Cat Ba Nominated as World Natural Heritage Site

In the near future, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will visit Cat Ba archipelago to evaluate the nomination dossier for the world natural heritage along with Ha Long Bay.

Rosie Nguyen

ngtrang12.ftu@gmail.com October 09, 2021 | 23:21

Cat Ba Nominated as World Natural Heritage Site

Cat Ba is an interesting tourist destination with full of mountains, sea and forest. Photo: tyxsomewhere

According to information from the People's Committee of Hai Phong City, in June 2021, the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO has sent an official dispatch to the city about preparing to welcome the delegation to assess the profile of Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago to inscribe on the list of world natural heritage.

IUCN's assessment team will work in Vietnam from Oct. 19 to 25, 2021. During this time, IUCN will work with leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Department of Cultural Heritage. At the same time, the team will work with leaders of two localities, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh, two provinces with Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago in the nomination category.

In January 2021, Vietnam sent a dossier to nominate Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago to UNESCO as a world natural heritage site.

As for Ha Long Bay, this place was twice honored as a world natural heritage in 1994 and 2000.

Cat Ba archipelago was recognized by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve in 2004.

Pham Tri Tuyen, head of Culture, Information, Sports and Tourism Department of Cat Hai district said: "Based on the assessment criteria, IUCN found that Ha Long Bay and Cat Ba archipelago have similarities in geographical location, geological survey value, and biodiversity, so in general, an inseparable group. Therefore, this time the assessment for the World Natural Heritage nomination is an overall assessment of both sites."

In about a week of working in Cat Hai district, IUCN's team will work with Cat Hai District People's Committee on the current situation, economic and social conditions of the island district, contents related to nomination documents. Next, IUCN will conduct field trips on Cat Ba Bay, Cat Ba National Park, and mangrove forests to access nomination aspects and criteria for landscape, geomorphology, geology and biodiversity

Cat Ba langur, endemic to Cat Ba island. Photo: nguoiduatin,vn

At the same time, IUCN will work with staff of Cat Ba National Park, meet with authorities and people of the heritage nominated area to evaluate the management system and management effectiveness, assess actual and potential threats to the heritage site.

IUCN will also work with Quang Ninh province, Ha Long Bay Management Board, and conduct field trips on Ha Long Bay to assess the status and effectiveness of heritage area management.

In IUCN's schedule, the team will work with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Cultural Heritage to exchange issues related to heritage that the Vietnamese side is interested in.

Lan Ha Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world in 2020. Photo: samjophoto

Pham Tri Tuyen said that this nomination evaluation was almost the last stage before Cat Ba archipelago was recognized as a world natural heritage associated with Ha Long Bay.

If the Cat Ba archipelago is recognized as a world natural heritage, it will contribute to improving the natural and geological values of the Cat Ba - Ha Long Bay area, the existing values that need to be preserved, and promoting economic development and tourism of two localities Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.

Photo: dulichkhatvongviet

Cat Ba archipelago is 45 kilometers from Hai Phong city, this place has outstanding global values of typical tropical and subtropical ecosystems that are superior to other areas in Asia such as mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds, a system of caves, and saltwater lakes.

It also has an extremely rich flora and fauna system, which is a place to store rare genetic resources such as Cat Ba langur, chamois, and Ha Long palm.

Cat Ba archipelago has been recognized as a National Park since 1986; world biosphere reserve (2004); primeval rain forest on the largest limestone island in Vietnam (2011); most developed coral reefs along the northern coast (2011); most saltwater lakes in the world (2011); archipelago with the most islands in Vietnam (2012); largest limestone island in Southeast Asia (2013); special national monument (2013); and Lan Ha bay as one of the most beautiful bays in the world (2020).

Cat Ba Listed Among BuzzFeed's Must-visit National Parks

Cat Ba was named among 10 other national parks worldwide as "need to be added to bucket list as soon as possible" by an American ...

The Trekking Two-Year Old of Cat Ba Island

A two-year-old boy has trekked through a cave in Hai Phong City with his father for the first time and gained memorable experience.

Top ten most stunning national parks in Vietnam

The Culture Trip, a London-based website providing travel rating and tourism recommendation, has recently published an article featuring ten best national parks in Vietnam.

Rosie Nguyen