Planning of marine protected areas system

Building conservation areas to protect biodiversity and develop sustainable socio-economy is more urgent than ever.

On the morning of June 7, in Ha Tinh City, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated with the People's Committee of Ha Tinh Province to organize the 5th Vietnam Sea Brand Forum. Mr. Chu Pham Ngoc Hien, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Mr. Le Dinh Son, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ha Tinh Province chaired with the participation of representatives of relevant agencies and departments.

With the theme “Marine protected areas with sustainable development of marine and island environmental resources”, the forum is one of the main events of the Vietnam Sea and Islands Week 2013. This marine brand forum aims to discuss the planning of the system of protected areas to protect and conserve aquatic resources and marine ecological environment; research and supplement policies and legal documents related to the management of marine protected areas; promote the benefits and responsibilities of society towards marine protected areas. At the same time, build, develop and affirm the Vietnamese marine brand associated with the construction and sustainable management of marine protected areas; Experiences of localities, agencies managing marine protected areas, businesses and communities.

Delegates attending the 5th Vietnam Marine Economic Forum

With great potential for seas and islands, Vietnam is a country with a sea surface area of ​​over one million km2, a coastline of over 3,200 km, 3,000 large and small islands and the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos. Up to now, in our country's seas, about 11,000 species of living organisms have been discovered in more than 20 typical ecosystems, belonging to 6 different marine biodiversity regions. Coral reefs, seagrass beds, seaweed, mangrove forests, benthos, fauna, phytoplankton... with many species of high economic value have been and are being exploited, serving the people's lives and socio-economic development in coastal areas and on islands.

In addition, specific ecosystems such as island ecosystems, sand dunes, wetlands, estuaries, lagoons, bays, etc. all have great economic and conservation value, contributing to making our country one of the world's biodiversity centers.

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 significant impacts on the country's economic development plan as well as the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities. Without this ecosystem, Vietnam's seas are at risk of becoming "water-stained" and marine resource reserves will seriously decline.

Therefore, the construction of conservation areas in our country to serve the protection of biodiversity in general and marine ecology in particular is Vietnam's strategy, emphasizing the implementation of the Marine Conservation Area System Planning until 2020.

Mr. Chu Pham Ngoc Hien - Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment said: "The planning of the marine protected area system until 2020 is divided into two phases. Phase 2010 - 2015: establish and put into operation 16 marine protected areas. By 2015, at least 0.24% of Vietnam's sea area will be in marine protected areas and about 30% of the area of ​​each marine protected area will be strictly protected. Phase 2016 - 2020: study and propose a plan to develop and expand the system of protected areas. Investigate, survey, establish and put into operation a number of new protected areas".

To contribute to the development of marine brands, 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) recommended: it is necessary to focus on measures to enhance and preserve existing brands in industries and fields, first of all promoting, protecting and improving the effectiveness of product brands in the tourism, seafood, shipbuilding industries, etc. The process of building and developing the Vietnamese marine brand is associated with promoting the effectiveness of sub-brands, including the brands of famous sea and island locations along with their marine products.

Proposing some solutions for the construction and management of Vietnam's marine protected areas, serving biodiversity conservation and sustainable socio-economic development, Mr. Doan Quang Sinh - Director of the Center for Training and Communication of Seas and Islands, General Department of Seas and Islands of Vietnam said: It is necessary to quickly complete and promulgate legal documents on the construction and management of Vietnam's marine protected areas. Enhance propaganda, mobilization, and education on awareness of biodiversity protection and conservation; mobilize the community to participate in the protection and development of protected areas. In addition, there should be a mechanism to ensure regular coordination between the management board of the protected area with local authorities, representatives of the community and businesses to propose recommendations to competent authorities to solve problems in the process of management and implementation of ongoing work in the marine protected area.

Mr. Doan Quang Sinh - Director of the Center for Training and Communication of Seas and Islands (General Department of Seas and Islands of Vietnam)

Within the framework of the forum, delegates exchanged and shared information and experience in managing, constructing, exploiting, and protecting resources to maintain advantages of the natural environment, especially the marine and island environment of Vietnam./.

According to (vov.vn) - LT