MAB Viet Nam - 40 years of supporting the World Network of Biosphere Reserves

The year 2025 marks a special milestone, the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Viet Nam National Committee for the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme (1985-2025) and the 25th anniversary of Viet Nam’s network of 11 World Biosphere Reserves (2000-2025).

Since the designation of the Can Gio Mangrove Forest as Viet Nam’s first World Biosphere Reserve in 2000, MAB Viet Nam has stood alongside these reserves through numerous challenges, consistently advancing the mission of harmonizing nature conservation with socio-economic growth and cultural preservation.

Today, Viet Nam’s network of World Biosphere Reserves has grown rapidly, stretching from the North to the South with 11 recognized sites. The achievements of recent years not only affirm Viet Nam’s growing role in the regional and global WBR network but also contribute to realizing the nation’s sustainable development goals.

On November 3, 2025, the Viet Nam National Committee for the MAB Programme, in collaboration with the Management Board of Nui Chua World Biosphere Reserve (Khanh Hoa Province), organized the 2025 National Conference on Viet Nam’s World Biosphere Reserves Network. The event focused on reviewing progress and outlining directions for 2026-2035 in alignment with the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan, held at the Nui Chua Biosphere Reserve.

Notably, attendees included Dr. Trinh Minh Hoang - Vice Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee and Head of the Nui Chua WBR Steering Committee; Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Hien – Chairman of MAB Viet Nam; Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoang, Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee and Head of the Dong Nai WBR Management Board; as well as representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and organizations such as IUCN, FFI, the Institute of Advanced Technology, and the Center for Nature Conservation and Development, along with numerous scientists.

The conference reaffirmed the essential role of Viet Nam’s WBRs in fulfilling their core functions: conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable socio-economic development in harmony with environmental protection, and supporting research and education for sustainable development. Delegates also agreed to integrate the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan into future programs, focusing on biodiversity, science and education, optimizing partnerships and financial mechanisms, enhancing contributions to global and regional networks, and strengthening the participation of local communities, women, and youth.

The conference emphasized the significance of the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan (2026-2035), which positions biosphere reserves as centers for realizing the global vision of sustainable development amid increasingly complex environmental and social challenges.

The plan builds upon the MAB Strategy 2015 - 2025 and the Lima Action Plan, aligning closely with the Kunming - Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It highlights the MAB Programme’s mission of reconciling the relationship between humans and nature through the three functional zones of biosphere reserves. With the vision of “living in harmony with nature”, the plan upholds principles of intergenerational equity and socio-ecological cohesion.

Three major objectives were identified: contributing to the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); strengthening MAB’s institutional and financial capacities; and promoting research and knowledge sharing.

In the coming period, Viet Nam’s World Biosphere Reserves are expected to actively integrate and implement the objectives of the Hangzhou Plan. MAB Viet Nam firmly believes that with the collective effort of all 11 reserves, the country will successfully carry out this strategic framework, reinforcing Viet Nam’s standing in the global WBR network and contributing meaningfully to the goal of “Living in Harmony with Nature.”

Viet Nam’s network of 11 World Biosphere Reserves spans over 4.65 million hectares across diverse ecosystems from northern mountains to southern mangroves. The first site, Can Gio Mangrove Forest, was recognized in 2000, followed by Cat Ba Archipelago (2004), Red River Delta (2004), Kien Giang (2006), Western Nghe An (2007), Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An (2009), Mui Ca Mau (2009), Cat Tien (2011), Langbiang (2015), Nui Chua (2021), and Kon Ha Nung (2021).

Each reserve serves as a “living laboratory” for sustainable development, combining biodiversity conservation with local livelihood improvement. For instance, Cu Lao Cham pioneered a community-based plastic-free model; Kien Giang integrates marine and forest ecosystems for eco-tourism and fisheries management; and Langbiang is home to highland forests vital to water security in the Central Highlands.

Together, these sites harbour thousands of endemic species and play crucial roles in climate adaptation, environmental education, and green economy initiatives. The network also enhances Viet Nam’s contribution to the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme, advancing the vision of “Living in Harmony with Nature” under the forthcoming Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan (2026 - 2035).