Vietnam Plan for Biodiversity & Resource Management

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THE GOVERNMENT SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
No. 845/TTg Independence-Freedom-Happiness

Hanoi, 22 December 1995

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Approving the Biodiversity Action Plan for Vietnam

Pursuant to the Law on the Organisation of the Government
dated 30 September 1992;

Pursuant to the Law on Environment Protection dated 27
December 1993;

According to the proposal of the Minister of Science,
Technology and Environment (MOSTE) in official Letter No.
2423/MTg dated 25 September 1995

DECISION

Article l. - Approval of the "Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)
for Vietnam" with the long-term and immediate objectives and
the main contents as indicated in the attached document.

Article 2. - Implementation details

1. Activities must be implemented under a project format
with detailed objectives, contents, location, scale,
duration And outputs Project must be pre-assessed before
funding decision. Mid-term and final assessments are
necessary steps in the implementation process.

2. Responsibility of the Central Organisations:

MOSTE is the key Organisation ill implementing the BAP MOSTE
has the responsibility to contact and discus with the
concerned Ministries, sectors and local agencies ill
carrying-out the BAP step by step MOSTE shall submit an
annual report to the Prime Minister on the implementational
outputs of the BAP.

* The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), based on
domestic sources and foreign aid, following the main
objectives of the BAP and in close coordination with MOSTE,
has the responsibility to lay out annual imple1nentation
plans of each BAP objective for the related and local
agencies.

* The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD),
the Ministry of Fisheries (MOF) and the National Centre of
Natural Science and Technology are the major implementing
Organisations of the BAP. These organisation shall work
closely with MOSTE and MPI on the annual implementation
plans and inform MOSTE about the outputs of their
components. MOSTE shall collect this information and submit
an annual report to the Prime Minister.

* The Ministry of Education and Training; the Ministry of
Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs; the Ministry of
Health and the State Committee for Ethnic Affairs and
Mountainous Regions should pay priority attention that the
related objectives and locations of the BAP are within their
Social-Economic Programmes and should discuss with MOSTE and
MPI any related issues.

3. Responsibility of Local Authorities:

The People's Committees of the provinces and cities directly
under the Central Government have the responsibility to
implement this Plan within their area.

The People's Committees of the provinces and cities directly
under the Central Government shall make their own plan and
discuss this with MOSTE, MPI and the concerned ministries on
implementation matters, informing MOSTE about the outputs of
their activities annually.

Article 3. This decision shall become effective as from the
date of its signing.

For the Prime Minister

Signed

Nguyen Khanh

Vice Prime Minister


VIETNAM NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

(Approved by the Prime Minister Decision No.845/TTg of 22
December l995)

Vietnam has been endowed by nature with an abundance and
diversity of ecosystems, species and genetic resources which
are generally regarded as biological diversity.
Investigations have shown that Vietnam is the home of 12,000
plant species of which 7000 species have been identified,
275 species of mammals, 800 species of birds, 180 species of
reptiles, 80 species of amphibians, 2470 species of fish,
5500 species of insects. Vietnam's biodiversity is
relatively unique as 10% of the world's mammal, bird and
fish species can be found in Vietnam while over 40% of the
local plant species are endemic and believed to be found
nowhere else but in Vietnam. In addition, many livestock
species have been domesticated and selected in this country
since thousands of years now.

In terms of economic value, all agricultural, forestry or
marine products, which come from the biodiversity resources
are estimated to bring about US$ 2 billion to the country's
revenue every year. In many places, especially in the
mountainous regions, the food and foodstuff sources,
medicine plants and essential source of income rely largely
on the biodiversity exploitation.

However, the national rapid population growth, the decreased
forest areas, the over-exploitation of the bio-marine
resources, the over-introduction of new varieties in
agricultural production, have led to the reduction or loss
of the ecosystems, resulting in the fact that 28% of
mammals, 10% of birds, 21% of reptiles and amphibians are
currently listed as endangered species. Once a species is
lost, it will never be recovered and this also constitutes a
loss of genetic resource. The speed of biodiversity
degradation is more rapid in our country than that in other
countries of the region.

Recognising the great economic, scientific, cultural and
social value that biodiversity can contribute to the present
and future development of mankind and being aware of the
full responsibility for biodiversity conservation, Vietnam
has joined many countries in the world to sign the
Convention on Biological Diversity which entered into force
in the middle of 1993.

In the 60's, Vietnam made the official initial steps to
conserve its nature. In 1972, the promulgation of the
Ordinance on Forest Protection led to the recruitment of
l0,000 full-time public forestry-inspectors to work at all
levels throughout the country. Since the 80's, the general
endeavours to protect the environment including the
biodiversity protection have been more intensive and
systematic.

In 1985, the Vietnam's National Conservation Strategy was
formulated. This strategy, the first of this kind being
developed in a developing country, was highly welcomed by
the world community.

In 1991, the Government approved the National Plan on
Environment and Sustainable Development the period
1991-2000. This plan served as a basis, leading to the
drafting and later on the adoption of the Law on
Environmental Protection in 1994, as well as to the
establishment of the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Environment and Departments of Science, Technology and
Environment in all provinces.

At the national level, it is an imperative to formulate and
promulgate a National Action Plan on Biological Diversity.

1. REVIEW OF THE BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY PROTECTION SITUATION
OF VIETNAM

1.1. The economic utilisation of species

The economic utilisation of species can be seen first of all
in the wood exploitation of between 1,3 - 1,7 million cubic
meters per year while other forestry products such as
rattan, canes, bamboo and fuel are also exploited for
economic purposes. About 100,000 tons of bamboo were logged
for the paper industry. Of the total national demand of
energy, 75% is supplied by fuelwood. It is estimated that
between 22 to 23 million tons of fuelwood are exploited
annually from the natural forests. Besides, 2300 flora
species and a number of wildlife fauna species are exploited
to provide medicines, food for human being and livestock,
raw materials for industries and handicrafts. A increasing
amount of products are being traded with the neighbouring
countries.

Every year, fishing products estimated at 1 million tons per
year, have provided one half of the total amount of the
national fauna protein. Between 60% to 70% are fish
exploited from the sea resource. About 20,000 to 30,000 tons
of fish, soft-shell turtles, frogs are provided by the
freshwater resource, while cultured fish also yields about
200 tons a year.

1.2. Threats to the biodiversity

With the gradual reduction of the ecosystems resulting in
the gradual loss of habitats, many species are facing the
danger of extinction. In Vietnam's Red Book, scientists have
listed over 300 fauna and 350 flora species as endangered
species facing the danger of extinction. This situation is
generally caused by:

* Over-exploitation:

The exploitation of wood and other forestry products still
poses a big threat even though there is now a strong limit
on the forest areas which are legally exploitable. The
large-scale exploitation of energy is hard to control and
poses the biggest threat to the biodiversity in many
countries. The forest quality and capacity have been more
and more reduced in the areas close to human residence. In
many areas, forests have been divided, becoming smaller in
size and separate from one another. Consequently, they can
no longer support and create the environment for the
abundance of species like before.

Over-fishing is also a fact of life that occurs throughout
the country. Moreover, the fishing methods are not applied
according to approved standards. Destructive methods have
even been in practice such as using traps, heck set-up,
small-meshed nets, dynamite and toxic substances in some
areas.

Coral exploitation is the highest concern in the Central
Coastal Area from Da Nang to Thuan Hai Provinces. The
exploitation of dead coral in the tidal areas to generate
raw materials for the cement production using dynamite (in
Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan) seriously damages the living
environment of many marine organisms and reduces the
capacity of erosion prevention in the coastal areas.

* Shifting cultivation and the encroachment of arable land

A number of ethnic minorities have practiced shifting
cultivation for generations. According to their practice,
the fields can be cultivated for some consecutive years then
abandoned for a few years as a fallow period to wait for
forest restoration before being subject again to the
slash-and-burn cultivation. This practice used to clear only
a small size of forests while it could help enrich the
species by providing habitats for new ones. Due to the
population growth, this practice is no longer stable and the
sequence of land use is gradually shortened with the
consequences of gradual deforestation. The immigration,
forest clearing for arable land or aquaculture, also
contributes to the gradual area reduction of the forest
ecosystems.

Shifting cultivation is also a reason for forest fire. Of
the remaining 9 million hectares of forests, 56% is fire
prone in the dry season. The forest areas being burned each
year are between 20,000 to 30,000 hectares, even 100,000
hectares in certain year. Deforestation resulted in a major
reduction in biodiversity.

* Water Pollution

Oil pollution is regarded as the worst disaster for the
marine environment. As a result of oil exploitation and sea
transport, the proportion of oil mixed with the coastal
water has often exceeded the permissible level of between
0.4 to 1.0 mg/l many times. Quang Ninh province also suffers
a serious problem of sedimentation on the coastal areas due
to coal and clay exploitation. Millions of tons of sand and
mud due to the dredging activities at the sea-ports (Hai
Phong dredges 3 - 5 tons per year) often cause the estuary
and coastal sedimentation which contain oil and toxic
substances, creating negative impacts on the coastal
ecosystems and marine organisms.

* The degradation of the coastal areas

The construction of coastal aquaculture ponds, land
reclamation from the sea to create fields for salt
production or for agricultural cultivation, human settlement
along the coastal areas often contributes to the reduction
of the tidal zones, the increase in the salinity, changes in
the sedimentation process, causing destruction to or serious
degradation of the tidal swamps. The large-scale
exploitation of sand and stones for construction and of
other mineral resources causes land erosion in the coastal
areas of the Southern Central Region and the reduction of
water resources, affecting the lower layer of the marine
ecosystems.

* The transition to the market economy

Changes towards the market economy mechanism have had strong
impact on the farmers. The farmers are now under pressure to
apply many new varieties and species in order to have the
produce yields that meet the current market demands. This
poses a great danger to the traditional varieties and plant
species which have long been suitable to grow in the local
climate and soils. They have the valuable phenotypes but may
be ignored by their failure, in a short- term perspective,
to meet the present market demands.

The present situation regarding the exploitation and
utilisation of species makes the biodiversity protection
task more urgent than ever before.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE VIETNAM NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

2.1. The long-term objective of the Plan is to:

- protect the rich and unique biodiversity resources within
the sustainable development framework of Vietnam;

2.2. The immediate objectives of the plan are to:

* Protect the country's endemic ecosystems, the vulnerable
ecosystems which are now facing the danger of reduction or
destruction caused by human economic activities.

* Protect those biodiversity components which are now
subject to be over-exploited or ignored.

* Promote and identify the utilisation values of all
biodiversity components on the basis of sustainable
development of natural resources in order to serve the
country's economic targets.

3. MAIN CONTENTS OF THE ACTION PLAN

Biodiversity protection is a long-term task which needs to
be carried out by different 5 - year programmes. A number of
the following urgent actions should be included in specific
Plan:

3.1. Policies and legal issues

The Law on Environmental Protection passed by the National
Assembly provides the general guidance for the environmental
protection. However, many more by-law regulations and
supporting documents should be prepared in order to
strengthen the enforcement of the Law and other legal
documents.

Law enforcement is one of the pressing issues to which more
attention should be paid. This requires the strengthening of
technical and management capacity for the concerned
institutions, staff training is also needed for these
institutions. A number of laws and regulations should be
reformed while the introduction of economic instruments
based on the market mechanism as well as punitive actions
need to be studied and implemented.

The by-law regulations should deal with such issues as the
exploitation and sustainable use of natural resources, the
control of the trading in the rare species as well as the
unique bio- materials of Vietnam, pollution prevention and
control. These issues should be included also in the
regulations on environmental impact assessments.

The effective protection of biodiversity requires a
clarification, readjustment or strengthening of the
functions, and duties entrusted to the State management
organisations concerned as well as of the regulations on
those activities carried out by economic establishments that
have impacts on the environment. Therefore, priority should
be given to the sectoral review of the functions and duties
of the organisations which manage the protected areas.

3.2. Establishment and management of protected areas

3.2.1. Immediately establish and well manage the protected
areas with high biodiversity values. Planning and
enlargement of forest and forest land in 87 specialised
forests which have been identified. Primary priority should
be given to those protected areas of high biodiversity
values such as: Pu Mat (Nghe An Province); Vu Quang (Ha Tinh
Province), Hoang Lien Son (Lao Cai Province), Ba Be (Cao
Bang Province), Cat Ba (Hai Phong), Cuc Phuong (Ninh Binh
Province), Ke Go Lake (Ha Tinh Province), Bach Ma (Thua
Thien Hue Province), Nam Ca (Dac Lac Province), Chu Giang
Sinh (Dac Lac Province), Bi Dup (Lam Dong Province), Cat
Tien (Dong Nai Province).

Strengthen and develop the buffer zones surrounding the
protected areas, discourage intensive farming on sloping
land, gradually stop the shifting cultivation, stabilise the
life of the people and raise their awareness so that they
will voluntarily join the protection force.

3.2.2. Develop the planning and creation of a number of
important wetland areas in Ca Mau, or close to the Red River
delta, the bird colonies and the Tam Giang Lagoon, etc.
These areas are located outside the specialised forests but
close to human residence where the people have great demands
to exploit theses areas for such many different purposes as
aquaculture, coastal forests and waterway transportation,
etc. It is therefore necessary to pay special attention
right from the outset to the biodiversity protection of
these wetlands and to the prevention of contamination
sources, especially from the water and to the control of the
water over-drainage.

3.2.3. Build a number of protected areas for sea and inland
water bodies. As the sea areas with high biodiversity are
usually the ones that can provide high economic values,
priority should be given to the protection of those sea
areas that have highest biodiversity values.

3.2.4. Build gene banks of flora, micro-organisms and
domesticated animals. Supply genetic materials for
hybridising and selecting varieties to serve economic
purposes as well as to "ensure" the genetic sources in
nature. To enhance capacity of zoos which can serve as
places for sight-seeing, training and raising the general
awareness on the environment. These places are also useful
for scientific research, conservation of wildlife which are
endangered, and when conditions permit, these species should
be released back to the protected areas.

3.2.5. Organise integrated management of the coastal areas
within the framework of sustainable development. Many
activities in the coastal areas should be carried out in an
integrated manner, such as: developing protected forests,
mangrove forest exploitation, growing aquaculture, land
reclamation for farming, human settlement and coastal
industry. development, etc.

3.2.6. Enhance measures to protect agricultural
biodiversity, bring into full play the various forms of
"farming conservation"; encourage farmers to participate in
the common protection efforts; special attention should be
given to the conservation of popular traditional varieties
which have long been adapted to the local geography and
climate.

3.3. Awareness building

3 3.1. Utilise such mass media instruments as radio,
television, newspapers, posters, etc. to raise the public
awareness on biodiversity, encourage people to protect the
general benefits of biodiversity.

3.3.2. Provide necessary information through short
symposiums, study tours to biodiversity protection
institutions within and outside the country to help
management officers or policy-makers to have better
understanding and knowledge concerning the biodiversity
importance.

3.3.3. Carry out propaganda and dissemination of knowledge
and methods necessary for the rational use of endemic
natural resources for the ethnic communities so that they
can both exploit and protect theses resources. Encouragement
and technical support should be rendered to people so that
they can protect the traditional plant and animals for
medicines and transform gradually from their natural
exploitation methods to scientific ones by raising their
awareness of sustainable use of the natural resource values.

3.3.4. Prepare biodiversity education curriculum for the
school system which could be incorporated within the
biological programmes or the environmental education in
general.

3.4. Capacity building and staff training

3.4.1. Give priority to the training for officers who are
involved in the biodiversity management at all levels and
technical staff who are directly involved in enforcement. In
addition, training should also be given to the members of
mass organisations, associations and farming households who
participate in the protection of biodiversity.

3 4 2. Set up a national biodiversity database and a
biodiversity databank beneficial to the management and
research activities promote the international information
exchange concerning these issues.

3 4 3. Establish a system to monitor the changes in
biodiversity resources in order to timely provide necessary
information to the state management organisations.

3.5. Scientific research

Attention should be given to the following guidelines for
scientific and technological research:

3 5.1. Carry out research on technologies which can be
appropriately used in the rational exploitation and
sustainable utilisation of biodiversity resources. Give
priority to the scientific research on the exploitation
technology and the use of biodiversity components in
agriculture and pharmacy.

3 5.2. Carry out research on the criteria and standards to
evaluate the changes in biodiversity resources, using these
criteria and standards as the basis for the evaluation of
these resources values.

3.5.3. Study issues relating to bio-safety, ensuring the
safe reception and transfer of bio-technology.

3.5.4. Carry out research on and growing of precious and
rare sea organisms and forest animals that have high
economic values but are subject to over-exploitation and
facing the consequent danger of extinction.

3.5.5. Study biodiversity issues occurring in neighbouring
countries which have natural conditions similar to ours,
recognising that Vietnam and these countries have various
common demands in the protection of their mutual benefits as
well as exchange of technology.

3.6. Socio-economic issues

The crucial issue of the National Action Plan on
Biodiversity is to bring about the sustainable development
of the country, to examine and anticipate the interaction
between the Plan and the country's socio-economic conditions
in order to have appropriate adjustments. The plan must
create conditions for, and ensure the support of, the people
who live nearby the natural resources for their increased
benefits. Therefore, priority should be given to projects
which assist the people with the building of the buffer
zones, the application of advanced technological
achievements, upgrading of infrastructure, improvement of
the social welfare, so as to ensure the balanced income for
the people, thus preventing them from further encroachment
into the protected areas.

The socio-economic programmes managed by the line ministries
or branches and implemented in the areas adjacent to the
protected areas should be implemented in conformity with the
plan on biodiversity protection. The exploitation of Natural
resources must be carried out sustainability.

A number of new economic developments close to protected
areas or areas which have sensitive eco-systems will be are
subject to pay a lee for the environmental protection.

3.7. International cooperation

The fact that Vietnam has ratified the Convention on
Biodiversity creates a good basis for a broadened
international cooperation in this area. It is necessary to
appeal international organisations, foreign governments and
individuals, to provide practical technical training and
financial assistance for the step-by-step implementation of
this plan.

With regard to the neighbouring countries, for the mutual
interests of each country, it is necessary to strengthen
cooperation in the scientific research, exchange of
information and technology and to work together for the
protection and development of their biodiversity values.

4. ACTIVITIES NEEDED TO BE, CARRIED OUT IN THE PERIOD
l99C-2000

In the five-year plan from 1996-2000, based on the State
resources, efforts should be focused on the priority targets
in order to carry out the following actions:

4.1. Policies and legal issues: complete a system of by-law
regulations in order to create a legal framework for the
implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection and of
the Conventions relating to Biological Diversity:

4.1.1. Formulate regulations on the conservation,
utilisation, exploitation and exchange of genetic resources,
varieties and breeds with a view to:

* Manage rare and precious specious natural resources of the
country which have immediate and long-term practical
economic values.

* Protect the national sovereignty and act in conformity
with those international conventions which Vietnam has
ratified concerning these natural resources.

4.1.2. Coordinate all the existing laws and regulations on
the management, exploitation and utilisation, of biological
resources for whatever purposes with a view to:

* Identify the loop-holes and shortcomings of those
documents previously promulgated by different ministries or
branches.

* Reform and rectify these documents in order to make them
compatible with the new changes in the national economic
management mechanism and, at the same time, to ensure the
sustainable exploitation and utilisation of the biological
resources with a sustainable development approach.

4.1.3. Make public those less sustainable ecosystems in the
"sensitive" terrestrial and aquatic environmental areas and
promulgate corresponding protection regulations in order to
prevent the degradation or destruction of these ecosystems
as the result of adverse environmental impacts created by
industrial development.

4.2. Establishment and management of protected areas

4.2.1. Locate and enlarge the forest protected and land
areas in order to:

* Increase the size and acreage of each specialised forests
of the total 87 forests already approved by the Government.

* Legalise all land use documents concerning these areas.

4.2.2 Consolidate and establish the protected areas with
high biodiversity values which have been identified.

Priority for investment should be first given to these areas
because of their national and international high
biodiversity values. Along with the consolidation and
establishment of strictly protected areas, synchronised plan
should be worked out to develop the buffer zones so as to
stabilise the living conditions of the local inhabitants.

4.2.3 Carry out the selection, planning and establishment of
a number of important wetlands in the identified areas.

Special protection and priority should be given to these
areas as these areas are rich in biodiversity but very
sensitive to the environmental pollution and usually
associated with many economic activities.

4.2.4 Carry out the selection, planning and establishment of
a number of important marine reserves in the areas of Ha
Long Bay, the coast line from Khanh Hoa to Binh Thuan
Province, and in the Con Dao and Phu Quoc islands.

These areas are very rich in biodiversity, inhabited by many
marine species and directly interlinked with the protection
of the water resources and important fish grounds of the
country.

4.2.5. Consolidate and establish genetic conservation
centres for raising plants and animals, and micro-biological
organism aimed at protecting the precious and rare genetic
resources with high economic values and supplying genetic
materials for breeding.

4.2.6. Strengthen and upgrade the capacity for the zoos in
Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City in order to better use them as
facilities to educate people's consciousness of
environmental protection in general and biodiversity
conservation in particular. In addition, these zoos can also
be used as research centres to raise the rare and precious
animals which are facing the danger of natural extinction
and to release them back to their habitats when conditions
arise.

4.3. General awareness building

4.3.1. Keep the public constantly informed of the values of
biodiversity in order to enhance the population's awareness
of these values so that they will have better sense of
responsibility to protect the biodiversity resources.

4.3.2. Provide necessary information on biodiversity to
officials at all levels particularly officials at the local
levels in order to help them with better understanding of
the biodiversity values; at the same time these officials
should be assisted with information to make necessary
decisions concerning the protection of these natural
resources.

4.4. Capacity building and staff training

4.4.1. Organise short-term training courses, seminars within
and outside the country to strengthen the capacity and
professional expertise for the management and technical
staff at all levels and branches who are involved in the
biodiversity-related work.

4.4.2. Establish a national network of database on
biodiversity with a view to have a unified system of
database and information on biodiversity throughout the
country, creating favourable conditions for the general
capacity building.

4.5. Scientific research

4. 5.1. Conduct research and studies on technologies for the
sustainable exploitation and utilisation of biodiversity
components; priority will be given to those technologies
that could be used profitably in agriculture, medicines and
pharmacy aimed at better utilising the values of
biodiversity components and thus making practical
contributions to the achievement of the national
socio-economic targets.

4.5.2. Study the criteria and standards to assess the
changes of biodiversity components in order to develop a
long-term scientific basis for the protection, supervision
and assessment of the trends in biodiversity.

4.5.3. Study the issues relating to the safety of the
biodiversity values in the receipt and transfer of
technologies especially biotechnology.

5. CONCLUSIONS

The National Action Plan on Biological Diversity is worked
out to serve the long-term benefits of the country. It also
demonstrates to the world community our responsibility
towards the conservation of the common heritage of mankind.
All organisations, branches concerned are 0bliged to
implement this Action Plan.

Hanoi, 22 December 1995

Minister of Science, Technology and Environment

(signed)

DANG HUU