A biosphere reserve in Vietnam's southern Dong Nai province has officially become the 580th such initiative in the world and the 8th in Vietnam, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), reported Vietnam News Agency on Monday.

Covering more than 966,500 hectares (9665 square kilometers) in southern Dong Nai, Lam Dong, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong and Dak Nong provinces, Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve, some 1,120 km south of Vietnamese capital Hanoi, includes a core zone of 169,000 hectares and a transitional zone of nearly 448,000 hectares.

The site is seen as an ideal living environment for mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. It is now home to more than 1,400 species of plants and 1,700 species of animals, including those listed in the world's Red Book of Rare Animals.

The reserve will be a live laboratory for scientific research and new ideas on conservation and development, rated scientists.

The country's other seven UNESCO-recognized biosphere reserves include Can Gio Mangrove near southern Ho Chi Minh (HCM) City, Cat Ba Island in northern Hai Phong City, Cat Tien National Park north of HCM City, Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve in southern Kien Giang Province, Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve near capital Hanoi, the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve in central Nghe An province, and Ca Mau Cape National Park in southern Ca Mau province.

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