Planning for a system of marine protected areas
Establishing conservation areas to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable socio-economic development has become more urgent than ever.
On the morning of June 7th, in Ha Tinh City, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in coordination with the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, organized the 5th Vietnam Sea Brand Forum. Mr. Chu Pham Ngoc Hien, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and Mr. Le Dinh Son, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh province, presided over the event, with the participation of representatives from relevant agencies and departments.
With the theme "Marine Protected Areas and the Sustainable Development of Marine and Island Environmental Resources," the forum was one of the main events of the 2013 Vietnam Sea and Islands Week. This marine branding forum aimed to discuss the planning of a system of protected areas to protect and conserve marine fisheries and the marine ecosystem; to research and supplement policies and legal documents related to the management of marine protected areas; and to promote the benefits and responsibilities of society towards marine protected areas. Simultaneously, it aimed to build, develop, and affirm the Vietnamese marine brand associated with the sustainable construction and management of marine protected areas; and to share experiences from localities, marine protected area management agencies, businesses, and local communities.
Delegates attending the 5th Vietnam Maritime Economic Forum
With its vast potential in marine and island resources, Vietnam boasts a sea area exceeding one million square kilometers, a coastline of over 3,200 kilometers, 3,000 islands of varying sizes, and the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. To date, approximately 11,000 species of marine life have been discovered in Vietnam's waters, residing in more than 20 typical ecosystem types across six different marine biodiversity regions. Coral reefs, seagrass beds, seaweed, mangrove forests, benthic organisms, plankton, and other marine flora and fauna, many of which possess high economic value, are being exploited to serve the livelihoods and socio-economic development of coastal areas and islands.
In addition, unique ecosystems such as island ecosystems, sand dunes, wetlands, estuaries, lagoons, bays, etc., all have significant economic and conservation value, contributing to making Vietnam one of the world's biodiversity hotspots.
However, according to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Chu Pham Ngoc Hien, in recent years, the marine ecosystem has shown signs of rapid decline, especially in coastal areas, mainly due to overexploitation and increasing environmental pollution. The decline of the marine ecosystem has had a significant impact on the country's economic development plans as well as the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities. Losing this ecosystem risks turning Vietnam's seas into a "washed-out landscape," and marine resources will be severely depleted.
Therefore, establishing protected areas in our country to serve the protection of biodiversity in general, and marine ecosystems in particular, is a strategy of Vietnam, emphasizing the implementation of the Plan for the System of Marine Protected Areas until 2020.
Mr. Chu Pham Ngoc Hien – Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, stated: “The plan for the marine protected area system until 2020 is divided into two phases. Phase 1 (2010-2015): Establish and put into operation 16 marine protected areas. By 2015, at least 0.24% of Vietnam's sea area will be within marine protected areas, and approximately 30% of the area of each protected area will be strictly protected. Phase 2 (2016-2020): Research and propose a plan for expanding the protected area system. Investigate, survey, establish, and put into operation several new protected areas.”
To contribute to the development of the marine brand, from the perspective of marine conservation, Mr. Pham Quang My, Deputy Head of the Office of the General Department of Seas and Islands of Vietnam (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), suggested: it is necessary to focus on measures to enhance and preserve existing brands in various industries and fields, first and foremost by promoting, protecting, and improving the effectiveness of product brands in the tourism, fisheries, and shipbuilding sectors. The process of building and developing the Vietnamese marine brand is linked to promoting the effectiveness of sub-brands, including the brand of famous marine and island landmarks along with their marine products.
Proposing several solutions for the construction and management of Vietnam's marine protected areas to serve biodiversity conservation and sustainable socio-economic development, Mr. Doan Quang Sinh, Director of the Center for Marine and Island Training and Communication, General Department of Seas and Islands of Vietnam, suggested that: it is necessary to quickly finalize and promulgate legal documents on the construction and management of Vietnam's marine protected areas. It is also necessary to improve propaganda, mobilization, and education on biodiversity protection and conservation; and to mobilize the community to participate in the protection and development of protected areas. In addition, a mechanism is needed to ensure regular coordination between the management board of the protected area and local authorities, representatives of the local community, and businesses to propose recommendations to competent authorities to resolve issues in the management and implementation of ongoing work in the marine protected area.
Mr. Doan Quang Sinh - Director of the Center for Training and Communication on Seas and Islands (General Department of Seas and Islands of Vietnam)
Within the framework of the forum, delegates exchanged and shared information and experiences in managing, developing, exploiting, and protecting resources to maintain the advantages of the natural environment, especially the marine and island environment of Vietnam.
According to (vov.vn) - LT
