BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN VIETNAM

STATUS, TRENDS AND THREATS

PhD. Nguyen Thi Hong LieuVietnam Environment Administration (VEA)Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE)

“Reflecting Biodiversity – Holistic approaches and regional adaptation” BONN, 9-2014

In 2013, Vietnam was ranked as a one of 16 richest diverse biological resources and 10 richest centers of biodiversity in the world. Vietnam is one of the many types of ecosystems, species, and genetic resources rich endemic.

Vietnam currently has:

- 11 National Parks, 61 nature conservation parks and 34 forests

- In the terrestrial ecosystem:

• 13,200 species of plants,

• 10,000 animals

• 3,000 aquatic species in the inland wetlands.

- 20 types of ecosystems typical of tropical marine environment with 11,000 marine species. - Currently, many species of animals and plants continued new discovered and published in Vietnam.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Services Provided

The percentage contribution of agriculture, forestry and fishery products into the overall national economy

Source: General Statistics Office (2013)

- From 14/30 national parks and nature reserves, in 2011 welcomed 728,000 visitors, with total sales of over 1 billion Euro

Source: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, National Report on Biodiversity 2011

Cultural services

Sales of ecosystem services in the park 2011 (Milion Vietnam dong ~ 36.000 euro)

AreaMangrove forest area

(ha)

The amount of carbon (t /

ha)

Hòn Đất 793 64800

Rạch Giá 193 15800

Châu Thành 60 4900

An Biên 518 42300

An Minh 973 79500

Tổng 2537 207300

- The climate regulation through carbon storage and control rainfall - Water and air purification, decomposition of wastes in the environment - - Mitigate the effects of natural disasters such as landslides or floods. - The value of storage and carbon sequestration of forests in Vietnam is very significant, especially

natural forests.

Regulatory Services :

Reports of conservation projects and development of Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve done in 2010 (GIZ project)

The total estimated amount of carbon in mangrove forests in Kien Giang

The value of carbon storage (eu/ha/y)

Value of carbon sequestration(eu/ha/y)

north 1200-3000 10-40

centre 1300-3400 20-50

south 1500-3400 20-50

The coastal mangroves Vietnam contribute to the reduction of at least 20-50% losses caused by storms, sea level rise and tsunami. In particular, the system of planting mangroves along the dike also serves as a green shield, reducing 20-70% of the energy of ocean waves, ensuring the safety of sea dikes, saving trillion for the maintenance and repair of sea dikes

Support Services

1. Terrestrial ecosystems

- According to Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, the forest coverage reached 39.5% in 2010 - The goal in the future is to increase forest coverage to 42-43% by 2015 and 44-45% by 2020

TRENDS OF BIODIVERSITY

year

Forest area(1000 ha)Covered area

(%)Natural forest Plantations Total

1990 8.430 745 9.175 27,8

1995 8.252 1.050 9.302 28,2

2000 9.444,2 1.491 10.915 33,2

2002 9.865 1. 919,6 11.785 35,8

2003 10.005 2.090 12.095 36,1

2004 10.088.3 2.218,6 12.306,9 36,7

2006 10.177,7 2.486,2 12.663,9 38,2

2009 10.339,3 2.919,5 13.258,8 39,1

2010 10.304,8 3.083,3 13.388,1 39,5

2012 10.423.844 3.438.200 13.862.043 40,7Bảng 3. Movements of area and forest cover in Vietnam (1990

- 2010)Source: Institute of Investigation and Forest Planning

2. Marine and coastal ecosystems

- From 2008 to 2010, the total area of coral reefs real is 14.130 ha. Decline rapidly over time, special Co To reef in Quang Ninh (nearly 100% coverage in the past but in 2007 the dead coral cover the whole island up to 90%). The cause of death of most coral islands surrounding Coto part may be due to a number of fishermen and fishing coral reefs in this.

- Sea grass ecosystems is also reduced due to the reclamation of ponds for aquaculture and coastal construction. According to national statistics overall on the current area of seagrass in Vietnam was reduced from 40-70% compared to 5 years ago

- In 2012, 56% of the total area of mangrove forests is cultivated, pure, poor forest quality. The mangrove forests primeval barely. From 408 500 ha (1943) to 131 520 ha (2012)

1. In Vietnam Red Book 2007 882 species (418 species and 464 plant species), 161 species increased compared with 1992-1996.

2. 10 species considered extinct in the wild in Vietnam

Javan Rhino Poached to Extinction in Vietnam - Photo Reuters

The last Vietnam Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) is one of two unique populations of rhinos remaining on Earth datda confirmed extinct in Vietnam in 2010 . Mostly shot dead for their

horns.- The number of aquatic species, particularly species of shrimp, fish have economic value diminished rapidly. Number of individuals of rare species of freshwater fish, have economic value, species migratory behavior is reduced

TRENDS OF SPECIES

- As one of 12 centers of origin, plant varieties of the world with 16 groups and over 800 plant species.

- National Bank genes are preserved 12 207 varieties of 115 plants, many of which are indigenous to many unique characteristics that only have in Vietnam.

- The network gene bank conservation of genetic resources preserved more than 17,000 of the 200 species of food plants, food, fruit trees, forest trees, plant materials, medicinal plants and some plant species other.

- Currently, over 30% of genetic resources are preserved initial assessment of the biological criteria and about 5-10% of the genes were evaluated in detail and genetic evaluation

TRENDS IN GENETIC RESOURCES

1. Converted to other land uses, water shortage scientific basis and the emergence of new strains and invasive alien species

- 2010, the country has more than 1,020 hydropower projects (total capacity of 24 246 MW) is planned, of which there are 138 projects in the planning of hydropower on mainstream major rivers.

- The poor forest conversion to rubber plantation

- The development of shrimp farming in the sand and placer mining imenit, resorts building destroyed thousands of hectares of the central coastal sand, casuarina forests and coastal protection decline, rapid increases encroachment of sand inland.

THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY IN VIETNAM

2. The consumption of natural resources and more

- Increasing demand and use of natural resources converted at a rate never before this.

 - Illegal exploitation of timber and non-timber forest products, hunting and exploitation of wild species.

- The habitat of people in use wild species.

 

 

3. The introduction of new varieties and exotic species Now, the number of exotic plants imported into Vietnam relatively many different paths. There are about 94 species, belonging to 31 different lineages, including 42 invasive species, 12 species of invasive plants and typically developing

4. Overexploitation by means of the use of unsustainable fishing

- Fishing by destructive methods

- Hunting and illegal trade in wildlife

- From 2005 to 2010, there are 29 tigers (or parts of a tiger, not including the template to decorate head, claws, teeth and skin) from the service trafficking, illegal transportation. Currently, an estimated 50 tigers remaining in Vietnam

5. Environmental pollution and climate change

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF BIODIVERSITY

1. The National Strategy on Biodiversity in 2020, with a vision to 2030 (issue 2013). Overall objectives of the strategy are: important natural ecosystems, species, genetic resources of endangered, rare and need to be conserved and sustainably used to contribute to national development-oriented green economy, actively respond to climate change..

2. The program of planting 5 million hectares of forest, which was implemented from 1998 to 2010, by which the total forest area has increased rapidly, in 2006, the forest coverage rate to 38.2 %, an increase of 11 % compared to the year in 1990 as well as creating more jobs, contributing to hunger elimination and poverty reduction in mountainous areas .

3. The program development, raising living resources, planting native plants, wildlife breeding to ensure sustainable development has made certain achievements. Nationally, the end of 2006, there are about 50 species of animals and dozens of species of wildlife are breeding, cultivation of 316 farms and 1658 households, mostly for commercial purposes. However, due to Vietnam joined CITES Convention sothat the captive wildlife species currently managed and closely guide.

4. Program Offshore Fishing with the goal to reduce the intensity of exploitation and protection of aquatic resources coastal waters depleted capital for years.

5. The program for aquaculture development and preservation of rare aquatic species has encouraging results, aquatic feed production is increasing, many aquatic species have economic value were researched on artificial breeding and grow-out.

6. The model uses sustainable mangrove community-based. Education, Training and Awareness.

RESOURCES FOR CONSERVATION ARE LIMITED

1. Human resource in conservation is lack of strength in numbers and not quality.

2. Investment funds for implementation of biodiversity conservation from increased funding but also spread, lack of focus and investment efficiency is low. Lasck of long-term commitment to conservation

3. The investigation of fundamental biological resources and biodiversity, although there are some achievements, but also a lack of system, there is no comprehensive surveillance system to monitor biodiversity changes. Information on biodiversity are scattered in organization and management studies vary, no systematic database and mechanisms to share, exchange, and manage information;

4. Although a large number of protected areas have been established and put into operation a long time, but most are small and separated, making the management of the protected area is still limited: in the protected area system differences in classification and functional areas according to law 3: aquatic resource protection and development of forest biodiversity;

5. Many natural ecosystems are important not pay proper attention in the reserve system. No wetland protected areas have been. established/.

6. Function unified state management of biodiversity is not really clear policy system, there are some shortcomings, in some cases, regulations in many overlapping policies, effective law enforcement is not high .