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Viet Nam pledges fresh protection for biodiversity

HA NOI — Viet Nam, acknowledged as among the world’s 10 richest in biodiversity, will increase special use forest area to 2.3 million hectares by 2010, according to the publication Viet Nam Biodiversity Awareness Programme 2001-2010.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has initiated 21 projects to promote the biodiversity awareness programme including one to raise awareness on the impact of invasive alien species on biodiversity and another for community awareness at the Cat Tien National Park.

The country’s biodiversity is embodied by the richness in genome variety, range of species and types of habitat and ecosystems but it has been gradually changing in line with socio-economic development. The four major centres of biodiversity identified so far by studies are the Hoang Lien Son Mountain, the northern-central Truong Son Mountains, Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) and south-eastern Viet Nam.

An event that grabbed the world’s attention was the discovery of three species of large and small mammals each, two species of birds and several of fish, insects and plants in Viet Nam by local biologists.

The nation’s forests contain rich and diverse fauna and flora and the forests themselves are of many kinds like the lowland and upland closed forests, dry open forests, and upland temperate forests.

In addition to wild species, Viet Nam also has a wide range of crops that are cultivated – 734 species from 79 families, statistics reveal.

While possessing all this diversity is only one side of the coin, protecting them is the other, equally important side.

Biodiversity is key not only for the survival and evolution of life on this planet, including humans’, but also for socio-economic, cultural, and educational development.

However, the most important practical use is in scientific research and application to such sectors as agriculture, forestry, industry, health and others.

However, in Viet Nam, as in most developing countries, people’s livelihoods are directly dependent on natural resources. Agriculture, fishing, forestry and the use of medicinal plants still play an important role in rural areas. Sustainable use of biodiversity therefore becomes vital.

Nevertheless, in the light of the high density of population and pressure on land, it is evident that only a small proportion of land will be available to set aside for protection.

It is of critical importance to recognise the close interdependence between social factors and biological resources and consider it to be a solid foundation for sustainable use of biodiversity.

To protect biodiversity, a number of priorities need to be identified for its sustainable use, including development of models on use of non-timber forest products and medicinal plants.

Off- and near-shore fishing and sustainable fresh and saline aqua culture practices, sustainable farming, control of trade in endangered species and development of tourism, friendly and sensitive to the ecology are some of the immediate requirements.

The Biodiversity Awareness Programme 2001-2010 will have an annual investment of around VND20 billion, partly from the State budget and the rest from beneficiaries of biological resources such as commercial users, besides assistance from ODA, GEF and other organisations. — VNS