Provisions on natural heritage sites in Vietnam from January 01, 2022

According to Article 20 of the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 of Vietnam, natural heritage sites include:

- National parks, nature reserves, habitat/species management areas, landscape protected areas established in accordance with the law on biodiversity, forestry and fisheries; landscapes recognized as cultural heritage established in accordance with the law on cultural heritage;

- Natural heritage sites recognized by international organizations;

- Other natural heritage sites established and recognized in accordance with this Law.

Notably, the establishment and recognition of natural heritage sites shall be based on any of the following criteria:

- They are of outstanding, unique or exceptional natural beauty;

- They provide excellent examples of ongoing ecological and biological evolutionary processes or furnishes habitats for endangered, precious, rare or endemic species or are sites of exceptional biodiversity or are of significance for biological diversity conservation;

- They are outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life or significant geomorphic or physiographic features;

- They play a significantly important role in climate regulation, water protection, ecological balance and provision of ecosystem services.

Note: The Government of Vietnam shall elaborate criteria, procedures and power for establishing and recognizing natural heritage sites; procedures and power for applying for recognition of natural heritage sites recognized by international organizations.

Besides, this Law also specifies natural heritage site environment protection as follows:

- Natural heritage site environment shall be investigated, assessed, managed and protected.

- Natural heritage site environment protection is a content of the national environmental protection planning, regional planning and provincial planning.

- Agencies, organizations, residential communities, households and individuals have the responsibility to protect natural heritage sites. Organizations, residential communities, households and individuals participating in managing natural heritage site environment are entitled to payments for ecosystem services as prescribed by law.

View more details at the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 of Vietnam, effective from January 01, 2022.

Ty Na

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