UN, Vietnam Starts $3.5M Reserves Management Project

The UNDP and Vietnamese ministries of Natural Resources and Environment; Agriculture and Rural Development have started a Global Environment Fund-funded project to help enhance the effectiveness in reserves movement in Vietnam. The $3.5-million project will be implemented in the next four years, focusing on legislating for sustainable finance, building management and responsibility processes, as well as raising the public awareness of biodiversity. Regarded as one of the countries rich in biodiversity worldwide, Vietnam now has around 10% of endangered species over the world though its area only makes up less than 1% of the globe. Most reserves in Vietnam are subject to the amendment of Biodiversity Law. Vietnam also boasts many reserves like national parks, natural reserves, wildlife and natural scenery reserves. But, the country is facing two threats of losing and degradation its natural ecosystems like other developing countries, experts said. In fact, biodiversity in Vietnam is in the trend of vanishing quickly, they warned, adding that 882 endangered flora and fauna were listed in Vietnam’s Red Book in 1997, an increase of 161 species from the red book in the period of 1992-1996. Thus, long-term solutions to biodiversity preservation in Vietnam are to boost management effectiveness, support sustainable finance and develop capacity of cadres. (Quan Doi Nhan Dan – People’s Army Sept 11)