Elephants and giraffes inhabit Hwange National Park. Photo: Reuters According to the United Nations Commission on Biological Diversity, Earth’s ecosystems – the foundation of life – are being degraded at an unprecedented rate. Biodiversity provides 18 basic services globally to sustain human activities and development. However, these 14/18 contributions of nature are on a global downward trend. In addition, the rate of forest cover has decreased from 31.6% to 30.6% in the period 1990-2015. Coral reef ecosystems have the highest decline in survival index, between 1970 and 2015 it has decreased by 35% to 25% of the studied species are threatened with extinction. About 7 million other species of animals and plants are also at risk of “disappearing” due to human impacts. Meanwhile, the consumption of wild animals and habitat destruction have made infectious diseases more likely to spread to humans. The weaker the “health” of the ecosystem, the more fragile the immune “wall” between humans and pathogens. Without a change in the way people treat nature, future pandemics will occur frequently, cost many lives and severely impact the global economy. The severity is much greater than what the COVID-19 pandemic has caused to the world today. The loss of biodiversity and climate change have been threatening the progress of global sustainable development. According to the United Nations, the livelihoods of more than 3 billion people around the world depend on marine and coastal biodiversity, while 1.6 billion people make a living from forests. Therefore, the conservation of species on Earth is no longer in the framework of “altruism” but plays an important role in ensuring human life. In a statement kicking off the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the Earth was approaching a “point of no return” of deforestation, pollution of rivers and oceans. ocean, plowed lawns… seem to have fallen into oblivion. He stated: “We are destroying the very ecosystems that are the foundation of society. The degradation of the natural world is destroying the very food, water and resources needed for humans and other living things. animals exist, as well as the lives of 3.2 billion people – or 40% of the world’s population.” In 2010, in the city of Nagoya (Aichi Prefecture, Japan), about 190 countries participating in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity adopted an ambitious 2020 action strategy to reduce pressure from society. human society towards the natural world, conservation of biodiversity. Within the framework of this convention, countries have set 20 goals on biodiversity by 2020 to conserve biodiversity and restore ecosystems globally. The decisions of the 12th, 13th and 14th stakeholder meetings of the Convention on Biological Diversity all called for the parties to the convention to develop and adopt ecosystem restoration plans. Some of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development goals are related to ecosystem restoration that require urgent global action if they are to be achieved. The Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan 2016-2024 also includes goals for wetland ecosystem restoration to conserve biodiversity and adapt to climate change. However, as ecosystems continue to degrade rapidly, marine ecosystems, from coastal to deep sea, are currently suffering the heaviest losses in history due to human activities. In a study published in the journal Frontiers in Forest and Global Change, scientists found that only 3% of the world’s land area (excluding Antarctica) is still ecologically intact, with populations of healthy primitive animal body and undisturbed habitat. Global natural biodiversity is severely reduced by modern farming techniques; deforestation; habitat destruction in marshlands and in the ocean… The report of the Intergovernmental Forum on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services also indicates that the global rate of species extinction has increased at least tens to hundreds of times higher than the average rate. over the past 10 million years and continues to grow rapidly. It is estimated that about 7 million species are at risk of extinction in the next 30 years; 3/4 of the world’s bird species are endangered; A quarter of mammals are likely to disappear from the Earth. Great Barrier Reef on Orpheus Island, Australia. Photo: AFP/VNA On the other hand, the Aichi goals by 2020 are almost all unattainable. Of the 20 Aichi goals, only 4 have a high probability of achieving, the remaining goals are rated as low or unattainable. This report, together with the Convention on Biological Diversity, highlights the need for the world to take urgent efforts now and take effective action to stop the serious ecological degradation that is taking place. The United Nations has designated 2021-2030 as the decade of ecosystem restoration based on proposals from more than 70 countries, with the goal of accelerating worldwide efforts to prevent and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. ecosystems and raise awareness of the importance of ecosystems to human life. The United Nations emphasized that the restoration and conservation of ecosystems make an important contribution to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Multicultural Framework. global biodiversity. The UN recommends that countries strengthen political will, mobilize resources, improve capacity in scientific research, and cooperate internationally to create driving force for ecosystem restoration at national, regional and international levels. local; mainstreaming ecosystem restoration into national development policies and plans, thereby creating opportunities for ecosystems to increase their resilience and the opportunity to maintain and improve livelihoods for all. people. Countries develop and implement policies and plans to prevent ecosystem degradation, in accordance with national laws and priorities, and develop and strengthen initiatives to enhance recovery effectiveness. Ecosystem; create conditions for synergies and consensus on an overall view to achieve national commitments and priorities through ecosystem restoration; promote sharing of experiences and good practices in ecosystem conservation and restoration. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized: “Fortunately, the Earth is resilient and we still have time to reverse the damage we have caused. By restoring ecosystems with the With unprecedented efforts to heal the Earth, we can accelerate a transformation that contributes to the achievement of all the Sustainable Development Goals.” Achieving these goals will not only protect the planet’s resources, but will also help create millions of new jobs by 2030, generate more than $7 trillion in profits a year, and help erase the planet, Guterres said. poverty. Ru Cha primary mangrove forest in Huong Phong commune, Huong Tra town, Thua Thien – Hue province (Vietnam) has an area of ​​​​about 5 hectares, has the function of preventing salinity, protecting aquatic resources and the mainland. Photo: Ho Cau/VNA Vietnam is currently in the group of countries with the most important and diverse ecosystems in the world, both in terms of marine and terrestrial ecosystems (especially forest and mangrove ecosystems). Vietnam currently has 173 protected areas with a total area of ​​over 2.5 million hectares, including 33 national parks, 66 nature reserves, 18 species and habitat conservation areas and 56 landscape protection zones. In particular, 9 sites are recognized as “world biosphere reserves”, 3 are “world natural heritage sites” recognized by UNESCO, 9 ramsar sites (wetlands), 10 ASEAN heritage garden. As one of the active members of the international community, Vietnam always strives to protect and develop natural ecosystems, biological species, and rich, endemic, precious and rare genetic resources. and has achieved many remarkable achievements. In addition, Vietnam is also committed to joining hands with countries in the region and around the world, working together to reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030 for sustainable development. In the words of UN Secretary-General Guterres, the next 10 years are “the last chance” for humans to heal their own “wounds” to the Earth, preventing climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Only with strong action can people end these 10 years with a bright vision: living in peace with nature and ensuring a better future for all.

When they love each other, even though they live in two places, they always have fun conversations about what they want to do in the future. Especially both love nature, want to do something on the countryside land. The couple came together from a love of gardening. “I started to get inspired about gardening, growing plants, producing food after going to the farmers market in the city every week,” Lauren shared. She then learned about the benefits of growing her own plants, cooking broths from fresh produce, and baking. After marrying Tyler, the two together continued to study nutrition and transmit useful gardening information to many people. Returning to the town is not as vibrant as in the city, the couple feels like they are enjoying the life that is exactly what they both wanted for a long time. Tyler shared that the two chose to live on the east coast of Australia, with more than 4 hectares of land for farming. In addition to planting trees, the couple is also interested in improving the natural ecosystem, avoiding harm or killing beneficial insects. One of the natural ways to prevent plant pests is to keep ducks and chickens around the garden. In addition, they also raise a few sheep. The couple said: “We live in the tropics so high temperatures, strong winds, drought, some other natural disasters are challenges with gardening. But we believe that whatever you plant, If you put your heart and effort into nurturing them, they will pay off, so happy to see them grow day by day.” Lauren and Tyler not only grow crops to provide food for their families, but also store seeds to share with many people, inspiring those who love to create clean food for their families with their own hands and aim for a better life. sustainable living. “We’re not inheriting land from our ancestors, we’re borrowing land from future generations,” says Lauren. “This reminds us not to focus entirely on immediate needs, but instead take responsibility. responsibility, a sense of how current actions will affect the world our children live in. I hope everyone has positive thoughts and intentional actions to live a life of purpose and connection with together”. Hoang Dung ( translation summary)

Although the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change do not occur at the same time, both crises have similarities. COVID-19 and climate change both cause significant loss of life COVID-19 is known to particularly impact the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, causing severe respiratory illness. Climate change affects all health-related factors such as air quality, drinking water, food supplies and shelter. Climate change is expected to cause an additional 250,000 deaths annually between 2030 and 2050. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 2.3 million people worldwide since the pandemic began. COVID-19 and climate change highlight the gap between rich and poor Both the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change are known to impact certain demographic groups. Studies have shown that the vulnerable and disadvantaged pay more in both crises, with the poor suffering more from the impacts of climate change and the pandemic than the rich. There has long been a disparity between the poor and the rich in terms of health care. Pandemics and climate change highlight these disparities. Putting the worldwide healthcare system in crisis Ultimately, both crises pushed regional healthcare systems around the world to the limit. Climate change and COVID-19 have resulted in large numbers of people being hospitalized, forcing countries to reassess how they manage their health care systems. The COVID-91 pandemic and climate change have many similarities. Is climate change the cause of the COVID-19 outbreak? In January 2021, an article published in the journal Science of the Total Environment revealed evidence that climate change may be a direct cause in the emergence of the virus that causes the COVID pandemic. -19, acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV-2. An international team of scientists from institutions in the UK, Germany and the US has linked climate change caused by climate change to COVID-19. They emphasize that the number of bat species present is related to the number of coronaviruses in a particular environment. Due to climate change, factors such as temperature, atmospheric CO2 and cloud cover are evolving. These factors have a direct influence on the growth process of plants and trees. Climate change is affecting natural habitats and ecosystems through altering environmental factors. Even small adjustments can have a big impact on the species living in the ecosystem. Climate changes have directly created a favorable environment for many bat species to thrive, allowing the emergence of new coronaviruses – including the SARS-CoV-2 strain. COVID-19 is not the only infectious disease linked to climate change. For years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has emphasized the link between changing environmental conditions and disease outbreaks. It is hoped that this linkage can now become central, forcing policymakers to consider the far-reaching impacts of climate change and devise calculated strategies to avert the damage. environment further and reverse the damage already done if possible. Climate changes create conditions for many new viruses to emerge. What needs to be done to prevent epidemics and climate change? Experts have suggested that tailoring government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change would enable an overall improvement in public health, as well as promote a sustainable economic future. sustainable for regions around the world. In addition, aligning responses offers an opportunity to protect the planet’s biodiversity and limit subsequent changes to diverse ecosystems. Just as anthropogenic climate change affects disease outbreaks, wildlife trade is an important factor in the spread of zoonotic diseases such as SARS-CoV-2. . The illegal wildlife trade causes people to mix with different species of animals where they are not supposed to, which promotes animal diseases. Climate change and infectious diseases cause preventable losses of life. Through strategic adjustments, it is possible to prevent the loss of life. In the coming years, more strategies will be implemented to modify human behaviours, so that they have less impact on the environment and limit the spread of infectious diseases.

One person offered to sell tiger fish for nearly 20 million VND / fish Assessing the danger level of piranha to the ecosystem, since 1998, the Ministry of Fisheries (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has issued a directive banning import and farming of this fish. However, in Ho Chi Minh City, the fish that often appear in these horror movies are being sold publicly. At a selling point of ornamental fish in P. Linh Dong, Thu Duc city, a tank full of tiger fish is located in the middle of the store. The owner of the store, Hoang Hai, said that the tank currently has about 500 red belly piranhas with a length of 4-5 cm, each costing 90,000 VND. “Due to the large number, we have to feed the fish with bran, but there are always a few other fish species in the tank for them to whine when hungry. Just two more months, they will grow about 7-9cm, then they develop very slowly in length ”- Mr. Hai added. According to him, currently most piranha breeders choose red-bellied species because they are easy to breed and easy to keep. Yellow belly piranhas are difficult to propagate and must be hunted in the wild, so the price is always many times higher than the red belly piranhas. When we asked about the natural hunting ground, Mr. Hai refused to answer. At a selling point of ornamental fish in Binh Thanh District, the owner of a shop named Thuan said that this place sells mature red-bellied piranhas, as big as an adult’s hand. VND 500,000 / child. This same species, but with a hump on the nape is called a “hump” fish, costing a million dong each. Mr. Thuan added: “Rarely, the yellow-bellied tiger fish, 32cm in length, 17-19cm in size, costs 8 million VND / fish, and when grown up, it costs about 19 million VND / fish. In order to keep the piranhas, at least five need to be stocked in a tank ”. All piranhas at this store come from the Amazon region of Brazil, he said. “The movement to raise tiger fish from 2018 has been maintained until now. People who play unique ornamental fish like to hunt for piranhas to raise because they have eye-catching colors, many types, small body but very aggressive and aggressive. Newcomers of tiger fish often raise red-bellied tiger fish or Newbe, Manu, Mac, Cariba, then “upgrade” to the most aggressive species, Black Diamond “- owner of an aquarium shop in District 7 named Tinh, said. According to Tinh, tiger fish do not eat pellets, dry or frozen food. To limit the aggressiveness of this fish, some people replace raw meat with vegetarian food when they are young. However, when changing the diet is not suitable, the fish can “go crazy”, eating fellow meat. “Piranhas can bite people. Many of my clients often suffer from fish bites bleeding or scratching their hands when changing seaweed, taking things in the tank “- Mr. Tinh said. Not only selling publicly in stores, but also available for sale on the internet, most popularly via Facebook. Most of the website owners promote an unlimited number of fish, including red and yellow belly piranhas, the average price is from 90,000-170,000 VND / fish. Talking to the reporter of Ho Chi Minh City Women’s Newspaper, Mr. Dinh Minh Hiep – Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development – confirmed that tiger fish are in the group of alien species, not allowed to import and grow; All forms of raising, trading and importing are in violation of the law: “Any locality that detects it, it will confiscate, destroy and sanction based on the level of violation”. (According to Women HCMC)