) expected to be considered in 2027; and strengthen connections with partners and Biosphere Reserves within the Global Network.
Through side activities, localities will also seize the opportunity to enhance cooperation, learn management experiences of international titles on nature conservation; seek cooperation opportunities in scientific research, enhance management capacity, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development; while promoting the country's image, introducing the outstanding values of the Vietnam Biosphere Reserve network along with the potential for ecotourism and community tourism development.
| Vietnam currently has 11 World Biosphere Reserves recognized by UNESCO, ranking second in Southeast Asia, covering about 14% of the territory. Recently, Quang Tri Province has closely coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, the Vietnam MAB Programme Subcommittee, the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, along with many experts, scientists, and international organizations to prepare the nomination dossier for the Phong Nha - Ke Bang World Biosphere Reserve. Participation in the MAB-ICC 38 session demonstrates Vietnam's proactive and active approach to international integration in nature conservation and sustainable development, effectively promoting the coordinating role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO in multilateral cooperation, while contributing to strengthening Vietnam's position and reputation in UNESCO's World Biosphere Reserve Network. |
