Efforts to protect Ca Mau Cape National Park   The management board of Mui Ca Mau (Ca Mau Cape) National Park and the southernmost province of Ca Mau’s local authorities have devised a long-term plan to conserve biodiversity in the mangrove swamp ecosystem. Encompassing Dat Mui, Vien An and Dat Moi communes in Ngoc Hien District, Ca Mau Province, the park covers over 41,800 ha, including 26,600 ha of coastal areas and 15,200 ha of inland areas. It is home to 93 species of birds, 26 species of mammals, 43 species of reptiles, nine species of amphibians, 139 fish species and 53 mollusc species, including many that are listed in Vietnam’s Red Book and the Red Book of the Association of International Nature Conservation (IUCN) of Threatened Species. In 2009, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation recognised Ca Mau Cape National Park as a World Biosphere Reserve. In April this year, the park became the 2,088 th Ramsar site in the world (wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar convention) and the fifth Ramsar site in Vietnam, together with Xuan Thuy Natural Wetland Reserve in the Red River Delta province of Nam Dinh, Ba Be Lake in the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan, Bau Sau in Cat Tien National Park in the southern province of Dong Nai and Tram Chim National Park in the southern province of Dong Thap. Ca Mau provincial authorities are making every effort to better preserve the Ramsar site by building and experimenting with models of conservation and sustainable use of mangrove swamp resources, promoting the economic value of wetland ecosystems. The park’s management board has been working with the local authorities, related sectors and domestic and foreign organisations to conduct regular education campaigns to raise public awareness of laws and regulations on forest and sea management and protection, thus increasing local community’s involvement in conserving the biodiversity of the park. At present, 12 security groups have been established to patrol and protect the park. Several community-based programmes have been implemented to protect the park, while the park has devised ways to get local people to participate in eco-tourism operation. However, it is most urgent to implement research on fauna and flora resources in the park, build projects to inventory and supervise biodiversity and wetland areas, and improve the professional skills of park management staff. Source: VNA/VOV