Overview of Vietnam
Vietnam, situated within the Indomalayan realm, is recognized as one of the twenty-five countries with an exceptionally rich biodiversity. This fact was highlighted in the National Environmental Condition Report of 2005. Globally, Vietnam ranks 16th in terms of biological diversity, harboring approximately 16% of the world's species. The country boasts a remarkable array of flora, with 15,986 identified species, of which 10% are unique to Vietnam. The fauna of Vietnam is equally impressive, encompassing 307 nematode species, 200 oligochaeta, 145 acarina, 113 springtails, 7,750 insects, 260 reptiles, and 120 amphibians. Additionally, Vietnam is home to 840 bird species and 310 mammal species, including 100 endemic birds and 78 endemic mammals.
Notably, Vietnam possesses two World Natural Heritage Sites, namely Hạ Long Bay and Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, as well as nine biosphere reserves, such as Cần Giờ Mangrove Forest, Cát Tiên, Cát Bà, Kiên Giang, the Red River Delta, Mekong Delta, Western Nghệ An, Cà Mau, and Cu Lao Cham Marine Park. The country also boasts a significant presence of freshwater microalgae, with 1,438 species accounting for 9.6% of all microalgae species, along with 794 aquatic invertebrates and 2,458 species of sea fish. In recent years, Vietnam has witnessed the discovery of 13 genera, 222 species, and 30 taxa of flora. Furthermore, six new mammal species, including the saola, giant muntjac, and Tonkin snub-nosed monkey, have been identified, along with one new bird species, the endangered Edwards's pheasant.
While Vietnam once housed a small population of Javan rhinoceros in Cát Tiên National Park, the species is believed to be extinct in the country since the reported shooting of the last individual in 2010. In terms of agricultural genetic diversity, Vietnam is recognized as one of the world's twelve original cultivar centers, with the Vietnam National Cultivar Gene Bank preserving 12,300 cultivars of 115 species. Demonstrating its commitment to biodiversity preservation, the Vietnamese government allocated US$49.07 million solely for this purpose in 2004 and has established 126 conservation areas, including 30 national parks