BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION, AND ADAPTATION ASPECTS IN NATIONAL STRATEGIES ON POVERTY REDUCTION (NS-PR), SOCIO- ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN (SEDP) NguyÔn Th¸i Ph­¬ng - Vô KHGDTN&MT, Bé KH&§T

CONTENTS I. Impacts of economic growth and social issues on climate change and biodiversity conservation vice verse in Vietnam I. Impacts of economic growth and social issues on climate change and biodiversity conservation vice verse in Vietnam II. Climate Change Adaptation and Biodivesity conservation aspects in CPRGS and SEDP III. International cooperation to integrate environmental protection and biodivesity conservation into socio-economic development in Vietnam.

I. Interactions between economic growth and social issues with climate change and biodiversity 1. Impacts of Industrial and infrastructure development  High industrial growth rate in Vietnam (average 16%/year during the period of ), contributing to maintaining the overall economic growth.  To gain 1 billion in GDP, enterprises release31.1 tons BOD, 5.9 tons solid flying in the air, 2.9 tons CO2 and 44 tons solid waste.  Industrial practises (mining, building large reservoirs…) and infrastructure building (roads) cause environmental pollutions in habitats of species, negatively impact to structures of populations, communities and as a result, ecosystems become more unsustainable.

I. Interactions between economic growth and social issues with climate change and biodiversity (cont.) 2. Commercial, tourism, and service development  In recent years, there was positive progress in commercial, service and tourism development (average growth rate for the period of was 7-8%/year).  Commercial, service and tourism activities cause many negative impacts on biodiversity.  Market needs for biological resources (wildlife, timber and NTFPs) are key elements that put more pressures on and will be great challenges for biological resources in Vietnam.

I. Interactions between economic growth and social issues with climate change and biodiversity (cont.) 3. Agricultural, forestry and fishery development  Agricultural, forestry and fishery production, which is well planned and suitable with objective rules of nature and society, will contribute to conservation and enrichment of natural resources of the country.  In contrast, unplanned and uncontrolled agricultural, forestry and fishery production will cause many negative impacts on biodiversity.  Changes in land use purpose and cropping structure in agriculture also cause changes in components and relationships of species in eco-systems.  Unmethodical application of chemicals will pollute water, soil, air and cause negative impacts on biodiversity.

I. Interactions between economic growth and social issues with climate change and biodiversity (cont.) 4. Poverty and biodiversity decline  In the last 10 years, Vietnam has obtained many significant achievements in economic development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction that are highly applaused by international communities.  GDP distributions are not even among localities. Localities with low GDP often have larger poor populations, whose livelihoods depend on natural resources and educational background is limited. They often live in remore areas, causing presures on biodiversity.  A relationship between poverty - exhausted biodiversity resources - poverty.  Increased populations and uncontrolled migration cause many negative effects on natural habitats and losses in biodiversity.

II. Climate Change Adaptation and Biodivesity conservation aspects in NS-PR and SEDP 1. National Strategy and Social economic development plan  At the global level, efforts to integrate socio-economic development strategies, plans and plannings into invironmental plans have been promoted since the end of the 1980s.  In 1992, Agenda 21 was pass, calling for developing national sustainable development strategies in order to integrate environment protection into socio- econimic development plans

II. Climate Change Adaptation and Biodivesity conservation aspects in NS-PR and SEDP 1. National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NS- PR) (cont.)  Government of Vietnam is aware of roles and importance of environmental protection in general and biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in particular.  Before 1990, Vietnam had not developed a comprehensive socio-econimic development strategy.  Socio-econimic development strategies were developed for two periods and with the main contents:

II. Climate Change Adaptation and Biodivesity conservation aspects in NS-PR and SEDP 1. National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NS- PR) (cont.) - National and International contexts - Overall national development objectives - Specific national development objectives - Sector and area development strategies - Strategy-implementing measures

II. Climate Change Adaptation and Biodivesity conservation aspects in NS-PR and SEDP 1. National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NS-PR) (cont.)  Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy approved by the Prime Minister in March,  Objectives to ensure sustainability of environment and biodiversity conservation have been incorporated into objectives for socio-economic development and poverty reduction.  Some objectives:

II. Climate Change Adaptation and Biodivesity conservation aspects in NS-PR and SEDP 1. National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NS- PR) (cont.) By 2010, 100% of industrial zones, urban areas, and handicraft villages in rural areas will be accessible to facilities for collection and treatment of waste water, solid and domestic wastes; By 2010, 100% of industrial zones, urban areas, and handicraft villages in rural areas will be accessible to facilities for collection and treatment of waste water, solid and domestic wastes; Restore 50% degraded watershed forests and improve forest quality, encourage people to carry out afforestation. Restore 50% degraded watershed forests and improve forest quality, encourage people to carry out afforestation. Increase areas of protected areas to 11.5% compared with total areas, especially marine protected areas and wetland. Increase areas of protected areas to 11.5% compared with total areas, especially marine protected areas and wetland.

II. Climate Change Adaptation and Biodivesity conservation aspects in NS-PR and SEDP 1. National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy (NS-PR) (cont.) Forest coverage will be 38% by 2005 and increase to 43% by 2010; Improve quality of natural and plantation forests; Increase social, economic, and environmental values of forestland. Increase biodiversity in poor, semi-arid, desert, and wetland areas... improve degraded eco-systems, and strengthen stability of eco- systems in sensitive areas. Implement projects on environmental protection, watershed forest protection, establishmetn of national parks,protected areas, and special-use forests. Conduct Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) with all SEDPs.

II. Climate Change Adaptation and Biodivesity conservation aspects in NS-PR and SEDP 2. Strategic orientations for sustainable development in Vietnam  Approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 153/2004/QD-TTg dated on 17/8/2004.  A framework strategy includes overall orientations for sustainable economic, social development and environmental protection.  As a basis for Ministries, localities, mass organizations, and communities to implement and cooperate efforts to achieve sustainable development of the country in the 21st century.

II. Climate Change Adaptation and Biodivesity conservation aspects in NS-PR and SEDP 2. Strategic orientations for sustainable development in Vietnam 9 priorities for sustainable development in natural resources & environment:  Sustainable use and prevention of soil degradation  Economical, effective, and sustainable use of mineral resources  Protection and sustainable use of water resources  Environmental and Marine resource protection, protection of coastal and island’s resources  Forest protection and development  Reduced air pollution in urban areas and industrial zones  Management of solid waste and hazardous waste  Biodiversity conservation  Mitigation and prevention of adverse impacts of climate change, contributing to prevention of natural disasters.

III. International cooperation to integrate environmental protection in general and biodivesity conservation in particular into socio-economic development in Vietnam  Vietnam has received a lot of intensive support from other Governments and international organizations such as WB, SIDA, DANIDA, ADB etc., in integrating environmental considerations into socio-economic development plans and strategies.  In 2001, International Support Group for Environment (ISGE) was created to mobilize resources for Environmental Protection in general and biodiversity conservation in particular.  In 2007, Netherlands's Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP) cooperated with Sustainable Development Office, MPI to develop and implement biodiversity policies under the Strategic Orientations for Sustainable Development in Vietnam.  Objectives of this cooperation is to support Vietnam to establish national biodiversity indicators and models and integrate them into SEDPs and strategies of Vietnam and implement Convention on biodiversity conservation that Vietnam has committed.

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