Decision No. 845/TTg Approving the "Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation in Vietnam"

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the approval of the "Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation in Vietnam"

PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law dated December 27, 1993;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Science, Technology, and Environment at Report No. 2423/MTg dated September 25, 1995;

 DECISION:

- Prime Minister;1.- Approves the "Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation (BDC) in Vietnam" with long-term goals, short-term goals, and main contents as set forth in the attached document.

- Prime Minister;2.- Implementation organization.

1. Specific actions must be implemented in the form of projects with clear objectives, contents, geographical areas, scales, timeframes, and specific products. Projects must be reviewed before funding is provided, and they must be inspected step-by-step and completed.

2. Tasks of central agencies:

The Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment is the lead agency responsible for implementing the BDC Action Plan. The Ministry has the responsibility to proactively discuss with relevant ministries, sectors, and localities to gradually implement this plan. Annually, the Ministry will compile a comprehensive report to submit to the Prime Minister on the results of implementing the plan's contents.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment, based on domestic resources and foreign aid, and considering the main contents of the aforementioned plan, will coordinate with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment to allocate specific annual plans for sectors and localities to implement each content.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Fisheries, and the National Center for Natural Sciences and Technology are the key agencies responsible for implementing this plan. Annually, these agencies have the responsibility to coordinate with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment and the Ministry of Planning and Investment regarding specific action plans, and to inform the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment about the implementation results for compilation and submission to the Prime Minister.

The Ministries of Education and Training, Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, Health, and the Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas must prioritize in their economic and social programs those contents and areas related to biodiversity conservation while actively discussing with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment and the Ministry of Planning and Investment on common issues.

3. Tasks of localities:

Provincial People's Committees (referred to collectively as Provincial People's Committees) are responsible for organizing the implementation of this plan within their jurisdictional areas.

Annually, Provincial People's Committees will develop specific plans, coordinate with the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and relevant ministries to implement them, and simultaneously report annually on the implementation results to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment for compilation and submission to the Prime Minister.

- Prime Minister;3.- This Decision takes effect from the date of signature.

 

PLAN

ACTION PLAN FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN VIETNAM

(Approved by Decision No.: 845/TTg,

dated December 22, 1995 of the Government)

Vietnam is endowed by nature with a rich and diverse array of ecosystems, species, and genetic resources, collectively known as biodiversity (Biodiversity). Survey results show that our country has approximately 12,000 vascular plant species, of which about 7,000 have been named, 275 mammal species, 800 bird species, 180 reptile species, 80 amphibian species, 2,470 fish species, 5,500 insect species... The uniqueness of this biodiversity is quite high: 10% of the world's mammal, bird, and fish species can be found in Vietnam, more than 40% of the plant species are endemic and not found elsewhere, many livestock and poultry breeds have been selectively bred over thousands of years.

In terms of economic value, agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products, which are essentially derived from biodiversity, contribute approximately 2 billion USD annually to the national economy. In many places, especially in mountainous regions, food sources, medicinal plants, and primary income mainly depend on the exploitation of biodiversity.

However, the rapid increase in population, the reduction in forest area, excessive exploitation of marine biological resources, and the widespread adoption of new crop varieties... have led to the shrinking or loss of ecosystems, posing a risk of extinction for 28% of mammal species, 10% of bird species, 21% of reptile and amphibian species. The loss of a species is permanent, along with the loss of its genetic resource. In reality, the rate of biodiversity decline in our country is much faster than in other countries in the region.

Recognizing the significant economic, scientific, cultural, and social values of biodiversity for current and future human development, and understanding the heavy responsibility of protecting biodiversity, our country has joined many other nations in signing the Convention on Biological Diversity, making it effective since mid-1993.

Since the 1960s, Vietnam has taken initial formal steps towards natural conservation. In 1972, the decree on Forest Protection led to the recruitment of 10,000 forest rangers deployed at all levels across the country. From the 1980s, efforts to protect the environment, including biodiversity, have increased and become more systematic.

In 1985, Vietnam drafted the National Conservation Strategy, the first strategy developed by a developing country. The strategy was welcomed by the international community.

In 1991, the Government approved the National Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Plan 1991-2000. This plan led to the enactment of the Environmental Protection Law in 1994, the establishment of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment, and provincial Departments of Science, Technology, and Environment.

Vietnam has ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity, and in accordance with its spirit, Vietnam, like all other countries, must take action to protect biodiversity.

At the national level, it is essential to develop and promulgate an Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation.

 

I. SITUATION OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN VIETNAM

1. Economic use of species:

The economic use of species primarily involves timber harvesting, amounting to approximately 1.3-1.4 million cubic meters³Annually, timber is harvested, along with other forest products for economic purposes including bamboo, rattan, and firewood. Approximately 100,000 tons of bamboo and rattan are harvested as raw material for paper production. In total energy demand, 75% is firewood, with an estimated annual extraction of 22 to 23 million tons of fuel from natural forests. Additionally, about 2,300 plant species and some wild animal species are harvested for medicinal purposes, human and livestock food, industrial and handicraft materials, among others, and an increasing volume of products is currently being traded with neighboring countries.

Annually, fisheries products are estimated at 1 million tons, of which 60-70% are marine fish catches, providing half of the country's animal protein. Freshwater environments provide approximately 20 to 30 thousand tons annually of fish, soft-shelled turtles, frogs, and farmed fish also contribute a yield of 200 tons annually.

2/ Threats to Biodiversity:

Along with the gradual reduction of ecosystems, leading to the loss of habitats, many species are at risk of extinction. In the Red Book of Vietnam, scientists have recorded over 300 threatened animal species and 350 threatened plant species. The common cause is:

Over-exploitation:

The continued exploitation of timber and other non-timber forest products remains a significant threat, despite limited legal logging areas and restrictions on the export of raw logs, logging in important areas, and the harvesting of certain species. Large-scale fuelwood extraction, which is difficult to control, poses the greatest threat to biodiversity in many countries. The quality and quantity of forests near populated areas are continuously declining. Forests in many regions are fragmented and become smaller, isolated from other forest areas, thus losing their ability to support the richness of species as they originally did.

Overfishing is a reality everywhere. Moreover, fishing methods are not selectively applied, even destructive ones such as fish traps, driftnets with very small mesh sizes, explosives, and poison are used in some places.

Coral mining is the most concerning issue along the central coast from Da Nang to Thuận Hải. Mining dead coral in tidal zones for cement production (in Khánh Hòa, Ninh Thuận) using explosives has significantly impacted the marine life habitat and reduced coastal erosion prevention capacity.

Shifting cultivation and encroachment of agricultural land.

For generations, some ethnic minorities have practiced stable shifting cultivation cycles. Fields are cultivated for several years, then left fallow for several years to allow the forest to recover before burning and reusing them for cultivation again. This system only opens up a small percentage of the forest and enriches biodiversity by allowing new species to settle. With population growth, this system is no longer stable, the land use cycle is shortened, and the forest area is gradually reduced. Migration, land clearance for agriculture or aquaculture also reduces the area of forest ecosystems.

Shifting cultivation is also often a cause of forest fires. Of the current 9 million hectares of forest, about 56% are prone to fire during the dry season, with an annual loss of about 20,000 to 30,000 hectares of forest, sometimes reaching up to 100,000 hectares. Deforestation has caused significant losses to biodiversity.

Water pollution:

Oil pollution is considered the greatest threat to the marine environment. Levels of oil in coastal seawater ranging from 0.4 to 1.0 mg/liter frequently exceed permissible limits due to oil and gas exploration activities and maritime transportation. Quảng Ninh Province also faces severe sedimentation problems in coastal waters due to coal and clay mining activities. Millions of tons of sediment from port dredging (Haiphong Port dredges 3 to 5 million tons annually) often create sediment deposits at river mouths and coastal areas containing oil and toxins, harming coastal ecosystems and marine life.

Coastal degradation:

The construction of aquaculture ponds along the coast, land reclamation for salt fields or agriculture, residential development, etc., often leads to a reduction in tidal wetland areas, increased acidity, changes in sedimentation processes, resulting in the destruction or severe degradation of many tidal wetlands. Large-scale sand and rock extraction for construction and other minerals is the cause of coastal erosion in South Central Vietnam, reducing water quality and affecting the lower layers of the marine ecosystem.

Transition to a market economy.

The transition to a market economy mechanism has strongly influenced farmers' thinking, driving them to adopt new varieties and species with higher productivity and quality demanded by the market. This process also poses a significant threat to traditional crop varieties adapted to local climate and soil conditions, which have valuable genetic traits but are forgotten because they do not meet current market demands.

Current exploitation and use of species make the common task of protecting national biodiversity increasingly urgent.

 

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE VIETNAM BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN.

1/ Long-term objectives of the plan are:

To protect the rich and unique biodiversity of Vietnam within the framework of sustainable development.

2/ Short-term objectives of the plan are:

To protect specific ecosystems of Vietnam, sensitive ecosystems that are threatened by narrowing or destruction due to human economic activities.

To protect parts of biodiversity that are threatened by over-exploitation or neglect.

To promote and discover the values of parts of biodiversity based on sustainable development of resource values, serving the country's economic goals.

 

III. MAIN CONTENTS OF THE PLAN.

Protecting biodiversity is a long-term task requiring implementation across multiple five-year plans. Some urgent actions need to be included in specific plans.

1/ Regarding policies and laws:

The Environmental Protection Law, adopted by the National Assembly, provides general guidance on environmental protection, but additional sub-legislative and supporting documents are needed to enhance the enforcement capacity of the law and other regulatory documents.

Enforcing the law is one of the urgent issues that need attention. This requires strengthening the technical and management capabilities of relevant agencies and organizations, training staff for these agencies. Some institutions and laws also need to be reformed, economic measures based on market mechanisms and the application of penalty measures should be studied and implemented.

Sub-legislative documents must address the issue of sustainable exploitation and use of natural resources, controlling the trade of parts of rare or special wildlife species of Vietnam, preventing and controlling pollution. These matters include provisions related to environmental impact assessments.

Effectively protecting wildlife requires clarifying, adjusting, or reinforcing the functions and responsibilities of state management agencies involved. Regulations concerning the activities of economic organizations affecting the environment are also necessary. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize a comprehensive review of the functional and responsibility arrangements of management agencies for natural resource conservation areas.

2/ Construction and Management of Conservation Areas:

1- Immediately construct and manage well high-value wildlife conservation areas. Plan to expand forests and forest land in 87 special-use forests already identified, prioritizing those with high wildlife value such as Pu Mat (Nghe An), Vu Quang (Ha Tinh), Hoang Lien Son (Lao Cai), Ba Be (Cao Bang), Cat Ba (Hai Phong), Cuc Phuong (Ninh Binh), Ho Ke Go (Ha Tinh), Bach Ma (Thua Thien Hue), Nam Ca (Dac Lac), Yok Don (Dac Lac), Chu Giang Sinh (Dac Lac), Bi Dup (Lam Dong), Cat Tien (Dong Nai).

Strengthen and develop buffer zones around conservation areas, encourage intensive farming on steep slopes, gradually reduce shifting cultivation, stabilize the livelihoods of local people while promoting education and awareness to make them self-aware protectors.

2- Plan to establish important wetland conservation areas in Ca Mau, along the Red River Delta, bird sanctuaries, Tam Giang lagoon... These areas lie outside special-use forests and are close to populated areas with various demands for exploitation and use such as aquaculture, protective forest planting, transportation development... Therefore, immediate attention must be given to wildlife protection in these wetland areas, preventing pollution sources, especially water pollution, and excessive drainage.

3- Establish some marine and inland water conservation areas. Marine areas of high wildlife value are often economically valuable as well, so priority should be given to protecting the highest-value marine wildlife areas.

4- Establish gene banks for plants, livestock, and microorganisms. Provide genetic material for breeding and selecting strains serving economic goals while acting as insurance for natural genetic sources. Enhance the capacity of zoos which serve as tourist attractions, training grounds, educational centers for environmental awareness, research facilities, and conservation sites for endangered wild species, and when conditions permit, reintroduce these species back into natural conservation areas.

5- Implement integrated management according to sustainable development principles for coastal regions, which are territories mixed with various activities such as protective forest planting, mangrove forest exploitation, aquaculture, agricultural reclamation, population development, coastal industry and construction...

6- Strengthen measures to protect agricultural wildlife, promote the "conservation farm" model to attract farmers' participation in common protection tasks, particularly focusing on preserving traditional crop and animal varieties that have long adapted to local geographic and climatic conditions, widely found in different regions of the country.

3/ Raise Public Awareness:

1- Utilize mass media such as radio, television, press, posters, etc., to raise public awareness about wildlife conservation in daily life, encouraging the masses to protect common wildlife benefits.

2. Provide necessary information through short-term specialized seminars or study tours of wildlife conservation facilities both domestically and internationally for leaders and decision-makers to enhance their understanding of the importance of wildlife conservation.

3- Promote and disseminate knowledge and effective use methods of unique natural resources to ethnic mountain communities so they can both exploit and protect these resources. Particularly encourage and provide technical assistance to those who conserve traditional medicinal plants and animals, gradually transitioning from natural extraction to cultivation, raising their long-term resource value recognition.

4- Draft wildlife conservation education programs for the general school system, integrating them into biology curricula or general environmental education programs.

4/ Enhance Capacity and Train Staff:

1- Prioritize enhancing the training of cadres responsible for wildlife management at all levels, including technical staff directly involved in wildlife protection tasks. Additionally, organizations, mass organizations, associations, and farmer households participating in the wildlife protection system should also be trained.

2- Develop a national wildlife database, moving towards establishing a national wildlife data bank with a nationwide information network to serve management and research purposes, and facilitate international information exchange in this field.

3- Establish a monitoring system for changes in wildlife resource sources, providing timely necessary information to state management agencies.

5/ Scientific Research:

The following scientific and technological directions require attention:

1- Research on sustainable exploitation and use of wildlife parts with appropriate technologies. Prioritize scientific and technological research on exploiting and using wildlife parts in agriculture and medicine.

2- Study criteria and standards for assessing the fluctuations of components of biodiversity, serving as a basis for evaluating the values of this resource.

3- Study issues related to biosafety, ensuring safety for the reception and transfer of technology in this field.

4- Study and organize the breeding of rare marine organisms and forest animals, which are economically valuable species that have been overexploited and are at risk of depletion.

5- Study biodiversity issues of surrounding areas with similar natural characteristics, where there are many related biodiversity problems among neighboring countries concerning the protection of common interests, as well as the exchange of techniques.

6/ Economic and social issues of the plan:

The core issue of the biodiversity conservation plan is to bring long-term benefits to the country, considering and anticipating the two-way impacts between the Plan and the economic and social conditions of the country to adjust accordingly. The plan must create a foundation for people living near natural habitats to accept and support it, because they will benefit more. Therefore, priority should be given to projects supporting local communities to build buffer zones, apply technological advancements, upgrade infrastructure, improve public welfare... to balance the income of the people and prevent them from encroaching on protected areas.

Economic and social programs managed by Ministries and sectors implemented in areas close to biodiversity protection zones must pay attention to combining with the biodiversity conservation plan, ensuring sustainable exploitation and use of biodiversity components.

Some economic development areas in new environments, near biodiversity protection zones or sensitive ecosystems must contribute to the cost of protecting environmental quality.

7/ International cooperation development:

Vietnam has officially become a member of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which serves as a basis for expanding international relations in this field. Call for international organizations, governments, and foreign individuals to participate in providing practical assistance in technology, training personnel, and financial aid for the implementation of this plan.

With neighboring countries in the region, for the common interests of each nation, it is necessary to strengthen scientific research cooperation, information exchange, technical exchange, and unified actions to protect and develop the values of biodiversity.

 IV. MATTERS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE PLAN 1996 - 2000

In the five-year plan from 1996 to 2000, based on state resources, focus on key tasks to establish the following action projects:

1/ On policy and law: Complete the system of sub-law documents to provide a legal basis for implementing the Law on Environmental Protection and fulfilling relevant international conventions on biodiversity:

1- Develop regulations on the protection, use, exploitation, and exchange of genetic resources and plant and animal breeds, aiming to:

Manage a precious national resource with immediate and long-term economic value.

Protect national sovereignty and comply with international conventions to which we have committed regarding these resources.

2- Systematize existing legal documents on management, exploitation, and use of biological resources for all purposes, aiming to:

Identify gaps and limitations in these documents issued by various Ministries and Sectors previously.

Supplement and amend these documents to align with changes in the economic management mechanism, while ensuring the sustainable exploitation and use of biological resources.

3- Announce vulnerable ecosystems in sensitive areas on land and water and accompanying protective regulations to prevent their degradation or destruction due to pollution caused by industrial development processes.

2/ Construction and Management of Conservation Areas:

1- Expand the scope of special-use forests and forest lands, based on:

On the basis of 87 approved special-use forests, expand the scale and area of each zone.

Officially formalize land use documents for these areas.

2- Consolidate and construct high-value biodiversity conservation zones that have been identified.

These are areas of high biodiversity value, of significant importance nationally and internationally, requiring prioritized investment. While consolidating and constructing strict conservation areas, develop comprehensive buffer zone development plans to stabilize the lives of local residents.

3- Select and construct important wetland areas in designated regions.

These are highly sensitive areas to environmental pollution, rich in biodiversity, and often associated with many economic activities, requiring priority protection.

4- Select and construct important marine conservation areas in the following regions: Halong Bay, coastal areas from Khanh Hoa to Binh Thuan, Con Dao, Phu Quoc.

These are areas abundant in biodiversity, home to many marine species, directly related to the protection of aquatic resources and many important fish spawning grounds of the country.

5- Consolidate and construct gene conservation centers: plants, livestock, microorganisms, to preserve valuable and rare genes and their economic value. Provide genetic material for breeding work.

6- Strengthen and enhance the capacity of the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City zoos, serving as places to educate awareness about common environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. At the same time, serve as places to study and raise endangered species that are at risk of extinction in nature, so that when conditions permit, they can be released back into their natural habitats.

3/ Raise Public Awareness:

1- Regularly disseminate information about the value of biodiversity in social life to gradually increase public awareness of the value of biodiversity to voluntarily protect biodiversity resources.

2- Provide necessary information on biodiversity to leaders at all levels, enhancing overall awareness of the value of biodiversity for leaders, especially local leaders, while helping leaders make decisions necessary to protect this resource.

4/ Enhance potential and train personnel:

1- Organize short-term training courses, domestic seminars, and send participants abroad to train and enhance professional skills for the cadre currently engaged in management and technical work at all levels and sectors related to natural heritage resources.

2- Establish a national database network on natural heritage resources, aiming to unify information systems about natural heritage resources nationwide and facilitate the enhancement of overall capacity.

5/ Scientific research plan:

1- Conduct scientific and technological research on the sustainable exploitation and utilization of components of natural heritage resources, prioritizing those with agricultural and pharmaceutical values, to increase the utility value of these components and make substantial contributions to economic and social goals.

2- Study criteria and standards for evaluating changes in components of natural heritage resources, to build a long-term scientific foundation for protecting, monitoring, and assessing changes in natural heritage resource assets.

3- Research issues related to management and technology concerning biosafety, to receive and transfer technologies ensuring safety for natural heritage values, particularly focusing on biotechnology.

 

V. CONCLUSION

The Action Plan for Natural Heritage Resources is a national plan, serving the long-term interests of the country while demonstrating our sense of responsibility to the international community in the mission of protecting common natural heritage resources. All relevant sectors and levels must pay attention to organizing its implementation./.