The Con Dao National Park Management Board (Con Dao Special Zone, Ho Chi Minh City) has just coordinated with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to hold a ceremony marking its inscription on the Green List.
Unlike World Heritage sites or Biosphere Reserves, the Green List focuses on management processes and performance. It is a global standard that measures success in biodiversity conservation.
The standard covers four areas: good governance, sound design and planning, effective management, and successful conservation outcomes. To earn the certification, Con Dao National Park had to meet 17 criteria and 50 rigorous indicators.
Con Dao National Park receives IUCN Green List certification
Con Dao National Park began its journey toward Green List recognition in 2020. The park underwent a rigorous process of self-assessment and evidence gathering, demonstrating strong governance capacity and viable conservation outcomes even under challenging conditions.
The candidate phase was completed in just three months — a record in Vietnam — reflecting the park’s strong commitment to conservation excellence.
This is the third conservation area in Vietnam to receive this certification, following Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve and Cat Tien National Park.
Staff at Con Dao National Park guide visitors in sea turtle conservation
Globally, Con Dao is the 101st site to meet the Green List standards, opening up opportunities for international cooperation and raising the park’s visibility. It allows the park to access financial support for conservation projects.
The Green List status is valid for five years and requires continued compliance with strict criteria; otherwise, the recognition may be withdrawn. Therefore, the Con Dao Management Board must continue working closely with local authorities and communities to ensure effective, long-term conservation.
Con Dao National Park currently manages 5,890 hectares of natural forest with a canopy cover of 92%, and protects both terrestrial and marine ecosystems that include more than 1,077 plant species, 155 forest animal species, and 1,725 marine species.
A standout achievement is the recovery of the sea turtle population: since 2023, more than 2,100 nesting females have laid 6,300 nests, and over 436,000 hatchlings have been released back into the ocean.
