At the southwesternmost tip of the nation, where plains, mountains, forests, and the sea blend together, lies a land endowed by nature with special values. It is the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve, a rare green treasure of Vietnam, recognized by UNESCO in 2006.

With an area of more than 1.1 million ha, covering forests, seas, plains, and islands, the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve is not only a vast treasure of biodiversity but also a vivid model of harmony between nature and people in sustainable development. It is called the "green heart" of the Mekong Delta, a place that preserves life and the natural ecological environment for generations.

The Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve is formed from three important core areas: U Minh Thuong National Park, Phu Quoc National Park, and the western coastal protection forest. Each core area is a unique piece, complementing and honoring one another, creating the completeness of the southern ecological picture.

Among them, U Minh Thuong National Park plays the role of the cajeput forest on peat soil - unique in Vietnam. Phu Quoc National Park is the green lung of the pearl island, embracing the primeval tropical forests amidst the sea. The western coastal protection forest, the ecological buffer running from Kien Luong, Hon Dat, An Bien, An Minh to the Kien Hai archipelago, shields the mainland from ocean waves. The combination of this trio has created a "green triangle" that both conserves biodiversity and maintains ecological balance for the vast area.

According to scientists, the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve possesses six main ecosystems and 22 specific habitats, from mangrove forests, cajeput forests on peat soil, limestone forests to tidal flats, freshwater swamps, coral reefs, and seagrass beds. It is an "outdoor living museum" of incredible richness, with 1,500 species of higher plants, 77 species of mammals - many of them rare such as the silvered langur and hairy-nosed otter, 222 species of birds including spoonbills, spot-billed pelicans, herons, and the sarus crane - the symbolic bird of the Mekong Delta ecological environment.

Beneath lie 107 species of reptiles and amphibians, 89 species of hard corals, 125 species of reef fish, 32 species of starfish, and more than 60 species of seaweed. Especially, the Kien Giang sea is one of the rare homes of dugongs - the legendary mermaids of the ocean, along with many endangered sea turtle species. Each ecosystem and each species enriches the value of the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve, affirming its position as a typical biosphere reserve of Southeast Asia.

Among the three core areas of the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve, U Minh Thuong National Park is considered the "treasure within the treasure." It is one of the rare remaining peatland areas of Southeast Asia, with more than 8,500 ha, of which over 8,000 ha is special-use forest. U Minh Thuong preserves the primeval swamp forest ecosystem with features no longer found elsewhere in the Mekong Delta, with cajeput forests on peat soil interspersed with swamps, canals, and dikes.

Scientists have recorded 258 species of plants, 184 species of birds, 32 species of mammals, 64 species of fish, and dozens of reptiles and amphibians here. Notably, 57 rare species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book and IUCN Red List, such as the hairy-nosed otter, fishing cat, and Javan pangolin. Not only a "green lung" regulating climate, U Minh Thuong National Park is also an "ecological shield" against saltwater intrusion, protecting freshwater sources and contributing to massive carbon storage to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The preservation of U Minh Thuong's "green lung" has long relied on the dedicated forest protection force. Rain or shine, day or night, the patrol paths around the park's core always bear the footprints of the "green-shirted" guards.

Nguyen Van Co, Deputy Head of the Forest Management, Protection, and Development Department (U Minh Thuong National Park), knows every trail, canal, and forest plot. He shared that each week, members of the department split up to clear vines and fallen trees to keep patrol paths clear. "Every few hundred meters there is a numbered patrol path. Whoever is assigned to manage a path must regularly clear and check it deep into the core forest," he said, his eyes still fixed on the endless rows of cajeput trees.

The work may sound simple but in reality means enduring mosquitoes, leeches, snakes, sudden rains flooding the paths. Yet for Co and his colleagues, wading through water, grabbing a quick meal in the forest, or sleeping in hammocks in temporary shelters has become routine.

He added that protecting the forest is not only about patrolling and preventing intruders but also about persuading local residents to participate in protection and fire prevention. During the dry season, the protection force must be on duty 24/7. Just a wisp of smoke rising from the cajeput forest means they must be ready to respond anytime, anywhere. The work is hard, the authority limited, and benefits modest, but their love for the forest's green keeps them quietly devoted. Even after long, exhausting patrols through flooded trails, their eyes still shine with pride when talking about the 8,038 ha special-use forest preserved through countless fire and storm seasons. For them, forest protection is not just an assigned duty but also a responsibility to future generations who will continue to breathe clean air from U Minh Thuong's "green lung."

In response to negative impacts from climate change and human activities, U Minh Thuong National Park has implemented various solutions to protect and develop the forest sustainably. Patrol work has been modernized with the SMART Mobile application, enabling quick recording and reporting of violations. Forest fire prevention is tightened with the "four on-site" motto: forces, command, equipment, and logistics on-site. Thanks to maintaining proper water levels, no major fires have occurred in the park's core in recent years.

At the same time, forest restoration has also been prioritized: natural regeneration of over 450 ha, rehabilitation of 70 ha of burned special-use forest, and planting of tens of thousands of native trees. By mid-2025, the forest cover of the park reached 71.63%, up nearly 2.3% compared to 2023. This is an important step in making U Minh Thuong National Park a model of peatland ecosystem restoration in Southeast Asia.

A highlight of U Minh Thuong National Park in particular and the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve in general is the integration of conservation with community livelihoods. In the buffer zone of U Minh Thuong National Park, the forest - bee - fish - rice model shows a smart approach: using the forest ecosystem to raise bees for honey, combining fish farming in canals, and rice cultivation in buffer areas, creating stable income while ensuring sustainable forest protection.

Along the coasts of An Bien and An Minh, the shrimp - forest model brings high economic efficiency and maintains mangrove forest area. Meanwhile, in Phu Quoc, community-based ecotourism connected with forests and seas is developing strongly, improving people's livelihoods. These models prove that conservation does not mean closing forests but opening opportunities for development from forests with direct community participation and benefits.

The Center for Ecotourism, Environmental Education, and Wildlife Rescue and Development (U Minh Thuong National Park) is a destination for nature lovers. Director Dang Thanh Sang shared: "Besides welcoming visitors daily, the center also conducts environmental education by organizing guided tours of the wetland ecosystem, explaining the role of peatland, cajeput forest, and native species. These activities not only raise awareness of nature conservation but also inspire local communities to participate."

The center also standardizes eco-friendly tourism products, monitors tourist impacts on sensitive ecosystems, and ensures that all routes and experiences operate within ecological carrying capacity.

Beyond tourism and education, the center is also responsible for rescuing and developing wildlife in U Minh Thuong. On about 4 ha inside the park, the rescue team receives injured or surrendered wild animals, carries out transfer procedures with authorities, and then cares for, rehabilitates, and releases them back into the wild.

As guardians of countless species, their work of rescuing, nurturing, and developing wildlife populations is not only technical but also of economic and cultural value. Conserved species enrich ecotourism resources, attracting visitors to experience the unique landscapes and biodiversity of U Minh Thuong National Park.

U Minh Thuong National Park and the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve have been supported by many international organizations such as WWF, IUCN, and UNESCO. Projects for ecosystem restoration, management capacity building, and community livelihood improvement have brought significant resources, worth tens of billions of VND.

However, conservation work still faces challenges: some buffer zone residents, due to hardship, continue illegal exploitation, ecotourism infrastructure is still lacking, and biodiversity monitoring is limited. This requires stronger coordination across levels, more social participation in forest protection, and application of technology 4.0 for fire warning and resource management.

During 2026 - 2030, the goal of U Minh Thuong National Park is to increase forest cover to over 80%, rapidly restore degraded peatland, and fully protect the endemic cajeput forest ecosystem. At the same time, international-standard ecotourism development will create jobs for more than 1,000 local workers, increase stable income, and reduce budget dependence.

Park Director Hoang Van Tuan affirmed: "To achieve sustainable forest development, we will strengthen awareness campaigns, build a strong forest protection force, apply fire forecasting technology, and expand international cooperation. Ecotourism linked with conservation will both preserve forests and create sustainable livelihoods for the community." This vision applies not only to U Minh Thuong but also to the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve, where every forest, bird, and habitat carries the mission of protecting the future.

U Minh Thuong National Park, together with Phu Quoc National Park and the western coastal protection forest, form the trio of natural masterpieces of Kien Giang's green heritage. This is not only a storehouse of biodiversity but also a wave shield, a carbon bank, and a green hope for the Mekong Delta in the face of climate change.

Notably, the U Minh Thuong core is one of only two remaining peatland areas in Southeast Asia, playing a critical role in climate regulation, carbon storage, and freshwater conservation. Park Director Hoang Van Tuan said: "Within the swamp forest ecosystem of the Mekong Delta, only the forest vegetation of the U Minh Thuong National Park core still has the characteristics of primeval climax forests. These are mixed cajeput forests and cajeput forests on peatland, covering thousands of hectares. The swamps and plant habitats along the dike canals scattered throughout the forests provide suitable habitats for wildlife species."

Protecting forests, seas, and the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve is also about protecting the long-term livelihoods and living environment of millions of people. It is a responsibility not only of the local area but of the entire nation and humanity. The message from U Minh Thuong National Park - and more broadly the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve, is this: Development must go hand in hand with conservation. Only then can we have a green and sustainable future.