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THE
PRIME MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT
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SOCIALIST
REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM
Independence - Freedom Happiness
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No: 845-TTg
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Hanoi, December 22, 1995
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DECISION
RATIFYING THE "PLAN OF ACTION
TO PROTECT THE BIO-DIVERSITY OF VIETNAM"
THE PRIME MINISTER
Pursuant
to the Law on Organization of the Government of September 30, 1992;
Pursuant to the Law on Environmental Protection of December 27, 1993;
At the proposal of the Minister of Science, Technology and Environment in the
presentation No.2423-MTg of September 25, 1995,
DECIDES:
Article 1.- To ratify
the "Plan of Action to Protect the Bio-Diversity of Vietnam", the
long-term and immediate objectives of which and its main contents are defined
in the attached documents.
Article 2.-
Organization of implementation.
1.
Concrete actions shall be taken in the form of projects with concrete
objectives, contents, areas, sizes, time limits and products. All such projects
shall have to be evaluated before receiving funds for realization and they must
be tested on implementation step by step until completion.
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- The
Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment is the chief executive of the
"Plan of Action to Protect the Bio-Diversity of Vietnam". It shall
discuss with the concerned ministries, services and localities in order to step
by step carry out this plan. Each year the Ministry shall draw up a wrap-up
report and submit it to the Prime Minister on the results of the realization of
the contents of the plan.
- The
Ministry of Planning and Investment shall base itself on the sources in the
country and foreign aid and on the main contents of the above-said plan, and
discuss and reach agreement with the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Environment to dispose the concrete annual plan for each branch and locality to
achieve the goal of each job.
- The
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Aquaculture and
the National Center of Natural Science and Technology are the key agencies in
the carrying out of this plan. Each year the above agencies shall have to
discuss with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and the
Ministry of Planning and Investment on the concrete plans of actions, notify
the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of the results of the work
in order to draw up a general report to the Prime Minister.
- The
Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and
Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health and the Committee for the Mountainous
Regions and Ethnic Affairs shall, in their socio-economic programs under their
management, give priority consideration to the contents and areas related to
the protection of the bio-diversity. At the same time they shall discuss with
the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and the Ministry of
Planning and Investment on the issues of common concern.
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Tasks of the localities:
- The
People's Committees in the provinces and cities directly under the Central
Government (Provincial People's Committee for short) shall have to organize the
implementation of this plan in the territory under their jurisdiction.
- Each
year the Provincial People's Committees shall draw up their concrete plans, and
discuss and reach agreement with the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Environment, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the concerned
Ministries to carry out the plan and at the same time report annually the
results to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment so that the
latter may draw up a general report to the Prime Minister.
Article 3.- This
Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.
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FOR THE PRIME MINISTER
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
Nguyen Khanh
PLAN
OF ACTION TO PRESERVE THE
BIO-DIVERSITY OF VIETNAM
(ratified at Decision No.845-TTg of December 22, 1995 of
the Prime Minister)
Vietnam
is blessed by nature in terms of the abundance and diversity of the ecological
systems, the diversity of the species and diversity of genetic resources,
commonly known as bio-diversity. Results of surveys show that our country has
about 12,000 species of veined plants of which around 7,000 have been named,
275 species of animal, 800 species of bird, 180 species of reptile, 80 species
of amphibian, 2,470 species of fish, and 5,500 species of insect. The
originality of this bio-diversity is fairly high: 10% of the total of species
of animal, bird and fish of the world are found in Vietnam and more than 40% of
the species are unique to Vietnam that can be found nowhere else; many species
of cattle and poultry have been domesticated and selected through thousands of
years.
In
terms of economic value, all the agricultural, forestry and aquacultural
products of our country are actually taken from this bio-diversity and are
estimated to bring to our country around 2 billion USD each year. In many
places, particularly in the mountainous regions, food resources and medicaments
and all the main incomes derive from the exploitation of this bio-diversity.
However,
the too quick growth of the population, the narrowing of the forest cover and
the over-exploitation of the marine resources as well as the too extensive
introduction of new strains in agricultural production... have led to the
dwindling or the loss of many ecological systems and the danger of the
extinction of 28% of the species of animal, 10% of the species of bird, 21% of
the species of reptile and amphibian. The loss of a species is an irretrievable
loss which also means the loss of a genetic resource. In fact, the rate of decline
of the bio-diversity of our country is much higher than in other countries in
the region.
Aware
of the great value in economic, scientific, cultural and social terms of the
bio-diversity toward the present and future development of mankind, and of the heavy
responsibility for the protection of the bio-diversity, our country has joined
many other countries in the world in signing to the Bio-Diversity Convention
which was put into effect in the middle of 1993.
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In
1985 Vietnam's National Conservation Strategy was drafted, the first strategy of
its kind in a developing country. The strategy has received warm acclaim from
the international community.
In
1991 the Government adopted the National Plan on Environment and Sustainable
Development for the period 1991-2000. This plan led to the elaboration and
adoption of the Law on Environmental Protection in 1994 and the creation of the
Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and such services in the
localities.
Vietnam
has ratified the Bio-Diversity Convention and in this sense Vietnam, like all
other countries, must take actions to protect the bio-diversity.
On the
national scale, we have necessarily to work out and promulgate a Plan of Action
to protect our bio-diversity.
I. SITUATION OF BIO-DIVERSITY PROTECTION IN VIETNAM
1)
Situation of the economic use of the biological species:
The
economic use of the species consists first of all in the exploitation of
timber. From 1.3 million to 1.4 million cubic meters of timber are exploited
each year. The other forest products exploited for economic purposes include
rattan, bamboo and firewood. About 100,000 tons of bamboo are exploited yearly
as material for the paper industry. Firewood accounts for 75% of the energy
requirement of the country, which means 22-23 million tons of fuel for domestic
use come from the natural forests. In addition, about 2,300 species of plants
and a number of wild animals are exploited for use as pharmaceuticals, food for
man and cattle, raw materials for industry and handicrafts. A growing volume of
products is being used in trade exchange with neighboring countries.
Vietnam's
fisheries output is estimated at one million tons per year, of which 60% - 70%
are caught on the sea, supplying half of the animal-based protein need of the
country. The fresh water areas supply 20,000-30,000 tons per year of fish,
turtles, frogs... Fish rearing also supplies about 200 tons of fish per year.
2)
Threats to bio-diversity:
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Over-exploitation:
The
exploitation of timber and other forest products remains a big threat even
though the area allowed for legal exploitation has been greatly restricted, and
the exportation of logs and the exploitation of timber in the crucial areas and
the exploitation of some given species has been greatly restricted. However, it
is still very difficult to control the exploitation of fuel on a large scale
and this actually constitutes the greatest threat to the bio-diversity in many
countries. The quality and quantity of forests is declining in the areas close
to population centers. In many places the forests have been morselled out and
become smaller and detached from the other forests, thus losing their capacity
of providing mutual support in the formation of biological scapes and the
diversity of the original biology.
Over
fishing is a reality of life everywhere. Moreover, the methods of fishing are
not carefully chosen and even bear the character of despoliation, such as using
fishes traps, damming rivers with thick bamboo fences , using too thick meshes
in fishing nets or explosives and in some places even poison to kill the
fishes.
The
exploitation of coral is being a most disturbing practice along the coast of
Central Vietnam from Da Nang to Thuan Hai. People often use explosive to get
dead coral in tide pools as raw material for cement production (Khanh Hoa and
Ninh Thuan). This has had a major impact on the living environment of many
species of marine life and harmed the capacity of preventing erosion in the
coastal areas.
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Migratory farming and infringement on agricultural land
For
many generations now, a number of ethnic minorities have been practicing
migratory farming on a stable pattern according to the crop cycle. They cultivate
a field for a few years, then leave it uncultivated for a few subsequent years
to restore the forest cover before burning the forest out to resume crop
cultivation. This regime of cultivation only affects a very small percentage of
forests and has the good effect of enriching the species through the
implantation of new plant species. However, due to the increase of the
population, this regime of farming can no longer be kept stable, the cycle of
land use has been shortened year after year while the forest cover has also
been gradually narrowed. On the other hand, the resettlement of population to
reclaim waste land for agricultural cultivation or raising aquatic products...
all having contributed to the reduction of the forest ecologies.
Migratory
farming is also one of the causes of frequent forest fires. Of the remaining 9
million hectares of forest, around 56% are highly inflammable in the dry
season. Each year we have lost about 20,000-30,000 hectares and in some years
even 100,000 hectares of forest to forest fires. This loss has caused no small
damage to the bio-diversity.
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Water pollution:
Pollution
caused by oil spilling is now considered the greatest danger to the sea
environment. The allowed level of oil content of 0.4-1.0 mg/liter is often
surpassed by many fold due to the activities in oil and gas exploitation and in
sea traffic. Serious deposition of sludge is observed in the coastal areas of
Quang Ninh province caused by the exploitation of peat and clay. Millions of
tons of sludge and sand discharged by the dredging of ports (3-5 million of
tons are dredged each year at Haiphong port) cause the deposition of silt mixed
with oil and noxious substances at the river mouths and along the coast,
harming the coastal ecology and marine life.
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The
construction of ponds and lakes for aquaculture along the coast and the land
reclamation along the sea shore for salt and agricultural production or for the
building of population centers... often lead to the reduction of the tide area,
increase of the acidity of the soil and the change in the process of
sedimentation..., thus causing the destruction or serious degradation of many
tide pools. The large-scale exploitation of stone and sand for construction and
of other minerals is responsible for the erosion of the coastal land in the
southern part of Central Vietnam, causes the impoverishment of water and
adversely affects the composition of the lower layer of the sea ecology.
- The
change to the market economy.
The
process of change to the market economy has had a strong impact on the thinking
of the farmers. The market has urged them to use many new strains and species
with high productivity and quality to meet the demands of the market. This is
also a major threat to the strains and species which have been traditionally
grown or raised and have long been adapted to the climate and the local soil,
and endowed with many precious genetic properties which are, however, being
neglected for failing to meet the immediate demands of the market.
The
present state of exploitation and use of the species has rendered the task of
protecting the bio-diversity of the country even more imperative.
II. OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN OF ACTION TO PROTECT THE
BIO-DIVERSITY OF VIETNAM
1) The
long-term goal of the plan is:
To
protect the rich and original bio-diversity of Vietnam in the framework of the
sustainable development program.
2) The
immediate goal of the plan is:
- To
protect the particular ecological systems of Vietnam, the sensitive ecological
system which are facing the danger of being narrowed down or destroyed due to
the economic activities of man.
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- To
develop and discover the use value of the components of the bio-diversity on
the basis of the sustainable development of the resource values in service of
the economic objectives of the country.
III. MAIN CONTENTS OF THE PLAN
To
protect the bio-diversity is a long-term task which must be undertaken during
several five-year plans. The following immediate actions should be included
into concrete plans:
1) On
policies and legislation:
The
Law on Environmental Protection adopted by the National Assembly has provided
the general guideline for the protection of the environment. But there must be
many sub-laws and by-laws to increase the capacity of forcible enforcement of
the law and other legal documents.
To
make law observance compulsory is one of the urgent issues which need special
attention. This requires the increase of the technical and managerial capacity
of the concerned agencies and organizations and the training of personnel for
these agencies. A number of institutions and legislation must also be renewed
and economic measures based on the market economy and the application of
sanctions should also be studied and put into practice.
The
sub-laws must deal with the question of exploiting and using the natural
resources in a sustainable way, the control over the trading of the components
of the bio-diversity such as the rare or precious or unique species and strains
of Vietnam, prevention and control of pollution. These undertakings should be
also integrated into the regulations on the evaluation of environmental
impacts.
The
effective protection of the bio-diversity requires the clarification,
readjustment or strengthening of the functions and tasks of the concerned State
managerial agencies, and determination of the activities of the economic
organizations which may impact on the environment. Accordingly, it is necessary
to give priority to the general re-evaluation of the functions and tasks of the
managerial agencies at the areas marked off for preservation of natural
resources.
2)
Building and management of the protection zones:
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To
consolidate and develop the buffer zones around the protection areas, to
encourage intensive farming on sloping land, to gradually limit migratory
farming, stabilize the people's living conditions combined with education in
order to convert the former migratory farmers into a force for conscious
protection of bio-diversity.
2.- To
plan the building of a number of important protection areas of the wetland in
Ca Mau, on the rim of the Red River delta, the bird grounds, the Tam Giang tide
pool... These areas lie outside the special-purpose forests and near population
areas with a large demand in exploitation and use of bio-diversity for
different purposes such as aquaculture, planting of protection of forests
against waves, development of water communication. Accordingly, right from the
start it is necessary to attach importance to the protection of the
bio-diversity in these wetlands and prevent the pollution sources, especially
water pollution and prevent the over-drainage of water.
3.- To
build a number of areas to protect the sea and the tide pools in the
hinterland. The sea areas with maritime bio-diversity value are often also
areas of high economic value. Therefore it is necessary to give priority to
protecting a number of sea areas with the highest bio-diversity value.
4.- To
build a number of banks of botanic genes, domestic animals, micro-organisms. To
supply genetic materials for the hybridization and selection of strains in
service of economic objectives, at the same time to extend
"insurance" to the natural genetic sources. To increase the capacity
of the zoos to serve as places for visits, training, and education about the
common sense of environmental protection, scientific research and preservation
of the wild species facing the danger of extinction and, when conditions
permit, to supply in return these species to the natural preserves.
5.- To
organize the synthetic management on the principle of sustainable development
over the coastal areas which are the place where many activities are intermingled,
such as planting of protection forests, exploitation of submerged saline
forests, aquaculture, land reclamation for agricultural farming, population
development, development of various industries and coastal constructions...
6.- To
increase the measures for protection of agricultural bio-diversity to develop
the form of "preservation of agricultural farms" to attract farmers
to join in the common work of protection, with special attention to the
preservation of the traditional strains of plants and animals which have long
been adapted to the local geographical and climatic conditions, and which are
very widespread in different regions of our country.
3) To
raise the general consciousness about bio-diversity protection:
1.-To
use the mass media such as radio, television, the press, posters... to raise
the consciousness about bio-diversity in the everyday life, to encourage the
people to protect the common interests in bio-diversity.
2.-To supply
the necessary information through short topical workshops, or study hours of
various establishments on bio-diversity protection inside and outside the
country for the leadership and the decision makers in order to increase their
awareness of the importance of the protection of the bio-diversity.
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4.- To
compile the educational program on the bio-diversity to the system of general
schools, and integrate this program with the general curriculum on biology or
environmental education.
4) To
increase the potential and intensify the training of personnel:
1.- To
give priority to the intensified training of scientific workers for the
management of bio-diversity at various levels, technical workers directly
entrusted with the protection of bio-diversity. Besides, all the organizations,
mass organizations, associations and farmers households that take part in the
protection of the bio-diversity shall also be helped in training.
2.- To
build the national data sources on bio-diversity and eventually to form a
bio-diversity bank with a nationwide network of information in service of
managerial and research work, and also to exchange information with the world
in this domain.
3.- To
build a system for supervising the changes of the bio-diversity natural
resources and supply in time the necessary information for the State managerial
agencies.
5)
Scientific research:
The
following directions for scientific and technological research shall be given
priority consideration:
1.- To
study the sustainable exploitation and use of the bio-diversity components with
the appropriate technologies. To give priority to the scientific and
technological researches in the exploitation and use of the bio-diversity
components in agriculture, medicine and pharmacy.
2.- To
work out the norms and criteria for the evaluation of the changes in the
bio-diversity components as a basis for evaluating the value of the resources.
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4.- To
study and organize the raising and planting of precious marine life and forest
animals which have a high economic value but have been over-exploited and are
facing the danger of depletion.
5.-To
study issues of the bio-diversity in the countries around our country which
have natural characteristics similar to ours and share many bio-diversity
problems in the protection of the common interests, and to increase the
technical exchange with them.
6)
Social and economic issues of the plan:
The
essential issue of the Plan to protect bio-diversity is how to bring durable
benefits to the country. So it is necessary to consider and anticipate the
mutual impact between the plan and the socio-economic conditions of the country
in order to adjust them to an appropriate relationship. The plan must create
the basis for the population living near the natural biological environment to
accept and support the plan because of the great interest the plan would bring
them. Therefore, priority should be given to the projects to support the
population in the building of buffer zones, apply technical advances, upgrade
the infrastructure, improve the public welfare utilities... so that they could
have a stable income and would not infringe upon the protection areas.
The
socio-economic programs under the management of various ministries and branches
and conducted on the areas close to the bio-diversity protection areas must be
combined with the plan to protect the bio-diversity and must exploit and use
the components of the bio-diversity in a sustainable way.
The
areas newly opened to economic development and located in new environments and
close to the protection areas of bio-diversity or the areas with sensitive ecological
systems must contribute to the cost of protecting the quality of the
environment.
7)
Developing international cooperation:
Vietnam
has become a full member of the Bio-Diversity Convention. This is a basis to
broaden international relations in this domain. To call upon the international
organizations, the governments and individual foreigners to take part in and
provide practical assistance in technique, personnel training as well as
finance for the step by step realization of this plan.
With
regard to the neighboring countries in the region, in the common interests and
the interests of each nation, it is necessary to increase cooperation in
scientific research, exchange information, exchange technique and unify actions
for the protection and development of the values of bio-diversity.
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In the
five-year plan 1996-2000, on the basis of the resources of the State, we need
to concentrate on the following focal tasks to build various projects for
bio-diversity protection:
1) On
policies and legislation: To perfect the system of sub-laws in order to serve
as a legal basis for the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection
and the carrying out of the international conventions related to the
bi-divesity;
1.- To
draw up a Regulation on the protection, use, exploitation and exchange of the
gene funds and seeds and breeds in order :
- To
manage the rare and precious resources of the country having a high and
practical economic value now as well as in the future.
- To
defend the national sovereignty and to conform with the international
conventions we have been committed to regarding this resource.
2.- To
systematize the existing legal documents concerning the management,
exploitation, use... of the biological resources for multiple purposes in
order:
- To
detect the gaps and limitations of these documents which were issued by many
ministries and services.
- To
supplement and modify these documents to make them conformable with the changes
in the mechanism of economic management, while ensuring the exploitation and
use of the biological resources along the line of sustainable development.
3.- To
make public the unstable ecological systems in the areas which are
"sensitive" to the land and water environment together with the
accompanying protection regulations in order to preventing the deterioration or
destruction of these ecological systems due to the pollution of the environment
in the process of industrial development.
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1.- To
determine the locations for the expansion of the forest and land forest
protection zones in order:
- To
broaden the scale and area of each zone on the basis of the 87 special purpose
forests already approved.
- To
formalize the documents concerning land use in these zones.
2.- To
strengthen and build protection areas with high bio-diversity economic value
already determined.
These
are areas with high bio-diversity areas and of important significance on both
the national and international scale. They should receive first priority in
investment. Together with the strengthening and building protection zones under
stringent rules we need to build a plan to develop a uniform buffer zone in
order to stabilize the life of the local population.
3.- To
select an optimum plan to build a number of important wetland areas in the
areas already determined.
These
areas are very sensitive to the environmental pollution and are rich in
bio-diversity and also often associated with diverse economic activities. They
must receive priority consideration in protection.
4.- To
select the optimum plan and build a number of important sea conservation areas
in the following regions: the Ha Long Bay, the coastal areas from Khanh Hoa to
Binh Thuan, the Con Dao island area and the Phu Quoc island area.
These
are areas rich in bio-diversity, the habitat of many species of marine life,
directly related to the protection of the marine resources and many important
fish grounds of the country.
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6.- To
strengthen and increase the capacity of the zoos in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
to serve as places for the education of the sense of environmental protection
and bio-diversity protection as well as to study the rearing of the rare and
endangered species of wildlife so that to return them to their habitat when
conditions permit.
3) To
raise public awareness:
1.- To
provide regular information about the value of bio-diversity in social life
aimed at gradually raising the awareness of the people about the value of
bio-diversity so that they may consciously assume the task of protecting the
bio-diversity resources.
2.- To
supply the necessary information about bio-diversity to the leadership at all
levels aimed at raising the awareness on the value of bio-divesity to the
leadership at all levels, more particularly the local leadership, and also to
provide them with the necessary information when they issue decisions on the
protection of these resources.
4) To
increase the potentials and to train personnel:
1.- To
organize short-term course and workshops in the country and send our personnel
to take part in workshops abroad aimed at training and fostering the
professional standard of the managerial and technical workers at various levels
and in the branches related to the bio-diversity.
2.- To
build a grassroots network of national data on bio-diversity aimed at unifying
the system of data information about bio-diversity throughout the country which
is convenient to the increase of the general potential.
5)
Plan for scientific research:
1.-
Scientific research and the exploitation technologies, durable utilization of
the components of bio-diversity, with priority given to the objects having use
value in agriculture and medicine and pharmacy, aimed at raising the use value
of the components of bio-diversity and making practical contributions to the
socio-economic objectives.
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3.- To
study the questions of management and technique related to biological safety,
aimed at receiving and transferring the technology, ensuring safety for the
bio-diveristy values, with special attention to bio-technology.
V. CONCLUSION
The
plan of action for bio-diversity protection is a national plan aimed at meeting
the long-term interest of the country while reflecting the sense of responsibility
of our people toward the international community for the protection of the
common natural heritage. All the concerned branches and levels should take part
in its implementation.
THE MINISTER OF SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Dang Huu