Kon Ha Nung Biosphere Reserve was added in Gia Lai province to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves List in 2021. (Photo: VNA).Hanoi (VNA) The Ministry of Natural Resources and EnvironmentThe following nine environmental events are expected to be the most significant in 2021:
1.Natural resource management and environmental protection are key tasks
Management of natural resources environmental protectionIt was identified as one the most important tasks in Resolution of 13th National Party Congress. It is also an important topic of high-level Party and State agendas.
2. Vietnam’s strong commitment to COP26
The 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26Pham Minh Chinh, the Prime Minister, announced Vietnam’s strong commitment to combating climate change and transitioning towards clean energy. This opened up more opportunities for Vietnam to access knowledge, technology, and financing. Vietnam committed to achieving net-zero methane emissions by 2050 and reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
3. National Assembly adopts resolution regarding national land use planning from 2021 to 2030, with vision up to 2050, as well as land use plan 2021-2025
The resolutions goal was to provide sufficient land to enable the country to implement its socio-economic strategy for the 2021-2030 period and its socio-economic plan for the 2021-2025 period from the grassroots up to the central level. It will ensure that land allocations not only meet the country’s needs but also consider national defense and security as well as protection of the environment, ecosystem, and climate change adaptation. It plans to maintain rice farming areas of 3.5 million hectares and forest coverage at between 42 and 43 percent.
4. The Party Central Committees Secretariat issues a directive on hydrometeorology
The Party Central Committees Secretariat issued Directive Number 10-CT/TW on September 25th to strengthen the Party’s leadership in hydrometeorology, national building, and safeguarding in the new environment.
5. Master plans include water management
The Government approved a masterplan on river basins, and another on surveying water ressources by 2030, this year. It also included several other projects. These plans are meant to increase the effectiveness of the management of national water resources.
6. Promoting innovation, international collaboration to sustainably develop the marine economy by 2030. Vision to 2045
The Prime Minister issued Directive No.31/CT/TTg on promoting international integration and innovation to sustainably grow the marine economy by 2030. This directive, which has a vision to 2045, aims to accelerate Vietnam’s sustainable development strategy for marine economy.
Vietnam released the national report on state of marine environment and islands in 2016-2020 earlier this year. It provides the basis for solutions to marine pollution prevention and minimization and protection.
7. Satellites SPOT-6 & 7 provide high-resolution imagery data to Vietnam.
Vietnam has been granted high-resolution imagery data, from Frances satellites Spot-6 and 7, that covers its entire land area and maritime territory. It will allow Vietnam to develop a large remote sensing database, improve management on natural resources and environment protection, and provide security and defense.
8. UNESCO recognizes two Vietnamese sites as biosphere reserves
The Nui Chua Biosphere Reserve, located in the coastal south-central Province of Ninh Thuan, and Kon Ha Nung Biosphere Reserve, located in the Central Highlands Province of Gia Lai were both added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves’ list. They now have 727 names.
The 106.6-ha Nui Chua Biosphere ReserveIt includes the marine and terrestrial areas of Ninh Thuan. It is located at the Truong Son Mountain Range. The biosphere reserve is a significant area in terms biodiversity, with a rich and varied mosaic of ecosystems typical of the south-central region, including unique semi-arid vegetation and sea turtle nesting beaches.
Kon Ha Nung Biosphere Reserve houses rare species like the Gray-shanked Douc (Pygathrix cinemarea), which is an endemic primate of Vietnam and has been classified as critically endangered. There are only about 1,000 of these species in the wild. The biosphere reserve is managed according to the traditional knowledge of local communities, including folk and indigenous knowledge about production and organisation.
9. Can Tho is awarded the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Award.
Can Tho is the fifth winner of the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Award. The Mekong Delta city was awarded the honor at the 5th ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Award, held in Indonesia in October. It also received an ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City Certificate.
Nguyen Van Thailand, the founder of Save Vietnams Wildlife won the 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize. This award is one of the most prestigious honors available to environmentalists. It recognizes his outstanding efforts in protecting wildlife and biodiversity.
Dr. Nguyen Hung Minh, from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, was awarded the World Meteorological Organisation’s (WMO) citation for his efforts to improve the ability of a coupled meteorological and hydraulic model for rainfall and flood forecasts. He generated ensemble precipitation predictions (EPPs), which were associated with radar-based rainfall prediction using spatial rainfall errors.