The 8th ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference (AHP8) officially opened on December 3 in Quang Ninh province, bringing together 320 delegates from Vietnam and abroad, including representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, international organizations, and ASEAN Heritage Parks across the region.
Representing Vietnam were Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri and Vice Chairman of the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, Nguyen Van Cong.
With the theme “ASEAN Heritage Parks: ASEAN’s contribution to the implementation of the biodiversity framework”, AHP8 aims to foster multi-sector dialogue and strengthen regional cooperation. The conference showcases how ASEAN Heritage Parks contribute to global biodiversity goals through nature-based solutions, climate action, sustainable resource management, and inclusive governance.
Vietnam has currently had 15 sites recognized as ASEAN Heritage Parks, playing an important role in advancing both the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the ASEAN Biodiversity Strategy.
In his remarks, Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to advancing its National Biodiversity Strategy and the ASEAN Heritage Parks Regional Action Plan to 2030.
He emphasized harmonizing conservation with development, ensuring equitable benefit-sharing from genetic resources, and promoting green livelihoods and sustainable ecotourism.
“Vietnam will also deepen cooperation with the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the AHP Secretariat, and development partners to exchange knowledge, mobilize resources, and broaden conservation collaboration”, he said.
Addressing the delegates, Vice Chairman Nguyen Van Cong highlighted that Quang Ninh is home to Ha Long Bay recognized three times as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site and Bai Tu Long National Park, the 38th ASEAN Heritage Park. He noted that, guided by the principle that “nature and culture are intrinsic assets and drivers of sustainable development”, Quang Ninh has remained steadfast in its transition from a “brown” to a “green” growth model over the past decade.
He expressed hopes that AHP8 will generate practical solutions to shared regional challenges, strengthen governance of Heritage Parks, and enhance access to international resources.
Taking place from December 2 to 5, 2025, AHP8 features plenary sessions, parallel technical discussions, an interactive exhibition, and field excursions. Key topics include nature-based solutions for climate resilience, the relationship between public health and biodiversity, enhanced participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities, especially youth and women, in conservation and ecosystem restoration, the 30x30 biodiversity targets, and sustainable financing for protected areas.
On the sidelines, a biodiversity-based product showcase and business networking events are also being held.
