The U Minh Thuong National Park in the Mekong delta province of Kien
Giang on August 12 received a certificate recognising it as an ASE AN
Heritage Park.
Established in accordance with the Prime
Minister’s Decision No. 11/QD-TTg dated January 14, 2002 , the park is a
peat wetland area surrounded by a 60km-length dyke.
Covering an area of nearly 3,000 ha, the park is home to 243
plant species, 32 species of animals, 39 species of reptiles and 34
species of fish .
The park is also the haven of a great number
of rare and endangered bird species. A total of 187 bird species have
been recorded here, including the oriental darter, spot-billed
pelican, black-headed ibis, glossy ibis , greater spotted
eagle and Asian golden weaver.
During the wartime, the park was a base of the revolutionary army.
The locality is making every effort to preserve and restore natural resources in the Park.
At the ceremony to receive the certificate, the Kien Giang provincial
People’s Committee was urged to build a dossier for the park to apply
for recognition as a Ramsar site.-VNA