A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on biodiversity conservation inborder areas was inked on May 12 during a conference between theDepartment of Natural Resources and Environment of northern Cao Bangprovince and China’s Guangxi Environmental Protection Department.

Conference attendees included representatives from Vietnam’s Ministryof Natural Resources and Environment and the Asian Development Bank(ADB) along with a number of experts in the field.

Under the MoU, the two sides will establish a cooperative mechanismand a long-term strategy for trans-boundary biodiversity conservation,research and supervision as well as build and manage a network oftrans-boundary biodiversity corridors.

Additionally, they will work together to improve the capacity ofgovernment workers in biodiversity preservation and in raising publicawareness of the issue.

Speaking at theconference, Vice Chairman of the Cao Bang provincial People’s CommitteeDam Van Eng said biodiversity conservation should support locals toensure their livelihoods and engage with their rights in environmentalprotection initiatives.

Cao Bang is home to awide range of endangered fauna and flora, including medicinal plants. Ithas two natural reserves, Phja Oac-Phja Den Natural Reserve in NguyenBinh district and Cao Vit Gibbon Reserve in Trung Khanh district.

The locality shares a border line with China’s Guangxi province whichhas rich biodiversity and has impressive achievements in biodiversityconservation. The two have been working together to preservebiodiversity in the border areas, particularly to protect endangered CaoVit gibbons.-VNA