13/06/2016
Việt Nam is recognized as one of countries having diverse biodiversity in the world, which brings direct benefits to human and contributes significantly to the economy, particularly in agriculture production, forestry and fishery; ensures national food security; maintains genetic resources to create seedlings of husbandry animals, plants and medicinal sources and food… Natural ecosystems also have vital roles in climate regulation and environmental protection. In addition, biodiversity is the aspiration for culture, art and linked to spiritual lives of Vietnamese for thousands of years.
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The community garden at Hạ Long village, Phong Mỹ commune, Phong Điền district, Thừa Thiên – Huế province |
Việt Nam is one of countries participating actively in international agreements on biodiversity, particularly as a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (RAMSAR); the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and some international protocols such as Cartagena protocol on biosafety; Nagoya protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization; Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES); Asia Protected Areas Partnership (APAP)… At the same time, Việt Nam promotes the cooperation with other countries in ASEAN to implement commitments as well common concerns on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development and participate in many regional initiatives relating to biodiversity such as the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEANWEN); Global Tiger Initiative (GTI)…
In addition, Việt Nam has promulgated many important legislations in natural resources management such as the Law on Forest Protection and Development (2004), Fishery Law (2003), Biodiversity Law (2008). Recently, to orient biodiversity conservation, the Party and the State have promulgated many important policies: Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW dated 3/6/2013 by the Central Committee Tenure XI on proactively responding to climate change, enhancing resources management and environmental protection, in which there are orientations and instructions on biodiversity conservation; the National Strategy on Biodiversity to 2020, Vision to 2030 at Decision No.1250/QD-TTg dated 31/7/2013 and National Master Plan on Biodiversity Conservation at Decision No. 45/QD-TTg dated 8/1/2014 by the Prime Minister.
In the last two decades, Việt Nam has achieved some important achievements in biodiversity conservation: the legal framework and policies on biodiversity conservation are increasingly strengthened and finalized; the state management structure on biodiversity has been established; social awareness and participation of relevant stakeholders on biodiversity conservation have remarkably changed; some endangered species and precious genetic resources are restored; critical ecosystem services continue to be preserved and provide important services to the socio-economic development of the country. However, biodiversity resources of Việt Nam continue to degrade; ecosystems are narrowed, fragmented and degraded in quality; number of endangered species is increasing; genetic resources are losing… Causes of this situation are due to pressures of population growth leading to the increase in demand and overexploitation of biological resources and the trade-off between conservation and economic development; whereas the management of biodiversity conservation has recently faced a lot of inadequacy in terms of legislations, policies, institutions and management organizations; the investment on biodiversity conservation is scattered and lack of concentration; the socialization of biodiversity conservation has not been promoted, awareness on biodiversity protection is not high. Perception of the Party Central Committee Tenure XI at Resolution No. 24-NQ/TW is “Biodiversity loss is occurring, the threat of ecological unbalance is occurring at a large scale, which negatively affects the socio-economic development, health and livelihoods of the people”.
To cope with these above pressures and challenges, to strengthen the biodiversity management in the upcoming time, Việt Nam needs to holistically implement the following solutions:
Finalizing legal corridor for biodiversity conservation: Review and finalize legal regulations on biodiversity, particularly laws and guiding documents of the Law on Forest Protection and Development, Fishery Law, Law on Biodiversity to ensure the integrity, effectiveness and efficiency. The revision of laws needs implementing comprehensively to ensure the integrity of legislations and to create the unification on biodiversity management.
Strengthening and developing state management agency system on biodiversity conservation: Focus on strengthening the system of state management agencies on environmental protection at provincial level, particularly the establishment and strengthening of the state management structure on biodiversity conservation at provincial level (Sub-department of Environmental Protection within the Department of Natural Resources and Environment) and district level (the Natural Resources and Environment Division). Strengthen the coordination and assignment among Ministries, sectors, coordination, assignment and decentralization between central and local levels in biodiversity management.
Promoting the enforcement of legislations and monitoring of the legal implementation on biodiversity: Promote the guidance on sanctions mechanism on biodiversity; strictly address violations on biodiversity to ensure the strictness of legal enforcement. In addition, promote the propaganda and communication to inform legislations from central to local levels, from governments to communities.
Renewing financial mechanism for biodiversity conservation: diversify financial resources for biodiversity from the state budget, international support and other sources. Apply new financial tools which are being studied and implemented by the world (payment for biodiversity services), mobilize contributions of the private sector, non-governmental organization, communities for biodiversity conservation. In addition, it is necessary to invest in biodiversity in a more focused manner with clear criteria to increase investment effectiveness.
Implementing measures for integrating biodiversity into the socio-economic development harmoniously: Integrating biodiversity protection requirements in environmental impact assessment and strategic environment assessment; towards valuation of biodiversity for the decision-making process; create a link between socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation to ensure sustainable development.
Promoting socialization models for biodiversity conservation: Continue to promote models in which communities involve biodiversity conservation such as communities participating in patrolling, protection and monitoring of biodiversity in protected areas; models on wise use of wetlands, protection of heritage trees... Study and create mechanisms to mobilize the participation of the private sector in biodiversity conservation.
Dr. Nguyễn Thế Đồng
Deputy Director General of Vietnam Environment Administration
