The workshop aimed to disseminate the results of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, promote actions to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework and respond to the International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22) in Vietnam.
Attending the workshop were Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan; Permanent Vice Chairman of Bac Kan Provincial People's Committee Dinh Quang Tuyen; Prof. Dr. Dang Huy Huynh, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment - ASEAN Biodiversity Hero; Director of Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Nguyen Van Tai. Also attending were representatives of units under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development; Foreign Affairs; Culture, Sports and Tourism; leaders of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and representatives of departments, branches and sectors of Bac Kan province; representatives of international organizations, experts, scientists, and management boards of national parks in some northern mountainous provinces.
Harmonizing the relationship between humans and nature
The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) held by the United Nations in December 2022 in Montreal, Canada, adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), setting out targets and measures to reverse the rapid loss of biodiversity globally in recent decades.
Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan said: At the COP 15 Conference, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment representing the Government of Vietnam clearly demonstrated its commitment to the international community that Vietnam has been participating in, once again demonstrating the responsibility and determination of the Government in the work of preserving biodiversity and restoring natural values.
Vietnam is one of the 12 biodiversity centers, one of the 16 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world with valuable and rare genetic resources. However, Vietnam is facing a rapid decline in biodiversity along with other huge challenges such as environmental pollution, land degradation, ocean plastic waste and the extreme impacts of climate change. "That situation forces us to be more aware of the importance of preserving nature and biodiversity, protecting the environment, and ensuring a harmonious relationship between humans and nature," Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan emphasized.
According to Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, Deputy Director of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework has identified 23 targets to be achieved by 2030, with extremely ambitious targets, requiring countries around the world to take drastic actions, even fundamental changes to reduce the impact on biodiversity. In addition to the efforts of countries, creating support mechanisms for resources for developing and underdeveloped countries, including financial mechanisms, science-technology and knowledge transfer to support conservation actions is extremely important.
In Vietnam, the Prime Minister has approved the National Strategy on Biodiversity to 2030, with a vision to 2050. The Strategy sets out five priority tasks, including: Conservation and restoration of important ecosystems; Protection and restoration of wildlife; Control of activities that negatively impact biodiversity; Valuation and sustainable use of biodiversity; Conservation of genetic resources and benefit sharing. “The successful implementation of this Strategy will contribute to Vietnam's efforts to achieve global biodiversity goals,” Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan affirmed.
As the focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued Decision 3220/QD-BTNMT on the Plan to implement Decision No. 149/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the National Strategy on Biodiversity to 2030, with a vision to 2050; at the same time, it has researched and specified actions to implement GBF at the national level.
The key tasks identified include: Building and perfecting the policy framework, laws, and technical guidelines; strengthening the capacity for management and law enforcement on biodiversity; investigating, monitoring, and building a database on biodiversity; promoting and raising awareness; implementing scientific and technological tasks and international cooperation to serve biodiversity management and conservation; implementing solutions and pilot models on conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of ecosystems, species, genetic resources, and controlling impacts on biodiversity; monitoring and evaluating the implementation of plans and strategies.
Promote cooperation and action
Sharing local practices, Mr. Dinh Quang Tuyen said that Bac Kan has the largest forest coverage rate in the country, nearly 74%. The province has Ba Be National Park, Kim Hy Nature Reserve, Nam Xuan Lac Species and Habitat Conservation Area, and Thac Gieng Landscape Protection Area with rich and diverse ecosystems and high biodiversity value.
In biodiversity conservation management, the major challenge is that the promotion of socio-economic development activities has partly led to the exploitation of biological resources. In addition, many new breeds introduced into the province have not been controlled; some related mechanisms, policies and regulations are still inadequate, including responsibilities related to biodiversity conservation planning, species conservation, genetic resource conservation, access to genetic resources and benefit sharing... These are the basic causes, causing difficulties in choosing a balanced economic development plan and ensuring the ecological environment in general and biodiversity in particular.
Providing recommendations to help Vietnam promote GBF implementation, Ms. Pham Minh Thao, Conservation Director of WWF Vietnam, said that Vietnam needs to strengthen the leadership of governments at all levels from national to commune/village levels in conservation. Thereby, promoting cooperation between government agencies, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and communities; building breakthrough partnerships.
The development of a National Biodiversity Finance Plan is essential to address the financing gap. In addition, a legal framework for carbon credits should be developed to attract investment in carbon sequestration for terrestrial, marine, wetland and freshwater biodiversity systems.
WWF also recommends strengthening community-based conservation and implementing monitoring and evaluation solutions, building data systems. Project approval processes need to be faster and simpler to make the most of funding and accelerate the necessary partnerships.
Referring to President Ho Chi Minh, who always paid attention to environmental protection and biodiversity, Prof. Dr. Dang Huy Huynh shared: Right from when the country was facing many difficulties, President Ho Chi Minh called on all Vietnamese people to try to protect Mother Nature. Implementing his teachings also demonstrates Vietnam's efforts in implementing the Global Convention on Biological Diversity, both bringing happiness to people and sharing responsibility with nature. Prof. Dr. Dang Huy Huynh emphasized that the implementation of the Action Framework in the coming time needs to ensure the active participation of the community, local authorities, agencies and organizations.
Presenting the results of the research and development of the Biodiversity Financial Plan, the representative of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) shared solutions to increase financial resources to contribute to the implementation of the goals of the National Biodiversity Strategy. Specifically, promoting sustainable tourism and collecting fees for visiting and services in protected areas; expanding payments for ecosystem services for marine and wetland protected areas; promoting cooperation to increase capital from ODA and the private sector for conservation; promoting the mechanism for biodiversity compensation and applying the environmental accounting system; using the state budget index code for biodiversity conservation and applying results-based budgeting.
At the workshop, representatives of the Forestry Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Bac Kan province, Xuan Thuy National Park and experts shared the existing problems and difficulties in the practice of payment for forest environmental services, management and protection of national parks as well as promoting cooperation and calling on the community to participate in these activities.
Taking note of the comments, Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan said that these are very meaningful suggestions for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in Vietnam. Currently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is finalizing the National Biodiversity Conservation Plan for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050. It will clearly state how to implement the 23 criteria according to the Global Framework with the goal of improving the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation and protection in Vietnam in the coming time.
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