Beautiful scenery of Tu Lan cave system in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Currently, Quang Binh and Khammouane provinces are actively coordinating to complete the nomination dossier to combine the two parks to become a transnational natural heritage and are expected to submit it to UNESCO by the end of 2024. Many similarities between the two national parks Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was recognized by UNESCO as a "World Natural Heritage" twice in 2003 and 2015 with criteria on geology, geomorphology, biodiversity and development of terrestrial ecosystems. This is also the first heritage in Southeast Asia to meet three out of four criteria for a world natural heritage. Phong Nha-Ke Bang is the largest karst area in the world, with a history of formation more than 400 million years ago, with all the main stages of development of the earth's crust. There are more than 1,000 caves here, of which 425 have been surveyed and mapped; has an extremely diverse and rich flora and fauna (2,953 plant species, 1,394 animal species), with 43 newly discovered species and many rare species indicative of the forest ecosystem on limestone mountains. Across the border, Hin Nam No National Park of Khammouane province has a total area of ​​over 82,000 hectares, is home to 40 species of mammals, more than 200 species of birds, 46 species of amphibians and reptiles, more than 100 species of fish and more than 520 species of plants; at the same time, there are many beautiful limestone cave systems... According to scientists from the Institute of Geology under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park are adjacent to each other and are located in the largest limestone block in Southeast Asia. Through research, many outstanding global values ​​in terms of geology, geomorphology and biodiversity have been discovered. In addition, archaeological information collected in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and recent discoveries in Hin Nam No National Park show archaeological similarities, namely the presence of prehistoric inhabitants in both areas. This discovery also provides additional evidence for the adaptation of prehistoric inhabitants to the natural environment, thereby contributing to enhancing the value of Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Hin Nam No, highlighting global values ​​for building a common scientific profile. Director of Hin Nam No National Park, Mr. Khamkeo Latthayod, said that Hin Nam No National Park and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park of Vietnam are adjacent to each other on the Truong Son mountain range, including relatively intact humid forests with dozens of conservation areas with high biodiversity. The current representation of outstanding biodiversity values ​​in the world heritage list is limited to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Meanwhile, the transboundary attribute represents the most important and essentially intact karst ecosystem component in the moist forests of the Annamites. Among the diverse ecosystems and habitats throughout the transboundary area, the dry karst peaks with their highly endemic flora and fauna stand out. This is also true for the lush evergreen and semi-deciduous forests in the valleys between the karst ranges in both national parks. The most striking are the wild and remote alpine forests on sandstone at Hin Nam No and the rare coniferous forests on limestone at Phong Nha-Ke Bang. The transboundary attribute also shows that, below ground, there are cave systems and underground river systems with a myriad of highly specialized organisms, not found anywhere else in the world. Mr. Khamkeo Latthayod also said that in recent years, the two countries and the two localities have held many meetings and workshops to strengthen cooperation towards expanding cross-border heritage. That is the annual cooperation agreement signed by the Prime Ministers of the two countries since 2020, building a cross-border management framework for Hin Nam No and Phong Nha-Ke Bang in 2021; establishing focal points for nomination in both countries and defining the tasks of provincial steering committees, carrying out cross-border forest management work. With the support of the Government of Vietnam and the support of the World Heritage Committee, in February 2023, the Lao Government submitted the nomination of Hin Nam No National Park as a cross-border extension of Vietnam's Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage. If approved, this extension will supplement and create the largest limestone mountain reserve in the world. The title of Transnational World Heritage, if recognized, will be a foundation and motivation for more effective cooperation in the protection, conservation and sustainable exploitation of transboundary ecosystems. The first transnational heritage in the future The representative of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO said that the World Heritage Committee supports and welcomes Vietnam's cooperation with Laos in biodiversity conservation, especially in transboundary conservation areas and joint nomination of the Hin Nam No National Reserve with the Phong Nha-Ke Bang World Natural Heritage of Vietnam in the future. This recommendation is based on the logic of nature conservation and ecological evolution that is not limited to administrative boundaries. Moreover, in the context of the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos, this is an opportunity and hope that there will soon be the first transboundary natural heritage in Asia. UNESCO's goal is to expand cooperation in the conservation and preservation of heritages with many common characteristics. Vietnam and Laos are working together to complete the first international natural heritage dossier in Southeast Asia and are expected to submit it to UNESCO by the end of this year. This affirms Vietnam's commitment to UNESCO in the conservation and preservation of world natural heritages, its commitment to support and accompany Laos in nominating and preserving the common assets of humanity, contributing to the sustainable development of the two countries and the region. If recognized as world natural heritages, Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Hin Nam No will become symbols connecting the two peoples of Vietnam and Laos, contributing to further cultivating the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Director of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park Pham Hong Thai said: "Based on the joint statement on cooperation in cross-border biodiversity conservation between Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park; the minutes of talks signed annually between the leaders of Quang Binh and Khammouane provinces... we have organized many visits and working sessions with the aim of exchanging management information, cooperating in biodiversity conservation, conserving and promoting the potential value of cross-border landscapes between the two regions". Last July, in Tha Khet town, Khammouane province (Laos), a conference was held to exchange experiences and review the implementation of the memorandum of understanding between Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park. The two sides agreed to revise the content of the nomination dossier for Hin Nam No National Park as a cross-border World Natural Heritage with Phong Nha-Ke Bang. The two sides are preparing the procedures for the two national parks to complete the registration of the IUCN Green List. At the same time, Hin Nam No National Park will also support Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in participating in forums and the process of building a dossier to request UNESCO to recognize it as a world biosphere reserve and global geopark. Mr. Khamkeo Latthayod said that combining Hin Nam No and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Parks into a common transnational, cross-border world natural heritage will increase the area and scale of the outstanding global values ​​of the two national parks, ensuring the unity and integrity of the heritage; at the same time, strengthening the special solidarity and friendship between Laos and Vietnam in the work of protecting, preserving and exploiting an international natural heritage that nature has bestowed upon both countries sharing the Truong Son mountain range.

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