Ambassador: US Embassy looks to help Vietnam with biodiversity protection
One of the efforts taken by the US Embassy in Vietnam is to help Vietnam with sustainable development, and partner with local communities to protect Vietnam's biodiversity, said US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (fifth from left) at Hoang Lien National Park (Photo: VNA)
LaoCai (VNA) - One ofthe efforts taken by the US Embassy in Vietnam is to help Vietnam with sustainable development, and partner with local communities to protect Vietnam's biodiversity, said USAmbassador to Vietnam MarcKnapper.
He made the statementduring a working session with leaders of the Hoang Lien National Park in thenorthern border province of Lao Cai on February 22.
Director of the Hoang LienNational Park Nguyen Huu Hanh expressed his pleasure at welcoming the Ambassadorat the ASEAN Heritage Park recognized by the grouping.
He said the GlobalEnvironment Fund ranked the Hoang Lien National Park at A level, the highestlevel of biodiversity value in Vietnam. The International Union forConservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated the park as a centre of diversityfor plant species. The park also serves as a headwater protection area for theRed and Da Rivers and plays a vital role in providing water for socio-economicdevelopment in the downstream region.
Accordingto him, the park boasts many mountainpeaks of over 2,000m, the highest of which is Fansipan at 3,143m. Fansipan mountain is often referred to as the "Roof of Indochina". The park's flora ischaracterized by a combination of tropical and temperate elements. It is nowhome to about 2,847 plant species, 147 of which are listed in the Vietnam RedBook and the International Red Book. In addition, there are 555 terrestrial vertebratespecies in the park, including 60 rare and endangered species listed in theVietnam Red Book and 33 others in the International Red Book.
Knapper,for his part, affirmed that both Vietnam and the US have big national parks and arestriving to protect natural landscapes and relic sites there.
Earlier,he attended an event to raise awareness of human trafficking prevention andcontrol and safe migration for teachers and students at Kim Dong secondaryschool in Sa Pa town. The event was part of a project to h﷽elp humantrafficking victims reintegrate into the community funded by the PacificLinks Foundation of the US./.
Heavy rains mixed with snow occurred on Mount Fansipan in Sa Pa township, the northern province of Lao Cai, in early morning of December 28, covering the top of the highest mountain in Indochina at an altitude of 2,800m.
Snowfall appearing on the top of Mount Fansipan, a rare phenomenon in a tropical country like Vietnam, attracted a large number of both domestic and international tourists to the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on December 29.
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US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (fifth from left) at Hoang Lien National Park (Photo: VNA) 
