Theme of World Environment Day 2021: “Ecosystem Restoration”. (Photo: nationbytes.com) On June 5, 1972, on the opening day of the first World Environment Conference held in Stockholm, Sweden, World Environment Day was officially proclaimed by the United Nations Environment Program. During the session on December 15, 1972, the United Nations General Assembly (UN) issued an official resolution. Since then, World Environment Day June 5 has been solemnly celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world. The purpose of World Environment Day is to focus worldwide attention on the importance of the environment and to encourage political attention and environmental action. This event makes environmental issues humane; empowering people to be active agents of equitable and sustainable development; improve communities’ understanding of the key role in changing behavior towards environmental issues; ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. 2021: Launching Ecosystem Recovery World Environment Day 2021 will see the start of the “Decade of Ecosystem Restoration”. The UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration is a rallying call to protect and revitalize ecosystems worldwide, for the benefit of people and nature. Ecosystems play an extremely important role in human life, providing people with invaluable benefits such as stabilizing the climate, purifying the air, providing oxygen, providing water, food, etc. medicine… In addition, ecosystems are also habitats for wildlife species. However, ecosystems are currently experiencing the fastest degradation rates in human history because they are facing enormous threats such as deforestation; water pollution of lakes, rivers and streams; wetlands become dry; coastal and marine areas are degraded and overexploited. According to the study, the degradation of land and marine ecosystems reduces the well-being of 3.2 billion people and causes an estimated 10% loss of global gross product annually due to the loss of species and ecosystem services. Currently, about 20% of the planet’s vegetation surface shows trends in productivity reductions related to erosion, depletion and pollution in all parts of the world. By 2050, degradation and climate change could reduce crop yields globally by 10% and up to 50% in some regions. In response to this situation, on March 1, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly declared the period 2021 – 2030 as the “Decade of Ecosystem Restoration” to scale up the restoration of ecosystems. degraded and destroyed ecosystems to combat the climate crisis, increase food security, water resources and biodiversity. Ecosystem Restoration means assisting in the restoration of degraded or destroyed ecosystems, as well as preserving intact ecosystems. Healthier ecosystems, with richer biodiversity, offer more benefits to humans such as more fertile soils, greater fish and wood production, and greater amounts of stored greenhouse gases. . All types of ecosystems can be restored, including forests, farmland, cities, wetlands, and oceans. Recovery initiatives can be launched by almost anyone, from governments and development agencies to businesses, communities and individuals. Because there are many and varied causes of ecosystem degradation and at different scales. The UN’s “Decade of Ecosystem Restoration” runs from 2021 to 2030, which is also the final deadline of the Sustainable Development Goals and the timeline that scientists have identified as the foundation. Last chance to avert catastrophic climate change. Only with healthy ecosystems can we enhance people’s livelihoods, limit disease, combat climate change and prevent the collapse of biodiversity.

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.

Artwork: Reuters

WHO spokesperson Fadela Chaib said: “There is a rather serious problem that an urgent need to enact an emergency measure to stop the sale of wildlife living in traditional food markets, as a preventive measure. prevent. We need to know that most emerging infectious diseases originate from wild animals. Stopping the sale of live animals that are unsafe for food will reduce the risk of future transmission of the virus. This is not a new recommendation, but the Covid-19 translation has brought new attention to this threat with its enormous consequences. ”

In addition, WHO is also urging governments to close markets selling wild mammals if they are not fully implemented.

By the end of 2019, the first cases related to the Covid-19 epidemic had been recorded in Wuhan, China, and quickly broke out into a pandemic around the world. Although no official conclusions are available, preliminary research results show that SARS-CoV-2 virus was first detected at wildlife markets in Wuhan. This virus spreads to humans through intermediates, possibly pangolins. Earlier last year, the International Fund for the Protection of Nature in the Asia-Pacific also called for an end to wildlife trade and consumption in the region.