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

The information and images collected by him are valuable documents to help scientists and experts of FFI discover the world’s second largest population of langurs in Kim Bang forest. After that, Mr. Hien volunteered to join the Community Conservation Team and was appointed as team leader. Thanks to this Community Conservation Team, from 2016-2018, the number of langurs recorded grew from 40 individuals to more than 100 individuals. Stories like Mr. Hien became the inspiration in the Program “Honoring organizations and individuals who have made great contributions to wildlife conservation in the period 2010-2020” in response to the International Day of Biodiversity. (22.5). The period 2010-2020 was declared by the United Nations General Assembly as the “United Nations Decade for Biodiversity”. Photo: vuonquocgiavuquang.vn. The period 2010-2020 has been declared by the United Nations General Assembly as the “United Nations Decade for Biodiversity” in order to achieve a shared commitment of countries to protect more than 8 million species of flora and fauna in the world. threatened to balance life on the planet. “Humanity may never know the precious opportunities of incurable diseases or other beneficial discoveries from nature because many ecosystems are permanently destroyed or soils are polluted. unusable,” said Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, calling on all humanity to protect the biodiversity on Earth. The call comes as biodiversity on Earth is declining at an increasingly faster rate. More than 1 million species are in danger of extinction. Human activities have changed 75% of the land surface and 66% of the ocean area. Vietnam is in the Top 16 countries with the highest biodiversity in the world, but biodiversity is under increasing pressure due to human activities and climate change. It is noteworthy that human activities are increasingly seriously harming the balance of nature. To counter this trend, over the past decade, many individuals, scientists and conservation organizations have worked to protect wildlife with a series of research, new species discovery and initiatives, jointly provide many effective conservation solutions in Vietnam. Some newly discovered species include Euscorpiopsis Cavernicola scorpion (in Ba Be district, Bac Kan province) and Vietbocap thienduongensis scorpion (Phong Nha – Ke Bang national park, Quang Binh province). The new findings not only have scientific significance but also have high practical value because scorpion venom is a potential natural raw material for the current and future pharmaceutical industry. In addition, precious tree species such as Moc Huong (Aristolochia), genus Arachniodes,… are also studied for their phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships to serve practical applications. Through research, many plant species with medicinal and production value are identified and have a reasonable conservation plan. Many organizations and individuals that have made great contributions to wildlife conservation in the period 2010-2020 also recognized many initiatives and solutions, contributing to improving the effectiveness of efforts of all levels, sectors and the whole society. association in species conservation. For example, the breeding solution has successfully preserved the white-crested pheasant – a rare endemic bird of Vietnam. The distribution area of ​​this rare chicken is in Quang Tri province, previously there were almost no birds and animals due to hunting, trapping and illegal wildlife trade. As a result, the population of the wild Lam pheasant decreased sharply, the last individuals were in danger of extinction. In addition, the breeding pairing of white-bellied Cao Cat (located in Section II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CITES) has also been successful, serving environmental education. and preserved in the future. Besides breeding solutions to conserve endangered species, other initiatives also focus on saving wildlife. In which, there are volunteer groups that have rescued 100 sea turtles, of which 94 individuals have been released into the sea; or the bear rescue process, bear farming in a semi-wild environment… These efforts contribute to changing people’s awareness of the importance of wildlife in the ecosystem associated with human life. In a recent report, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said that 90% of Vietnamese people support closing the wildlife trade market; 91% support the closure of restaurants that sell illegal and unregulated wildlife.

Elephants in the Central Highlands. (Photo source: PV/Vietnam+) Wild animals and plants play an important role in maintaining ecological balance, ensuring Ecosystem are complete systems, contributing to the provision of ecosystem services for sustainable development, bringing direct benefits to people. The strengthening of wildlife protection is one of the most important tasks of biodiversity conservation. A clear legal system, behavior change communication, and effective law enforcement are considered to be the three decisive factors for the success of a conservation campaign. VNA introduces a series of 4 articles “Joining hands to protect wildlife in Vietnam.” Lesson 1: Facing a downtrend According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Committee in the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, the rate at which biodiversity is being degraded is unprecedented in history. One million plant and animal species out of a total of 8 million species on earth are on the verge of extinction. In Vietnam, in recent years, biodiversity resources are continuing to decline. The situation of illegal hunting, killing, slaughtering, transporting, trading, and consuming wild animals is still complicated, leading to an increase in the risk of extinction of many wild animals in the environment. nature, negatively affecting ecological balance, human health and the country’s reputation in the international arena. There is also a risk of disease transmission to humans, livestock and poultry. Biodiversity is reduced mainly due to natural loss, overexploitation, climate change, environmental pollution from the use of pesticides, plastic products… and invasive species. In which, urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural development are the main causes causing nearly 75% of the terrestrial environment to be changed, causing species and ecosystems to decline. The wildlife trade has also created many consequences, wreaking havoc on the environment, severely reducing species populations with 67% of animals worldwide already in decline. High diversity comes with risk extinction increase According to the 6th national report to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Vietnam currently has about 51,400 species of organisms that have been identified, including 7,500 species/microorganism strains, about 20,000 terrestrial and aquatic plant species, 10,900 species of terrestrial animals, 2,000 species of invertebrates and freshwater fish, and 11,000 other marine species. Many species have great value for conservation, contribute to science and affirm the global importance of Vietnam’s biodiversity, such as saola, silver-backed chevrotain, giant gill, Truong Son gill, striped rabbit, etc. Asian elephants, bison, gray cows, tigers, leopards, star deer, primates, sea turtles and freshwater tortoises… The International Bird Conservation Organization has also identified Vietnam as having 63 important bird areas. important. Compared with other countries in Indochina, the fauna of Vietnam is quite rich in species composition and has a high degree of endemism. Of the 21 monkey species found in this region, Vietnam has 15 species, of which 7 are endemic species and subspecies. Of the 49 endemic bird species in the region, Vietnam has 33 species, of which 10 are endemic to Vietnam alone. From 2014-2018, 334 new species were discovered for science including 208 animal species, 136 plant species described and published in prestigious international scientific journals and the Institute’s Journal of Biology Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology. According to statistics, the number of species and individuals of Vietnam’s wild species is on a sharp decline, many endangered, precious and rare species are at very high risk of extinction. Like the Ho Guom turtle, there are only 4 known living individuals in the world, including 1 individual in China and 3 individuals in Vietnam. Other large mammals such as elephants, tigers, bears, big cats and pangolins are also threatened with extinction if no resolute and effective protection measures are taken. Sao la – a species endemic to the Truong Son range is also on the verge of extinction. Investigation and monitoring efforts to date have not found any populations of the species in the wild. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List updated in November 2020, the number of threatened species distributed in Vietnam is 745 species, including 64 mammal species, 53 bird species, 70 reptile species, etc. 45 species of amphibians and 96 species of fish. The total number of wild species recorded in the Red Book of Vietnam is 882 species, of which 464 are precious and rare animals (an increase of 108 species within 10 years). There are 116 species that are critically endangered and 6 species that have been converted from different endangered levels to considered extinct, including two-horned rhinoceros, gray bull, tapir, otter civet, lilac crocodile, star deer . The 2016 species inventory proposed to include 1,211 species in the updated Red Book, including 600 species of plants and 611 species of animals. Compared with the 2007 Red Book, the number of threatened and endangered species has increased significantly. Big challenge According to the assessment of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (General Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), the conservation of wild animals and plants is facing many challenges and limitations. . The issue of protecting wild species, especially endangered, precious and rare species has not yet been unified in the approach to management and conservation; management regime for species in different categories. Especially in matters of criteria for species identification, the list of endangered, precious and rare species and endangered, precious and rare species are prioritized for protection. An otter belonging to group 1B, imprisoned in an iron cage, is illegally sold by stall owner Yen Tam in Thanh Hoa, Long An province in 2020 for 10 million VND. (Photo: Hung Vo/Vietnam+) Duplicating the list leads to an overlap in management regimes and makes it difficult to apply legal documents as well as handle violations in practice. Specifically, the three-bar box turtle belongs to the list of endangered, precious and rare species prioritized for protection and is not allowed to be traded, but at the same time belongs to group IIB – forest plants and animals that are not yet threatened. extinct, but at risk of being threatened if not strictly managed, limited exploitation and use for commercial purposes. The overexploitation and use of wildlife resources, deforestation, and conversion of forest use purposes also lead to habitat loss of species leading to increasing conflicts between humans and species in the region. nature. Species conservation programs are approved by the authorities, but in practice there are few resources to implement. The demand for illegal and unsustainable consumption of endangered wild species for food, medicine, pets, decoration… still exists. The illegal trade in these species is increasingly sophisticated, organized and complicated, with elements of transnational crime. Law enforcement is still limited and ineffective due to lack of resources, including physical, human and financial facilities. Remuneration regimes and policies for enforcement officers are not commensurate with the high responsibilities and risks when facing this crime. The specialized force’s ability to fight against this type of violation on endangered, precious and rare wild species has not yet kept up with the sophisticated and professional tricks of criminals. Some shortcomings and gaps in legal documents make it difficult to handle violations such as the lack of regulations on handling exhibits. In practice, it may take a lot of time for the investigating agency, the procuracies or the people’s court, the trial panel to make a decision, or it may also take time to get the assessment results when the individuals Live and healthy wild animals need to be treated and immediately released back into the wild, which is very expensive to preserve until the case is heard. Cooperation between enforcement agencies has improved, but there has not been a close coordination mechanism, no guidance on the investigation process after the arrest of wildlife individuals or products, including: including the process of making and transferring dossiers from customs, border guards and forest rangers to the police, assessment agencies, procuracies and courts; handling wild animals and their parts after confiscation. In addition, the awareness of the whole society towards species conservation, biodiversity conservation has been improved, but there are still many limitations. Some parts of the people still have a high demand to use endangered wildlife, leading to increased hunting, trading and consumption. Awareness of all levels and branches has been raised, but not enough and not drastically to contribute to the conservation of endangered, precious and rare species effectively and comprehensively. Deputy Director of the Center for Education for Nature (Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations) Bui Thi Ha said that corruption is also a big obstacle to wildlife law enforcement efforts because there are With the help of a number of corrupt officials, many criminals have been and are blatantly committing crimes without fear of being discovered, arrested, put on trial or facing punishment. prison./.

Experts from the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center directly carry out the re-release of king cobras and Chinese cobras to the forest. Photo: Thanh Dat/VNA Master Ha Hong, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Environment and Urbanism, a person with 30 years of experience in environmental propaganda, including wildlife, said that there are barriers when performing this task. According to Master Ha Hong, when social networks develop, one of the factors that “help” reduce biodiversity is the rampant appearance of advertising pages for wildlife trade. In 2019 alone, the Wildlife Protection Department of the Nature Education Center has recorded more than 2,400 cases of wildlife advertising on facebook, youtube, zalo, tiktok and other websites. This number shows no signs of decreasing when the first 4 months of 2020 recorded 424 violations. Meanwhile, the force of news and propaganda for this segment is both lacking and in-depth. In other countries, reporters writing about environmental protection are required to have two university degrees (journalism and environment or equivalent). In Vietnam, reporters mostly have only one of two university degrees (journalism or environmental related majors). Journalism schools and journalism departments of many universities do not have training courses for specialized reporters. Many international organizations, journalism schools, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment sometimes organize field trips and seminars in the field of wildlife, but only at the level of “riding horses to see flowers”. Many press agencies have rotated reporters continuously, there are no correspondents specializing in the field. Master Ha Hong emphasized, to approach investigating a hot incident in a city, industrial park, or factory is not simple, but it is nonetheless much more convenient when crossing passes, wading streams, and crossing forests every week. It takes months, even years, to obtain documents documenting the illegal cutting of precious and rare tree species or hunting and catching wild animals. Access to reporters is also very dangerous because violators are often familiar with the terrain and are ready to use weapons to defend themselves. Currently, many press agencies have to account for their own operating expenses, so the funding for a group of reporters who travels for many days to write investigative reports is limited, causing difficulties due to the inability to access the checkpoints. , border gate, customs to collect information related to the transportation and consumption of wild species. Therefore, the propaganda information is not much, mainly news and articles based on reports of the management agencies, so it is not lively and not detectable. Adding another barrier if not “sticking” to the end, finding out clearly to have specific recommendations when monitoring and information about wild species and vice versa will achieve high propaganda effectiveness. Master Ha Hong shared that 5 animals are listed in Vietnam’s list of 100 most endangered species in the world, including saola, white-crested pheasant, Ho Guom turtle, marlin and snub-nosed langur. More than 20 years of propagating about the cultural land of Ho Guom, including the Ho Guom turtle, even after the turtle died, with the author having 194 direct sightings of floating turtles. These events were published on the websites of the mass media. Many photos of red-eared turtles appearing in Hoan Kiem Lake are also warned because this is one of the animals that threaten the food source of turtles and other species living in the lake. In addition, it is warned that the use of excavator buckets to dredge the lake will seriously destroy the mud ecosystem of Sword Lake. In early 2011, the photo reportage of the Ho Guom turtle swimming with a series of mottled and scratched marks on the back of author Ha Hong was published, attracting the attention of readers, contributing to urging the authorities of Ha Hong. Hanoi accelerates treatment plan for Hoan Kiem Lake turtle. The cause of the turtle’s scratches is that the turtle often goes through the sewage pipe from Ngoc Son temple to the sewer at Dinh Tien Hoang double street. Previously, this water pipe was pinned to the bottom, then turned up, floating on the water surface. Therefore, the city quickly replaced the sewage pipe, buried underground under the columns of The Huc bridge. Thanks to providing scientists with a set of close-up photos of the Sword Lake turtle with accurate images, in 2019, Master Ha Hong was invited to the Scientific Council to accept and make a specimen of the Sword Lake turtle according to current technology. The world’s most advanced plasticizer is made by scientists from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and two scientists from the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2020, scientists discovered another individual turtle of the same species as the Sword Lake turtle in Dong Mo Lake. Thus, Vietnam currently has 3 individuals of these turtles, of which 2 are in Dong Mo lake and 1 individual in An Khanh lake. The Hanoi People’s Committee has a plan to preserve this turtle. In addition, in order to overcome cognitive barriers, many NGOs have taken appropriate measures when social networks thrive. International humanitarian organization in Vietnam released the short film “In the future, the big baby” touched the hearts of passengers of Vietnam Airlines (Vietnam Airlines) with a message of hope to end rhino poaching. in Africa, in an effort to reduce demand for rhino horn and wildlife products. The Center for Education for Nature has released a media short film “Your Nightmare-Reality of a Bear” showing the cruel reality of bear bile farming facilities in Vietnam, which requires a change in behavior with humans. nature to avoid unfortunate consequences. The short film “Monkeys are not pets” to raise awareness for people to end the situation of keeping monkeys as pets – an illegal activity that is very popular in Vietnam today. Basic and long-term solution Langur species is conserved in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Photo: VNA Master Ha Hong suggested that the basic and long-term solution for effective propaganda is to open training courses for journalists specializing in the environment in general and wildlife in particular in journalism training schools or journalism departments. solstice. Each student graduates with two university degrees or equivalent in journalism and environment. The authorities need to organize specialized training courses, fostering professional skills for reporters who are monitoring the environmental field every 1 or 2 years. Funding for the internship is enough to support reporters of some press agencies to write articles for many periods. In the process of reporters collecting information, there is an agency to act as a focal point to coordinate with forest rangers, market managers, and local authorities. The solutions in Directive 29 in 2020 of the Prime Minister should be well implemented. The Ministry of Information and Communications directs press agencies to strengthen information and propaganda on the law and solutions to protect wildlife; coordinate with concerned agencies in preventing and strictly handling acts of abusing telecommunications networks and the internet for advertising purposes; exhibiting, propagating, trading in wild animal samples has been banned according to the provisions of law. Mass media agencies shall coordinate with ministries, branches and localities in strengthening propaganda and dissemination of laws on wildlife management; continue to propagate about not using illegal wildlife. Besides, organizing the prize for writing about wildlife every 2 years, launching a movement for reporters to say no to the use of products made from illegal wild animals and plants such as maple syrup. “Drink not drive” movement… Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Party Central Committee Phung Huu Phu emphasized the urgency of protecting wild species, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity in Vietnam, which is derived from the living needs of the people themselves. . The application of science to change behavior especially emphasizes the role and responsibility of setting an example of the team of leaders, managers, people with position and prestige in society. In order to improve the effectiveness of communication to change behavior to protect wildlife, according to Dr. Phung Huu Phu, besides the role of media and forms of information such as the press, literature and art, propaganda. mouth, community activities, social networks, etc., the responsibility of setting an example of cadres and party members, especially those holding leadership and management positions, is of decisive significance. Therefore, in the coming time, concerned agencies should focus on changing their behavior from conquering to living together in order to shape the value of living together, loving and protecting nature.

Cu Lao Cham Marine Sanctuary in Quang Nam. Tourism potential from white-necked langurs The white-necked langur was discovered by local people in 2012 on the limestone mountain in Thach Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district, Quang Binh province. Since then, thanks to the strict protection of functional forces and the coordination of residential communities and voluntary protection groups, the white-necked langur herd has grown in number. In 2018, the People’s Committee of Quang Binh province planned a part of the forest to become a special-use forest to balance the needs of conservation and exploitation. According to the survey results of the Center for Indigenous Knowledge Research and Development (CIRD) in collaboration with the Provincial Forest Protection Department, there are 22 herds and 156 white-necked langurs in 3 main areas: Dong Hoa commune, Thach Hoa and Thuan Hoa belong to Tuyen Hoa district. If before, you needed binoculars to see the langurs, now, the langurs are increasingly bold, with our naked eyes we can also look, watch them feed, play in the trees or on the rocks. craggy, according to a representative of the CIRD Center. The appearance of creatures listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world in this area has attracted many photographers, scientists and tourists to come here, creating opportunities for the development of various types of eco-tourism. Recently, Chairman of Thach Hoa Commune People’s Committee said that the locality is orienting to develop community tourism and experience tourism in order to change industries and improve incomes for people. people. Although people are still mainly engaged in agriculture, do not have much investment capital, plus difficulties due to epidemics, the potential for community-based tourism development associated with biodiversity is a long-term problem, helping to solve the problem of sustainable livelihoods for residents. Volunteer groups to protect the white-necked langurs in villages and communes will be oriented to become tour guides, helping guide people to learn, research, take photos, admire the white-necked langurs… Along with At that time, visitors can also combine sightseeing and experience with other destinations and events such as Tran Tao weapons factory (Dong Hoa commune), the grave and church of Admiral Le Truc (Tien Hoa commune), the cave. Len Ha (Thanh Hoa commune), Cau Ca Tang (Lam Hoa commune), boat racing festival in Tuyen Hoa district… In order to promote tourism potential in a sustainable way, local authorities pay special attention to continuing to promote the core role of voluntary conservation groups and local people. Lessons from Cham Island Recently, in the program “Honoring organizations and individuals; replicating advanced examples with many achievements contributing to wildlife conservation in the period 2010 – 2020″ organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Selection Council also recognized the initiatives and solutions. community contributes to improving the effectiveness of efforts of all levels, sectors and the whole society in species conservation. A sustainable tourism model based on biodiversity can be mentioned as the Museum of Marine Life on Cu Lao Cham Island, Tan Hiep Island Commune, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province. The marine reserve displays hundreds of fish with many different shapes, along with many rare specimens of shrimp, crab, turtle, marine coral … Worth mentioning, at first, the fishermen here just wanted to save samples and images of sea creatures to teach their children and grandchildren how to fish so that they can both profit from the sea and preserve the seed source for later. Gradually, these accumulations have created a unique ecological destination for this place, attracting many tourists to explore, paving the way for sustainable tourism. Accompanied by other cultural features such as Hai Tang pagoda, Champa ancient well, four heritage trees and the temple of nest craft. In addition to the service of diving to see corals and enjoying specialties of bird’s nest water, another highlight is a specimen of sea turtles over a hundred years old with intact dimensions on display. This is also part of the message conveyed to tourists and indigenous people: After many years of tourism exploitation, sea turtles are rarely found along the island, but tend to move to live and lay eggs on islands. small island. According to a representative of Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area, for many years now, fishermen on the island have been trained as a model of community tourism, saying no to plastic bags and plastic waste, accompanied by tasks of biodiversity conservation. learn. However, tourism development cannot avoid harming nature, landscapes and creatures, which requires greater responsibility from management agencies, travel agencies and visitors. However, the most important thing is the awareness of preserving and preserving nature of the local people. As nature and living things develop, their livelihoods based on such natural services will grow accordingly. Only when they understand that can they become enthusiastic propagandists, proactively guiding visitors to comply.

Over the past 10 years, many conservation initiatives and solutions have contributed to effectively protecting the biodiversity common home. (Photo: Hung Vo / Vietnam +) After more than 6 months of launching, the program “Honoring organizations and individuals with many contributions to the conservation of wild species in the period 2010-2020” by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment The launch is coming to the last stage. It is expected that the ceremony to honor individuals and organizations participating in the program will be held on May 21, 2021, in response to the Day Biodiversity international (May 22). Thousands of species are named According to the representative of Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (Vietnam Environment Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), in the past decade, Vietnam has witnessed many changes in economic, social and conservation life. biodiversity is no exception. Although operating in silence, scientists and conservation organizations have contributed to creating a brilliant decade of biodiversity with a series of research, new species discovery and initiatives and solutions. effective conservation. Especially, right after launching the above honoring program in October 2020, the program has received many records from individuals and organizations working in the field of species conservation. Many animal and plant species have been studied and discovered for the first time for science and published in prestigious international journals. Among thousands of species of animals and plants recognized and recognized internationally, many species of insects, reptiles, amphibians … are classified as critically endangered, and should be prioritized for conservation; Many studies have found endemic species only in Vietnam. Some newly discovered species include scorpion Euscorpiopsis cavernicola (in Ba Be district, Bac Kan province) and scorpion Vietbocap thienduongensis (Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh province). In addition, precious tree species such as Moc Huong (Aristolochia), genus Arachniodes, … have also been studied on phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships for practical application. Through research, many valuable plant species in medicine and production are identified and have reasonable conservation plans. Many outstanding landmarks in conservation Along with species discovery research, the program honors organizations and individuals with many contributions to the work wildlife conservation the 2010-2020 period also recognizes many initiatives and solutions, contributing to improving the efficiency of efforts of all levels, sectors and the society in species conservation. The precious otter who was illegally confined and sold at the farm product disguised as Thanh Hoa, Long An province, was rescued by the competent forces after receiving a report from the reporter of VietnamPlus. (Photo: Hung Vo / Vietnam +) The first solution mentioned by the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity is the successful breeding and conservation of white-crowned Lei Lamas – a rare and endemic bird of Vietnam. In addition, the pairing and spawning of the White-bellied Cao Sand Bird has also been successful, serving environmental education and conservation in the future. Besides breeding solutions for endangered species, other initiatives also focus on wildlife rescue. Among them, there are groups of volunteers who have rescued 100 sea turtles, of which 94 are still alive and have been returned to the sea; or process of rescuing bears, raising bears in semi-wild environments … In particular, the program received a story from someone who used to be a hunter but now leads a voluntary group to conserve white-nosed langurs in Quang Binh. Thereby, it contributes to preventing the impact of the quarrying program, protecting the habitat for langurs. As a result, in 2018, the People’s Committee of Quang Binh province has partially planned the forest into a special-use forest to balance conservation and exploitation needs. In addition, some units also made a mark with the initiative of using camera traps to investigate wild species in some key areas or the application of technologies in monitoring and re-release. wild animals and preserve the gifts given to Vietnam by the Creator. Assessing the significance of the program, professor-doctor of science Dang Huy Huynh, ASEAN Biodiversity Hero, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Nature and the Environment said that this is a conservation initiative. of great significance, helping to motivate and encourage the development of the scientific research movement on biodiversity. During the working process, the review board found that the submitted documents were in compliance with the rules, some documents were carefully prepared, showing the enthusiasm for the program. The dossiers are evaluated on the basis of selection criteria in the issued rules./.

Elephants in the Central Highlands. (Photo source: PV / Vietnam +) According to the General Department of Environment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), the subject of International Day of Biodiversity (22/5) in 2021 was chosen by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity “We are part of the solution.” The theme was chosen to continue the cross-cutting theme of 2020 “Our solutions are available in nature” as a reminder that biodiversity remains an important solution, an option for Sustainable Development . From nature-based solutions to climate issues, health, food security, drinking water and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation on which we can rebuild for the better. Due to the complicated ongoing COVID-19 epidemic around the world, the 2021 International Day of Biodiversity will be commemorated through an online campaign. In a new study published in the Journal of Frontiers in Forest and Global Change (excluding Antarctica), scientists identified only 3% of the world’s land is still ecologically intact, with healthy primitive populations and undisturbed habitat. This number is only for the nature of “approximate estimate.” The study used range maps of 7,000 word species Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Most of the data is from mammals but also includes some birds, fish, plants, reptiles and amphibians. The world is in a biodiversity crisis, many wildlife populations, from lions to insects, are plunging in numbers, mainly due to habitat loss. Some scientists believe that the 6th mass extinction on Earth is beginning and will have serious consequences for food, clean water and air. Vietnam is one of the most important and biodiversity countries in the world, both in terms of marine and terrestrial ecosystems (especially forest and mangrove ecosystems). According to the Vietnam UNESCO Office, 238 priority ecological zones have been recognized around the world, of which 6 are located in Vietnam. Several nature reserves in Vietnam are recognized by UNESCO for their unique universal natural value, including 3 natural heritages, two global geopark, 9 biosphere reserves and two Wetlands are located in two world biosphere reserves. However, Vietnam’s conservation efforts are facing various difficulties and challenges such as: biodiversity degradation trends have become more important due to deforestation and illegal logging. legal, overexploitation, economic growth and population pressure, have enormous impacts on the key services these ecosystems provide. According to the Department Nature conservation and biodiversity (Vietnam Environment Administration), nature-based solutions is a term that can be used to describe alternative and non-traditional approaches to environmental problems such as flooding, water scarcity or soil erosion, by exploiting natural capital. Can Gio mangrove forest. (Photo: Manh Linh / VNA) Solutions could include restoring and conserving coral reefs and mangrove belts to increase resilience to coastal flooding and sea level rise, serving as the first line of defense for dissipation. energy waves and vegetation to reduce the risk of landslides and create green belts to help replenish groundwater in areas facing water scarcity. In response to the International Day of Biodiversity on May 22, 2021, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will honor organizations and individuals who have made many contributions to wildlife conservation in the 2010-2020 period. According to the General Department of Environment (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), the Selection Council is composed of managers from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and other Leading scientists in the field of species conservation such as Professor, Doctor of Science Dang Huy Huynh – Biodiversity Hero of ASEAN. The dossiers to participate in the program honoring organizations and individuals with many contributions to the conservation of wild species are evaluated on the basis of the selected selection criteria. Each profile is consulted by all experts in the council, ensuring transparency and fairness. According to the Selection Council, the discovery of new species, initiatives and solutions for biodiversity conservation is of an important nature. Documents participating in this program show that there are thousands of named wild flora and fauna species, many of which are endemic to Vietnam. Many initiatives and solutions contribute to improving the efficiency of efforts of all levels, sectors and the society in species conservation. Initiatives on reproduction, breeding and successful conservation of rare species, care solutions, propaganda and especially initiatives from volunteer groups to protect species life and inspire those who has been and wants to contribute to this field. Scientists believe that the first time the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has an initiative to organize a program to encourage and encourage the development of the scientific research movement on biodiversity is a meaningful activity taking place. In the context of increasing climate change, the rate of biodiversity degradation of our country and the world tends to increase. It is expected that the Ceremony to honor individuals and organizations participating in the program will be held on May 21, 2021./.