UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Photo: THX/VNA Human happiness and well-being can be greatly improved by prioritizing nature-based solutions – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres affirmed at the Fifth Session of the United Nations Conference. The United Nations Environment Council took place in February. This message was reiterated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the occasion of this year’s International Day of Biodiversity, 22 May, that each of us plays an important role in protecting biodiversity and protecting nature by establish balance in the relationship between man and the Earth. Or to put it more simply, choosing a lifestyle in harmony with nature is the best way for people to develop sustainably and avoid the risk of new diseases, because humans are an important piece of the puzzle. natural change. This is also the theme of the International Day of Biodiversity May 22 this year: “We are part of the solution – For nature.” Biodiversity has long been a global issue. Currently, there are millions of plant and animal species that are in danger of extinction due to human impacts. According to the report of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), there are 5 main causes of biodiversity loss which are changes in land use demand; overexploitation of wild animals and plants; Climate Change; environmental pollution and invasive alien organisms. Meanwhile, the process of globalization is increasing the movement of species beyond the inherent natural range through tourism, trade, etc., disrupting native ecosystems and the environment. The year 2021 is considered an important milestone in the conservation of ecosystems on Earth, marking the 10th anniversary of the UN declaration of the period 2011-2020 as the “United Nations Decade on Biodiversity”. is the transition step for a new phase “Decade of Ecosystem Restoration” (period 2021-2030). 10 years ago, then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on all humanity to protect biodiversity on Earth, emphasizing that sustainable human development depends heavily on diversity. this. At that time, the head of the United Nations emphasized that people can never get precious opportunities and miracles from nature, such as natural medicines to cure incurable diseases, when many ecosystems are permanently destroyed or the land becomes unusable. From this perspective to the health crisis related to COVID-19 that the world is grappling with, people are increasingly aware that biodiversity and ecosystems are tied to human survival and Protecting nature and ecosystems also means protecting our own lives. However, the UN warns that the rate at which biodiversity loss is occurring is unprecedented. In a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Forest and Global Change, scientists estimate that only 3% of the world’s land area (excluding Antarctica) is still ecologically intact, with healthy primitive animal populations and undisturbed habitats. One million species of plants and animals out of a total of 8 million species on Earth are on the verge of extinction. Some scientists think that the sixth mass extinction on Earth is beginning and will have serious consequences for food, clean water and air. The theme of this year’s International Day of Biodiversity is a continuation of the 2020 theme “Our solutions are available in nature”. This is seen as a reminder that biodiversity is still an important solution, an option for sustainable development. Therefore, from nature-based solutions to climate, health, food security, drinking water and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation on which people around the world can Build back better. 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. The conservation of species on Earth is no longer in the framework of “altruism” but plays an important role in ensuring human life. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic forces people to rethink the protective role of biodiversity against infectious diseases. There is evidence that biodiversity loss can increase the number of cases of communicable diseases. infection from animals to humans. In fact, 70% of infectious diseases spreading in recent years originate in animals. Therefore, the more the “health” of the ecosystem declines, the more fragile the immune “wall” between humans and pathogens will be. Looking back on 10 years of implementation of the “United Nations Decade on Biodiversity”, the world has recognized encouraging human progress in the conservation and restoration of biodiversity. According to a report by the World Conservation Monitoring Center of UNEP and the World Union for the Conservation of Nature, 22.5 million square kilometers of land and ecosystems Inland waters along with 28.1 million square kilometers of coastline and oceans have been preserved in the past 10 years.Another encouraging result was also noted by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). 59 million hectares of forest have regenerated since 2000, enough to cover France.WWF emphasizes that protecting and restoring forests is a better climate change solution than planting trees because existing forests not only absorb more greenhouse gases but also protect wildlife and biodiversity. 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 one of the countries with the most important and diverse biodiversity in the world, both in terms of marine and terrestrial ecosystems (especially forest and mangrove ecosystems). To protect this “treasure” of nature, Vietnam officially ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity on October 17, 1994, and made great strides in the conservation of nature and biodiversity. As a result of this unremitting effort, a number of nature reserves in Vietnam have been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for their natural value, including three heritage sites. nature, 2 global geoparks, 9 bio-rights reserves and 2 wetlands located in two world bio-rights reserves. Vietnam also encourages the application of construction solutions to be effective and sustainable in terms of economy, society, and natural environment; promote the implementation of conservation and sustainable use models, apply the ecosystem approach in integrated management of coastal zones, river basins, sustainable forest management, focusing on the role and interests of communities. copper. However, Vietnam’s conservation efforts are currently facing many challenges, such as deforestation, illegal logging, over-exploitation, economic growth, and population pressures. . The COVID-19 that has raged for more than a year is a reminder of the close relationship between humans and nature, when humans themselves have been depleting resources faster than nature can regenerate. Therefore, only humans can make a change for nature, in other words, humans are the most important piece of the solution to protect biodiversity and nature on Earth.

Vietnam is valued as one of the world’s leading biodiversity countries In the face of a decline in biodiversity, the United Nations’ Biodiversity Commission (IPBES) has warned future pandemics will occur more often, kill more people and damage even worse. without a fundamental change in human behavior towards nature. Loss of biodiversity seriously affects people In fact, the use of natural resources for development activities has made ecosystems around the world degraded. Along with environmental pollution, biodiversity loss of ecological balance, climate change leads to serious health consequences, especially the recent epidemic situation, which profoundly affects the economy. global society. Thereby forcing people to recognize and raise their awareness of their actions with nature and with our own living environment. As we know biodiversity is important to humans, providing 18 basic services globally to sustain human activities and development. However, according to the assessment report on Biodiversity and Global Ecosystem Services of the Intergovernmental Forum on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES Report), the ratio of forest cover per globally, coral reef ecosystems have the highest decline in survival index and 25% of the species studied are threatened with extinction; Many species groups are assessed as highly threatened with extinction, in which the group with the highest percentage of species at risk of extinction are amphibians, mammals, birds, reptiles and fish. Besides, 3/4 of the land area on Earth has been seriously degraded due to human activities. Human impacts include unsustainable exploitation of the environment through deforestation, agricultural expansion, wildlife trade and consumption. These activities put people in increasingly close contact with wild and domestic animals, as well as the diseases they harbor. Accordingly, up to 850,000 viruses like the new strain of corona virus, exist in animals and can infect humans. Habitat destruction and insatiable consumption have made zoonotic diseases more likely to spread to humans in the future. Science has also shown that loss of biodiversity can promote disease transmission from animals to humans – on the other hand, if we keep biodiversity intact, it provides excellent tools to fight pandemics. As with diseases caused by corona viruses, US scientists found that about 75% of the intermediate hosts of many disease-causing viruses are primates, bats and mice. In 2020, a study investigating SARS-CoV-2 infection from 16 ferret farms in the Netherlands, was presented at the ESCMID Conference on Coronavirus Related Diseases held online from 23-25. -9, indicating that the virus is capable of infecting humans and ferrets and vice versa. And in fact, in Vietnam, there are also emerging serious and zoonotic diseases with the potential to develop into a pandemic. In recent years, Vietnam has been affected by SARS, avian influenza type A (H5N1), influenza A (H5N6) and pandemic influenza A (H1N1)… Therefore, in recent years, ministries, branches and localities need to strengthen activities to control wildlife trade and exploit migratory wild species according to Directive No. 29/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister Government on some urgent solutions for wildlife management and related guiding and operating documents; manage and control invasive alien species; restore degraded ecosystems; protect the natural landscape and biodiversity. As such, “Human activities cause climate change and biodiversity loss, and lead to the risk of pandemics due to the impact on the environment. Changes in land use; agricultural expansion and intensification; Unsustainable trade, production and consumption have damaged nature and increased contact between wildlife, domestic animals, pathogens and humans. This is the path to the pandemic.” According to Dr. Peter Daszak, President of the EcoHealth Alliance emphasized. Join hands to conserve biodiversity Pano propaganda on International Day of Biodiversity May 22 22 Currently, in Vietnam, the Government, the Prime Minister and all ministries and branches are interested in sustainable development, green economy, harmony, and nature. That is one of the factors that ensure 50% success in our journey to save biodiversity in Vietnam. And Vietnamese people have also realized their great responsibility in nature conservation, reducing the demand for wildlife consumption, and environmentally responsible consumption. This is a very favorable factor, the opportunity for Vietnam to not be lost on the world biodiversity map. The theme of the International Day of Biodiversity 2021 is “We’re part of the solution – For Nature”, selected and launched by the United Nations on a global scale. With the aim of raising public awareness of biodiversity, science has proven that biodiversity is the foundation of economy, food security, livelihoods and human health. join hands of the whole society to preserve nature and biodiversity – that is to protect our own life on earth. In response to the International Day of Biodiversity, in 2021, recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has sent a written request to the central ministries, departments, branches and mass organizations; People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities; socio-political organizations, mass organizations; Associations, corporations, enterprises and related units are interested in, directing, guiding and coordinating in organizing response activities. According to Mr. Le Cong Thanh – Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, “Vietnam is also protecting and conserving biodiversity with many policies and measures such as environmental impact assessment, integration of Objectives require the protection and conservation of nature and biodiversity in the planning strategies, socio-economic development programs from the central to local levels. Zoning and establishing conservation areas for endangered species with genetic resources of plant varieties, domestic animals and wild species, restoring forest ecology, coral reef ecosystems, sea palm trees. Planting green and greening bare land and bare hills. Then plant trees in urban areas, industrial parks, traffic routes and have very encouraging results.” Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic around the world, the International Day of Biodiversity 2021 will be celebrated through an online campaign. And the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment proposed to implement synchronously strategies, projects, tasks and solutions on research and application of nature-based solutions, approaching ecosystems in the process of building formulation of national, regional and provincial plannings; establishment and effective management of nature reserves; promote the implementation of conservation and sustainable use models; apply the ecosystem approach in integrated management of coastal zones, river basins, sustainable forest management, focusing on the role and interests of the community. As we all know, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha once said that: “Biodiversity conservation is an ethical issue”. That further shows that the relationship between humans and the natural environment is not only the morality between people but also our own responsibility and morality with nature. Making each of us need to better understand our responsibilities when life needs a clean environment to live, needs clean food to eat but destroys nature by human hands. Therefore, once again, it is necessary to recognize and be more aware of how to respect and harmonize people with “mother nature” – only then all pandemics and natural disasters will limit the occurrence of people in the future. . Le Cong Thanh – Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment in response to the International Day of Biodiversity: “Nature conservation, biodiversity conservation is the responsibility of each of us, practical actions are to plant more trees, say no to consuming wild animals, and actively protect rare and precious animals and plants. It is practical concrete action, small action, great meaning. Each person takes an action to spread and join hands to protect the environment. Protect life on our planet” “The health of people and ecosystems is increasingly connected. As humans encroach on nature and deplete vital habitats, the risks associated with disease are also increasing. Loss of biodiversity poses a threat to all aspects of life, including human health. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic still raging, let’s each contribute to protecting biodiversity to prevent future pandemics. Mr. António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations

It turns out, in the heart of the gentle STieng man who has lived for many generations on this land, the memory of the last one-horned Javan rhino shot down in the old forest of Cat Loc is still there. Even though, 10 long years is not a short period of time, it is enough to heal a long pain. Mr. Dieu KGiang was sad when he recalled the one-horned Javan rhino. The panic passed, the image of the last rhino fluttering through its memory suddenly came to life. KGiang drunkenly and unambiguously told me about the times “getting bored” with the single-horned Javan rhino in Bau Chim marshland when he came back to take a mud bath and lick the soil for minerals. He remembers the first time he discovered a rhino on the edge of Cat Loc forest: “Our family has 4 buffaloes but that day we counted 5. The fifth child is a rhino, taking a mud bath with a herd of buffaloes, but it is in another muddy corner! .. I stand just over ten meters away from it. Good look! .. ”. Dieu KGiang said, a large rhino, its black and shiny like a buffalo, but short and long, has a sharp horn in front of the nose, close to arm’s length. After that, long time, Dieu KGiang again found him leisurely in Bau Chim area. Affordable, because so lonely, several times a month, he risked his escape from the jungle to go out to be friends with the domestic buffalo. In the land of the gentle and everlasting people, the Javan rhino finally feels peace and security, though danger is lurking around it. The rumor about the billion-dollar value of the horns barely covered has pushed the last rhino to stand in opposition to humans. Rhino is inherently gentle. It never competes for food or territory with other species, nor does it eat animals. The rhino’s food is mainly reeds, bamboo shoots, rattan buds, leaves… and licking soil for minerals. In the old forest of Cat Loc, rhino’s only enemy is almost human. Free migration has made the peaceful land of STiengs cramped. The “expansion” and destruction of human forest land made the territory and food of the rhino increasingly narrowed and scarce. Unfortunately for this animal because carrying a sharp horn on its head, those who have a lot of money claim to cure the “panacea”. Poachers hunt it day and night. If so, scientists and Cat Tien National Park must use camera traps, placed in many locations in the deep forest to record the moments of the last rhino. More than anyone, Dieu KGiang has seen with his own eyes every detail. Many times, he stood very close. The rhino senses that Dieu KGiang is not the one causing the danger. “The first times, it usually keeps a very long distance from me. Meet it all the time, it’s familiar, I stand close but it still leisurely lick the soil for minerals. One day it was soaked with mud below, I sat right on the bank! .. ”, said Dieu KGiang. Then one day, gunshots rang in the middle of the old Cat Loc forest. Not long after, wildlife experts of the International Union for Conservation of Nature declared: The last single-horned Javan rhino in its population died in the Cat Loc jungle. The rhino species in Vietnam is officially extinct after decades of hope with conservation projects. Dieu KGiang was in pain like losing a loved one. It was a late afternoon in April 2010, 10 years ago. The Javan rhino skeleton is being kept at Cat Tien National Park. The day it was announced that the lone rhino was found dead by a shallow stream in the depths of the forest, the granddaughter of Dieu KGiang ran through a hut that was covered with forest leaves in panic called out: “Pai ro Uncle Ba’s mhai (common name Dieu KGiang) is dead! … “. So from now on, Cat Loc old growth forest has permanently lost all footprints of Javan rhino species, which belonged to the animal lineages that once took a majestic walk to keep the old forest. My friend, Dieu KGiang was disappointed, did not reply halfway to his nephew. He was lost in his heart in the middle of a hut on the edge of the forest, gazing at Bau Chim area. That day, Dieu KGiang skipped dinner! .. For a long time, the responsible people repudiated, blaming the cause of death of this rhino on old age, natural death. Scientists of the International Organization for Nature Conservation are noisy, skeptical, demanding to verify and examine the skeleton. Dieu KGiang asserted: it died from being shot, but it could not be another cause. At this time he has not been to the scene But, the “bored touch” just over ten meters away with this last rhino is a solid basis for Dieu KGiang to assert that it was shot dead but could not be old or weak. “It is completely healthy, round fat, black skin, shiny, unable to die due to old age! ..”, Dieu KGiang asserted. Remember, before the 1980s of last century, experts once declared rhino species extinct in Vietnam. At this time, Dieu KGiang waved his hand, saying rhino was still alive in the old forest of Cat Loc, his hometown. However, no one cares about the voice of a lifelong farmer who only knows buffalo breeding, gathering and living off the forest. And, Dieu KGiang himself did not pay attention to the academic statements of experts and scientists, that rhino was extinct in Vietnam. As long as he and the STieng community living on the edge of the Cat Loc forest know that there is still a population of Pai ro mhai living in the jungle, a few hills away from the other side. That is enough!.. For a long time, in 1988, it was discovered that an adult rhino was shot dead in the forest of Cat Loc, when some people suddenly remembered the words of Dieu KGiang. Also from here, people believe him. The forest in Cat Loc is rich in bamboo, which is a favorite food for rhino. News Cat Tien National Park still has a population of fast spreading single-horn Javan rhinoceros that shocked the zoological circles at home and abroad. In the months and days that followed, Dieu KGiang was busy day and night. He became a guide for scientists to track down rhino traces to “verify information”. He was even trusted by experts of the International Organization for Conservation of Nature, entrusted with automatic cameras to trap and photograph rhinos, even at night. In the effort, in 1989, the domestic and international zoologists had enough grounds to announce that in Cat Loc, the single-horned Javan rhino was about 10-15. A sanctuary for this particular animal was quickly deployed in Cat Loc in the scientists’ last effort to save them. Since then, every time there are conferences and meetings involving Pai ro mhai, Dieu KGiang is honored to be invited to attend. However, in 2010, the lone rhino once walked in the thick forests of Cat Loc and was shot down by poachers. The last attempt to conserve this particularly rare rhino has failed. Vietnam officially goes extinct one-horned Javan rhino. Experts from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature are disappointed, and the KGiang is painful. This time he confirmed the information. In the evening, the mountain was hidden, the night was creeping through the fields. Dieu KGiang shook his head, saying that from that day, Cat Loc had run out of Pai ro mhai. The spirit of the mountains and the sacred symbol of the gentle STieng community who lives nestled in the jungle were killed by poachers to their last child. Now, when chasing buffalo herds into Bau Chim area for grazing, or one day wandering in the old forest of Cat Loc to pick rattan and bamboo shoots, Dieu KGiang tries to imagine the image of the last single-horned rhino the same year to comfort oneself. But, where to find it! …

Located about 80 km from Hanoi, Van Long is the largest wetland nature reserve in the Northern Delta, located in Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province.

Van Long has been in operation since 1998 and is now a tourist focus of Vietnam

.

This is the place that owns 2 records of the Center of Vietnam Record Book in 2010: “Place with the most number of white-rump langurs” and “Place with the largest natural picture”.

In addition to the values ​​of flora and fauna, Van Long also owns wonderful pictures of water-based landscapes. Sitting on an old bamboo boat with friends is leisurely walking through the ravine, the two sides are tall grass, squeezed between the water.

This place is home to many flora and fauna, home, feeding place for fish, birds, storks …

Van Long is known as “no waves” because when traveling on a boat on the lagoon, visitors will see the water surface as flat as a giant mirror.

Time to visit Van Long ecological area is about 1 hour – 1.5 hours.

If you come to Dam Van Long in the afternoon, you have the opportunity to admire many different kinds of birds in the sky.

The idyllic landscape here makes every person feel relaxed and peaceful.