Building a Comprehensive Guide to Insect Biodiversity in Cat BA National Park for Education and Conservation

10 Oct 2025 Cat Ba National Park, Hai Phong Province, Vietnam, Asia Biodiversity | Education | Invertebrates

Van Cuong Duong


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Insect Biodiversity in Mangrove Ecosystem in Northern Vietnam

Cat Ba National Park is a legally protected area located within the Cat Ba Archipelago, which was designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2004 and officially is part of the Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2023 for its unique karst landscapes and rich biodiversity. The park hosts diverse and threatened habitats, such as tropical forests, mangroves, limestone hills, and wetlands. These habitats support a wide range of endemic, rare, and endangered species, including many insect species that remain undocumented. Despite its protected status, Cat Ba faces increasing pressure from tourism development, habitat fragmentation, pollution, and climate change.

Insects, which form the foundation of many ecosystem processes such as pollination, decomposition, and food web dynamics, are highly sensitive to these environmental changes. However, insect biodiversity has not been well-integrated into conservation planning in the park due to limited data and a lack of public awareness.

This project aims to address this gap by: (1) documenting insect species across the park’s diverse habitats to provide baseline data for conservation and habitat monitoring; (2) producing a comprehensive, illustrated field guide to the insect fauna of the park to support education and decision-making; and (3) organizing intensive workshops and launching an awareness campaign targeting students and teachers in local schools including secondary schools ( Phu Long and Cat Ba town) and a high school (Cat Ba town) on Cat Ba Island. I believe that engaging young people and teachers will ensure that biodiversity values are passed on to future generations and embedded into local education.

Overall, this integrated approach, including scientific documentation, educational resources, and community-based outreach, will potentially raise the profile of insects in conservation planning, promote ecosystem resilience, and directly support national and global biodiversity goals. Ultimately, the project will help safeguard the unique and vulnerable habitats of Cat Ba National Park through knowledge, engagement, and local empowerment.

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