OVERVIEW OF DONG NAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve was designated by UNESCO on June 29, 2011 to be 580^th Biosphere Reserve in the world and the 8^th in Vietnam.

Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve consisting of 969,993 ha, from the provinces of Dong Nai, Lam Dong, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and Dak Nong.
- The Core Zone: 173,073 ha includes Cat Tien National Park (72,769 ha) and Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve (100,304 ha)
- The Buffer Zone: 349,995 ha
- The Transition Zone: 446,925 ha

Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve is located in the region where the plateaus of the central Vietnamese highlands give way to the Southern Delta. The remarkable feature of topographic characteristic in this area is echeloned clearly, containing 5 major classes of terrains: high and steep mountains; medium to slightly steep hills; low hills and plains; the Dong Nai River plain and low hills with lakes, ponds and wetlands. In the Reserve, numerous habitat types and a number of rare species unique to South Vietnam are found.

Topography plays a very important role in the distribution of animals and plants. In The Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve the diversity of topography and geography creates a wide array of habitats for a multitude of species. Today, there are 2,353 plant species, 120 mammal species, 348 bird species, 99 reptile species, 56 amphibian species, 175 fish species and 1,189 insect species identified to be living in Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve. Of which, there are numerous rare species listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book (2007) and the IUCN Red List (2009).  Many of the animals and plants in this area are critically threatened.

Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve was designated as one of the world’s most biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities in the Global 200 Ecoregion List of WWF. It has critical natural habitats containing a large number of threatened flora and fauna of immeasureable global value, essential for in-situ biodiversity conservation.

Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve includes natural phenomenons; rivers, streams and lake systems, formed by the process of subsidence, faulting, sea transgression/regression and basaltic eruption.  These have a significant value to the Southeast Asia region and to the world.

Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve is a cross-cultural area with over 30 ethnic groups. The Choro, Ma, S'tieng, Ma, M’nong people are the earliest residents in the region, each with unique and longstanding cultural practices.

Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve serves as a multipurpose conservation model; illustrating sustainable development, harmony between humans and nature with both biodiversity and traditional customs maintained.
The designation of Dong Nai World Biosphere Reserve brings honor as well as responsibility for our Party, the Government and the people of Dong Nai and neighboring provinces, sharing the reserve in pursuit of “Conservation for Development, Development for Conservation”.