Forum on building platform for biodiversity conservation

The forum was co-organised by the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) of the Ministry of Nature Resources and Environment, the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) on May 20.

The event is supported by the German Development Cooperation GIZ commissioned by The German Federal Ministry for Economic Corporation and Development (BMZ) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Vietnam is one of the world’s ten most significant biodiversity hotpots. Biodiversity and ecosystems services play a vital role in the livelihoods of rural populations in Viet Nam, including the millions of people living in the proximity of forests and coastal areas. 

Nonetheless biodiversity and ecosystem services are increasingly threatened. According to the Vietnam’s 5^th National Report to the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity for the period 2009-2013, the main causes are increasing population pressures, overexploitation of natural resources, climate change, the fragmented state management of biodiversity, and the missing policy and regulatory conformity. 

In addition, there is a lack of effective inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms to respond to overlaps in functions among relevant ministries and agencies.

Being well aware of the problems, the related Vietnamese ministries and sectors have initiated efforts for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of ecosystem services. 

Accordingly, in 2015 VNFOREST and VEA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Programme for Coordination in the Field of National Conservation and Biodiversity, period 2015-2020. 

This program provides for the coordinated implementation of the state management in nature conservation and biodiversity through the development of legal documents, policies, plans, and inspection. 

The Department of Nature Conservation of VNFOREST and Biodiversity Conservation Agency of VEA are focal points for the implementation of the Programme. Both the agencies have jointly developed a collaboration workplan for 2016-2017.

Leaders of the Biodiversity Conservation Agency presented the initiative for the establishment of a partnership platform on biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of ecosystem services. 

This partnership would allow different stakeholders and partners to jointly provide technical support, policy advice, institutional capacity strengthening and resources for the sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2016 is Mainstreaming Biodiversity: Sustaining People and Their Livelihoods.