The prime minister has ratified the National Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation in Vietnam from now to 2020, a vision to 2030, in a move to boost bio-diversification amid rising degradation. Under the strategy, Vietnam aims to preserve the natural ecosystem by expanding and establishing a system of nature reserves as well as setting up bio-diversification corridors. The strategy boosts up the protection of primeval forests, prevents further deforestation and strengthens the management on nature reserves. The moves are aimed at improving the quality and increasing the area of natural ecosystems to guarantee that land nature reserves will account for 9% of the land area while marine reserves will make up 0.24% of the sea and forest coverage will reach 45%. Accordingly, rare and valuable species of flora and fauna will also be strictly protected and conserved, experts said, adding that endangered species such as elephants, tigers, saola and other animals will be further protected from poachers. The strategy also encourages local people not to consume wild animals and related products in a bid to prevent wildlife trafficking amid declining their population. Many wildlife species are at high risk of extinction due to rampant poaching and lax control unless drastic measures are taken, they warned. Vietnam 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 quickly decreasing, environmentalists said, 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 1992-1996. (Quan Doi Nhan Dan – People’s Army Aug 5 p1)
