Nghe An hosts rally in response to International Day for Biosphere Reserves
On the morning of November 8, in Vinh city, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated with the People's Committee of Nghe An province and relevant departments and branches to organize a rally to respond to the International Day of Biosphere Reserves.
Attending the ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Van Tai - Director of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity; Mr. Nguyen Hoang Tri - Chairman of the National Committee of the Vietnam Human and Biosphere Program, and representatives of ministries, departments, branches and central agencies.
On the side of Nghe An province, there were comrades: Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Phung Thanh Vinh - Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and representatives of relevant units.
Vietnam has 11 World Biosphere Reserves.
According to the report of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, World Biosphere Reserve is a title awarded by UNESCO to areas of special value for nature and biodiversity.
Since its establishment in 1976, there have been 759 Biosphere Reserves in 136 countries in the world, of which Vietnam contributes 11 Biosphere Reserves to this network.
Up to now, the network of World Biosphere Reserves in Vietnam has developed along with the general trend, that is, each World Biosphere Reserve is a local model for sustainable development, both at the national and international scale. In particular, Tay Nghe An is the largest terrestrial World Biosphere Reserve in Southeast Asia.
At the 41st session (2021), the UNESCO General Conference chose November 3 every year as the International Day of Biosphere Reserves to promote nature conservation and sustainable development globally.
The Rally in response to the International Day of Biosphere Reserves is an opportunity to recognize Vietnam's achievements in developing and managing world Biosphere Reserves, and an opportunity to look back and evaluate the important role of Biosphere Reserves in contributing to achieving sustainable development goals and the significance of Biosphere Reserves in the global environmental conservation picture.
World biosphere reserves across the country are increasingly affirming their value not only in biodiversity conservation, but also in increasing the value of local products, supporting community livelihoods and contributing to sustainable development goals.
The world biosphere reserve has truly become a place for regular exchange, integration, cooperation and information and experience sharing of national and international organizations in the field of conservation and sustainable development.
In recent years, policies and legal frameworks to support the management of biosphere reserves have been gradually established and improved. In biosphere reserves, there have been many initiatives in the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and environmental protection.
However, biodiversity in Vietnam is facing the risk of decline due to excessive socio-economic development activities, with many challenges including land and water conversion; environmental pollution; and extreme impacts of climate change. This has a significant impact on biodiversity, causing fragmentation, isolation, separation and disturbance of ecosystems, affecting the integrity and ecosystem services.
At the rally, a "National Workshop on Management and Conservation of World Biosphere Reserves" took place.
The workshop with the participation of managers and experts in the field of management and conservation of Biosphere Reserves shared sustainable development orientations for Biosphere Reserves around the world and shared world experiences for Vietnam..
Join hands to protect and promote the Biosphere Reserve
Comrade Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Management Board of Western Nghe An World Biosphere Reserve, reported on the situation of "Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve".
The Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve was recognized by UNESCO in 2007, located in 9 districts of Western Nghe An, with a total area of nearly 1.3 million hectares, with special value in terms of nature and biodiversity.
Over the past years, Nghe An has made continuous efforts to manage and protect this biosphere reserve. In the coming time, the province will be more determined to fulfill international commitments on conservation and sustainable development of resources, in protecting and promoting the value of biosphere reserves.
Through the workshop, Nghe An hopes to receive experience sharing from other localities to better protect the biosphere reserve.
Speaking at the workshop, Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tri - Chairman of the National Committee of the Vietnam Man and Biosphere Program shared: "Up to now, the network of World Biosphere Reserves in Vietnam has developed along with the general trend of the world, that is, each World Biosphere Reserve is a local model for sustainable development, both at the national and international scale.".
At the rally, Mr. Nguyen Van Tai - Director of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, presented solutions to effectively conserve Biosphere Reserves; Relevant parties coordinated to implement activities to "organize communication and dissemination about the value and importance of Biosphere Reserves for human life and nature.
At the same time, call on all people to commit to protecting and sustainably using ecosystem services, strengthening management and promoting the conservation, support and development functions of local Biosphere Reserves.
Along with promoting scientific research, education and promoting the cultural values of biosphere reserves; applying sustainable livelihood models, promoting initiatives to protect the environment, conserve nature and biodiversity, and measures to adapt to and mitigate climate change; building biosphere reserves into models of sustainable development.