The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) Nov 17 co-held a seminar to seek ways to develop the national biodiversity conservation strategy and action plan by 2020. The two-day event is aimed to collect ideas and comments of concerned organizations and experts to create baseline information for building the strategy for biodiversity conservation in Vietnam. The conference will also support MoNRE to work out an orientation and roadmap to prevent the continuing loss of biodiversity, boost its recovery, and promote sustainable use of the natural resources during the country’s development process. JICA and MoNRE will launch a new technical cooperation project for the development of national biodiversity database system in Vietnam in order to further improve capability of the MonRE in integrating biodiversity conservation in its sustainable development. A report on Vietnam environment monitoring 2002 by the World Bank showed that the country is among the world’s top ten countries with rich biodiversity, making up 10% of the world’s known species while its acreage is less than 1% of global land area. However, biodiversity in Vietnam is in the trend of vanishing quickly, experts 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. (Quan Doi Nhan Dan –People’s Army Nov 17, baodientu.chinhphu.vn Nov 17, Nong Nghiep Viet Nam –Vietnam Agriculture Nov 18 p2)
