E N V I R O N M E N T P R O T E C T I O N - A P R E R K Q U I S I T E F()K
R E D Ư C T I O N O F H U M A N S Ư F F E R I N G A N D S U S T A I N A B L E D E V E L O P M E N T 1
V o Q u y
V ie tn a m N a tio n a l U n iv e rs itv , /1(1 n o i
I t is a g re a t h o n o r fo r me to he h e rc and g ive th is le c tu re on a v e rv m em orable (XTasion o f h a v iiii' re c e iv rđ th o H lue P la n e t F riz e o f 2003. I w o u ld lik e to express m y s in c o re th a n k s to a ll o l’ yo u a g a in to r th is h o n o r and th is g re a t o p p o r tu n itv also to m eet so m a n y d is tin g u is h e d s c ie n tis ts and e x p e rts here th is a íte rn o o n .
T h e to p ic on w h ic h I w o u ld lik e to speak is n o t an e la b o ra te w o rk o f research, sueh as those w h ic h ha ve been done hy m a n y re c ip ie n ts o f T h e B lu e P la n e t P rize . N e ith e r do I have th e h o n o r o f n d d in g to th e s c ie n tiíĩc u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e w o rld . Th e to p ic I w oulcỉ lik e to speak a b o u t to d a y is c e rta in a c tiv itie s th a t th e V ie tn a m e se people have done and a re d o in tĩ in o rd e r to re c o v e r fro m th e scars o f a d e v a s ta tin g w a r. to rn is e th u liv in g s ta n d a rd s o f puople, to develop th e econom y vvhile a t the sam í' t i me c o n s e rv in g re sources a n d p ro te c tin g th e e n v iro n m e n t. T h is e n ta ils the r a tio n a l ust* o f n a tu ra l re sources and th e in v o lv e m e n t o f th e m a jo r ity o f the C()iintry*s in h a b ita n ts in th e process w ith a nevv a p pro ach d ire c te d a t how to s a tis íy p ro p le s ’ needs v v ith o u t d a m a g in g th e ecological balance. I am plca sed to be a b lc to say th a t ! ha ve (levoted m o re th a n t h i r t y years o f m y life to th is g re a t m o ve m e n t in m y c o u n try .
A h e a lth y e n v iro n m e n t a n d ecosystem is a íu n d a m e n ta l re q u ire m e n t fo r life and s u s ta in a b le d e v e lo p m e n t. B io lo g ic a l resources, fo re sts, w e tla n d s a n d o th e r lan ds s u p p o rt h u m a n liv c lih o o d s , a n d m ake i t possible to a d a p t to c h a n g in g needs and e n v iro n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s . H o w e ve r, p re se n t tre n d s o f e co nom ic d e ve lo p m e n t, ty p ic a llv o v e re x p lo ita tio n o f v a lu a b le n a tu ra l resources, fo re s t a n d la n d , are le a d in g to th e re d u c tio n o f ecosystem processes and service s w o rld w id e . As a re s u lt, the cle g ra d a tio n o f m a n y ecosystem s. h io m s and h a b ita ts a re le a d in g to u n p re ce d e n te d social strifí», and th e po ore st people and c o m m u n itie s , w ho a re d ir e c tly de p e n d e n t on n a tu r a l resources, w ill s u ffe r th ê m ost. M o s t o f th is has ta k e n place in the đ o ve lo p in g w o rl(l and in c o u n trie s in tra n s itio n .
W e u n d e rs ta n d th a t. th e d e g ra d a tio n o f e n v iro n m e n t a n d h a h ita t, the irre v e rs ib lc 4 n a tu rt* o f species c x tin c tio n , the loss o f genes and tra n s fo rm a tio n o f ecosystem s th ro u g h o v e re x p lo ita tio n , and th e d e v a s ta tio n o f w a r, a ll com pro m ise o p tio n s fo r p re se n t an d fu tu r e g e n e ra tio n s . E n v iro n m e n ta l p ro te c tio n and re s to ra tio n a re a p re re q u is ite fo r s u s ta in a b le d e ve lo p m e n t, an d fo r th e re d u c tio n o f h u m a n su iT ering . W ith o u t e n v iro n m e n ta l p ro te c tio n , we c a n n o t a d d re ss th e proble m of’ p o v e rty a lle v ia tio n an d im p ro v e m e n t o f liv e lih o o d s . In re c o g n itio n o f th is .
V NU J O U R N A L O F S C IE N C E . N a l . Sci . & Tech . T XIX. Nọ4. 2003_________________________________________________
1 Lecture presented at United Nations University. Tokyo. Sept 23. 2003
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1 Vo Q u y
d e v e lo p m e n t agencies, p o lic y m a ke rs and lea ders need to in te g ra te th e c o n s e rv a tio n e n v iro n m e n t a n d th e p re s e rv a tio n o f h io d iv e rs itv and ecosystem s in d e v e lo p m e n t a c tiv itie s , a n d to im p le m e n t e co lo g ic a lly e ffe c tiv e , s o c ia lly b e n e fíc ia l an d e co n ơ m ica llv v ia b le ecosystem m a n a g e m e n t p ra c tic e s in ío re s ts , vvetla nds, C o a s t a l an d m a rin e a re a s, m o u n ta in s and agro-ecosystem s etc.
T h u s , i t has been recognized th a t th e fu tu r e o f o u r liv in g e n v iro n m e n t and o u r n a tu r a l re so u rce s vvill depend on m a n a g in g la rg e areas u s in g an in te g ra te d a p p ro a ch t h a t re cogn izes h u m a n p o p u la tio n s as h a v in g a kee n in te re s t in e n s u rin g th e c o n tin u in g p r o d u c tiv ity o f th e ecosystem s v v ith in w h ic h th e y liv e . Such an a p p ro a ch vvill have to m eet local needs, e sp e cia lly o f th e poor, m a in ta in o r re s to re ecosystem in t e g r it y , a n d conserve b io d iv e rs ity , s im u lta n e o u s ly .
A fte r 30 y e a rs o f d e v a s ta tin g w a r, th e V ie tn a m e se pe ople and th e G o v e rn m e n t have m ade e ffo r ts to develop th e econom y w h ile a t th e sam e tim e co n s e rv in g re sources a n d p ro te c tin g th e e n v iro n m e n t. A N a tio n a l C o n s e rv a tio n S tra te g y vvas p re p a re d in 1985 and since th e n a N a tio n a l A c tio n P la n fo r th e E n v iro n m e n t and S u s ta in a b le D e v e lo p m e n t has been developed and p a r tly im p le m e n te d . O n th e basis o f th is n a tio n a l p la n , v a rio u s a c tiv itie s are b e in g c a rrie d o u t in th e c o u n trv re la tin g to e n v iro n m e n ta l le g is la tio n , m a n a g e m e n t, e d u c a tio n , re se a rch and e x p e rim e n ta tio n . We have e s ta b lis h e d a M in is tr y o f R esources and th e E n v iro n m e n t, e n acte d lavvs, r a tifie d m a jo r in te r n a tio n a l c o n v e n tio n s and cooperated w it h in te r n a tio n a l agencies to im p le m e n t v a rio u s e n v iro n m e n ta l p ro je cts. T h e G o v e rn m e n t has e m b a rk e d on a nation-vvicle re íb re s ta tio n schem e, and in c lu đ e d in te g ra te d e n v iro n m e n ta l m a n a g e m e n t in its p o lic ỵ s ta te m e n t. O u r c iv il socie ty has becom e in c re a s in g ly a c tiv e on e n v iro n m e n ta l m a tte rs .
T h e o n g o in g tr a n s itio n fro m a c e n tra liz e d p la n n e d econom y to a m a rk e t- o rie n te d one, a cce le ra te d econom ic grovvth, th e lib e r a tio n o f a g r ic u ltu r a l and in d u s tr ia l p ro d u c tio n , as w e ll as th e d e ve lo p m e n t o f th e S e r v i c e secto r, th e o p e n in g o f th e c o u n trv to ío re ig n in v e s tm e n t, and th e p ro m o tio n o f e x p o rts a n d p a rtic ip a tio n in re g io n a l a n d in te r n a tio n a l tra d e a re a ll o f g re a t b e n e íit to th e people o f V ie tn a m . as th e y m e an r e la tiv e ly r a p id econom ic g ro w th . V ie t N a m , th a n k s to key re fo rm s v has m ade re m a rk a b le progress across a broad ra n g e ơf socio-econom ic d e ve lo p m e n t m easures. T h e m o st im p re s s iv e is th e fa ll in th e p o v e rty ra te fro m w e ll ove r 70% in th e m id -1 9 8 0 s to a ro u n d 29% o f th e p o p u la tio n in 2002 - one o f th e sh a rp e st d e clin e s o f a n y d e v e lo p in g c o u n try on record (U N D P , 2003). A t th e same tim e , V ie tn a m is b e in g c o n íro n te d w ith a n u m b e r o f v e ry re a l c h a lle n g e s re g a rd in g tra d e - offs in its d e v e lo p m e n t o b je ctive s, p a r tic u la r ly b e tw e e n g ro w th and the e n v iro n m e n t. T ra d e -o ffs in v o lv in g th e e n v iro n m e n t are p a r t ic u la r ly p ro b le m a tic because e co n o m ic g ro w th and p re s e rv in g th e in te g r ity o f th e e n v iro n m e n t fo r fu tu r e g e n e ra tio n s a re o fte n in d ire c t c o n flic t w ith onc a n o th e r.
As we k n o w , p o ve rty, ignorance, greed and e n v iro n m e n ta l d c g ra d a tio n are often in te rre la te d . L ik e m any c o u n trie s in th e w o rld , in V ie tn a m , la ck o f resources drive s people to e x h a u s t th e ir n a tu ra l resourees, th ro u g h d e ío re s ta tio n , ir r a tio n a l use o f lan d, u n s u s ta in a b le fis h in g and a g ric u ltu re . ille g a l m in in g , o r the w ild life tra d e .
A lth o u g h p ro g re ss is b tíin g m ade, V ie tn a m is p r e s c n tly faced w ith serio us e n v iro n m e n ta l p ro b le m s such as d e fo re s ta tio n , th e d e g ra d a tio n o f la n d resources.
E n v i r o n m c n t p r o t e c i i n n
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a p r e r e q u is it e fo r ..5
th e im *ffi< ;ie nt r o n s r r v a tio n o f fre sh w a te r. an d fre s h w a te r s h o rta g e , th e o v e re x p lo ita tio n o f b io lo n ic .ll n*soun*c»s. th re a ts to ecosystem s. th e (lc p le tio n o f re s o u rre s a n d t h r nrnvvth o f e n v iro n m e n ta l p o llu tio n , not to m e n tio n th e lo n g -te rm 1‘n v m m m r n t ỉil im p a n C)f th e vvar. These p ro b le m s are c u r r e n tly b e in g cxa e e rb a te d hy n ip id p o p u líit ion tfro w th and p o v e rty .
It is t!u*n*l'orc n r r r s s .ir v tí) ỉin tic ip a te th e e n v iro n m e n ta l p ro b le m s th a t (le v e lo p m u n t vvill m r v it ỉih ly b rin lĩ w ith it , and to takt* th e necessary p rc c a u tio n s in a d v íin c c to m itÌK íitr th r m hy (le v e lo p in g an e n v ir o n m e n tiilly sound s tra te g y oí’
s u s ta in a h le (le v o lo p m rn t. th r o u ^ h th e s u s ta in a b le use o f n a tu r a l resources, a n d th e m v o lv e m i M i t o f t h r m a j o r i t v C)f t h e c o u n t r y ’s i n h a b i t a n t s i n t h e p r o c c s s .
In th e poor c o u n trie s . lik e in V ie tn a m . thí* ecologieal an d eco nom ic s u s ta in a b ility i> as im p o rta n t as th e social s u s ta in a b ility o f th e d e v e lo p m e n t process. A ls o . i f th e c u r r c n t pace c o n tin u e s o f d e s tru c tio n o f th e e n v iro n m e n t, o f d a m ag e to th e e co lo g ica l base rs s e n tia l fo r s u s ta in a b le advances in b io lo g ic a l p r o d u c tiv ity . such as la n đ , w au*r, flo ra , fa u n a , ío re s ts , vvctlan ds, a n d oceans, s u s ta in a b le đ e v e lo p m e n t ra n n o t be achieved.
T h e re is no d o u b t th a t o u r n a tu r a l resources a re a t s e rio u s ris k . B u t we do n o t have to accept f u r t h e r d e c lin e . We can b u ild on w h a t we ha ve a lre a d y le a rn e d , on vvhat w c k n o w o f s u s tỉìin a b lo p ra ctice s a n d c o n s e rv a tio n m easures. We u n d e rs ta n d th a t e ffe c tiv e syste m s o f m a n u g e m e n t can e n sure th a t n a tu r a l resources n o t o n ly s u rv iv e . hu t incrca sí* w h ik ‘ t h i‘v are b e ing used, th u s p ro v ic lin g th e ío u n d a tio n fo r s u s ta in a lỉk * d c v e lo p m c n t. vvv have m ade some pro g re ss in o u r e ffo rts to b a la n c e th e socio-econom ic needs o f o u r ra p id ly Krovving p o p u la tio n vvith o u r fra g ile n a tu r a l resource base.
We ha ve to a ss u re th e p re s e rv a tio n o f ecosystem s a n d b io lo g ic a l d iv e r s ity , yes, b u t we m u s t a ls o h e lp secu re thi* liv e lih o o d s o f c o m m u n itie s in o u r c o u n try . People are o u r w o rld 's most im p o r ỉa n t rcsource, and eco logica l p re s e rv a tio n m u s t be p a rt o f a la rg e r e ffo r t to p re so rve th e h u m a n species, n o t ju s t c o lle c tiv e ly b u t each preciou s in d iv id u a l. A n y tr u e c o n s e rv a tio n p la n m u s t in c lu d e c o m p re h e n s iv e
a p p r o a c h e s to t h e r e d u c t io n C)f t h e growing prob lem of h u m a n poverty, o n e of t h e
m a in c o n tr ib u tin g fa c to rs to e n v iro n m e n ta l dam age.I w o u ld likt* to takc» an e xn m p le - th e r e h a b ilita tio n o f fo re s ts • to e x p la in how we im p le m e n t th is n p p ro n c h in o u r c o u n try , V ie tn a m .
R e h a b i l i t a t io n o f í b r o s t s in V ie t n a m
O r ig in a lly , thi* e n tir e c o u n try o f V ie tn a m was covered in fo re s t, b u t o v e r th e past few decades, thi* ỉo re s ts <>f V ie tn a m have s u ffe re d s e rio u s d e p le tio n because o f o u r c o u n tr y s Krovving dem and fo r a g r ic u ltu r a l la n d , fire w o o d and tim b e r fo r
c o n stru c tio n , a n d t h e fact t h a t WI* ỉost o v er two m illion h e c t a r e s of forest d u r i n g th e
la s t w a r, to d e íb lia tio n an d b o m b in g . T h e d e s tru c tio n o f fo re s t v e g e ta tio n le a d s to a ra p id im p o v e ris h m e n t o f th o soil and loss o f s to re d n u tr ie n ts , in c lu d in g d r a s tic changes in th e p h v s ic a l iin d b io lo g ic a l c h a ra c te ris tic s o f th e ecosystem , e s p e c ia llyVo Q u y
th e up p e r-slo p e d areas in th e N o rth p a rt and th e C e n tra l H ig h la n d s o f V ie tn a m . Severe erosion re s u lts fro m o v e r-c u ltiv a tio n o f th e s o ils th a t a re in h e r e n tly h ig h ly su sce p tih le to d e te rio ra tio n . M o s t o f th e d e fore sted a re a s have become b a rre n , a n d n e a rly 30,5% o f V ie tn a m is now con sidered u n p ro d u c tiv e vvasteland.
R ecognizing t h a t fo re s t loss is th e s in g le m ost s e rio u s ía c to r th r e a te n in g th e lo n g -te rm p r o d u c tiv ity o f th e c o u n try ’s re n e w a b le n a tu r a l resources, th e pe ople o f V ie tn a m have begun an in te n s iv e p la n tin g p ro g ra m . T h is p ro g ra m is e xp ecte d to regreen th e w a r-s c a rre d la n d , co rre e t th e m is ta k e s o f ra p id d e v e lo p m e n t, re- e s ta b lis h th e eco logica l b a lance w it h in th e c o u n try , a n d p re se rve b io d iv e rs ity . T h e a im is to re fo re s t 40-50% o f th e c o u n try s id e b y th e 218t c e n tu ry . In th is vvay we hope to re e s ta b lis h th e e co lo g ica l b a lance in V ie tn a m . to p re s e rv e b io d iv e rs ity , a n d to do o u r p a rt in d e la y in g g lo b a l vvarm ing.
To g ro w one o r tw o tre e s is v e ry easy, b u t to p la n t h u n d re d s o f th o u s a n d s o f hectare s o f ío re sts is n o t s im p le , e s p e c ia lly u n d e r c o n d itio n s in w h ic h th e s o il is leached and com pacted, an d th e once cool, m o is t an d f e r t ile c lim a te is novv d r y an d b la z in g .
Before 1985, vvhen we íìr s t la u n ch e d o u r N a tio n a l C o n s e rv a tio n S tra te g y , we w ere p la n tin g o n ly 60,000 h e cta re s o f forest a n n u a lly - and lo s in g 20 0,0 00 h e cta re s.
Today, we are p la n tin g a b o u t 200,000 hectares o f fo re s t a n n u a lly . Wc* hope to soon reach o u r goal o f 30 0,000 to 400,000 hectares a y e a rt even th o u g h th is w ill n o t f u lly com pensate fo r th e o n g o in g fo re s t d e s tru c tio n .
As we knovv, th e ío re s t p la y s a Central ro le in re d u c in g g reen hou se gasses, in m o d e ra tin g c lim a te cha nge , an d in p ro v id in g r ic h h a b ita t fo r d iv e rs e p la n ts and a n im a ls fo r th e E a rth as a vvhole. Besides th is , in V ie tn a m , th e fo re s t p la y s a rnost im p o rta n t role in th e econom y, in d e ve lo p m e n t an d in th e e n v iro n m e n t. R e co g n izin g th is , th e V ie tn a m e se G o v e rn m e n t has banned th e e x p o rt o f tim b e r a n d p la n s to g ra d u a lly reduce th e p ro d u c tio n o f wood e x p lo ite d fro m th e n a tu r a l íò re s ts fro m 520,000 cu.m . in 1997 to less th a n 300,000 c u .m /y e a r by 2000. T h is p ro je cte d vo lu m e is expected to s a tis íy th e de m and o f those liv in g in th e fo re s t re g io n s. In N ovem ber 1997, th e N a tio n a l A ssem bly o f V ie tn a m adopted a n a tio n a l p ro g ra m in w h ich 5 m illio n hectares o f b a rre n la n d w ould be re fo re ste d between 1998 and 2015.
T h is stra te g ic po licy w ill c o n trib u te to the recovery o f the liv in g e n v iro n m e n t in general, and to th e co n se rva tio n o f s ig n iĩic a n t b io d iv e rs ity values across th e c o u n try ,
We hope to re a liz e these goals in m a n y w ays. K ir s tly , to ach ie ve success we m u s t have th e s u p p o rt o f th e loca l people. To fa c ilita te th is , w e ha ve been p ro m o tin g p u b lic a w a re n e ss an d a g ro -fo re s try t r a in in g in lo ca l v illa g e s a n d schools an d am ong po licy m a k e rs as w e ll. We have la u n c h e d a m o v e m e n t to e d u ca te people th a t s u s ta in a b le d e v e lo p rn e n t and a lle v ia tio n o f p o v e rty can o n ly be a cc o m p lis h e d th ro u g h p ro p e r m a n a g e m e n t and in v e s tm e n t in la n d s a n d ío re s ts in o u r c o u n trv .
We are tr y in g to m a ke re s to ra tio n o f de gra ded la n d areas a h ig h n a tio n a l p r io r ity . La rg e areas m u s t be re fo re ste d . The h ill- d w e llin g pco p lc m u s t be h e lp e d in a d o p tin g m ore re s o u rc e -e ffic ie n tt e n v iro n m e n ta lly fr ie n d ly te c h n o lo g ie s , so th a t
E n v ir o n t n e n t p r o i v c i i o n
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a p r e r e q u is it e fo r .7
t h r y ra n 11SC n ỉìtu r a l rc s o u rc rs r n tio n .illv a n d s u s ta in a b ly . Kort*st c o n s e rv a tio n th a i c»nsurcis tiu * s u r v iv íil oí I hi* p ra s a n ts 1S d e s p e ra te ly neeckĩd in in a n y r u r a l rlĩgions.
We p ro m o ti' I n r p lỉih tm t' OI1 c n m m u n a l la n d s, such as ro a d sid u s, canal sides and v illa g e W ỉis trl;u i(ls .
VVc cMicoum^e in d iv id u a l ra rn u T s to g ro w tre es on p r iv a te la n d and fa rm b o u n d a rie s . in hoiììc ^ardiM ìs and so un
\ w p ro m o tí' i* n v ir o n r m n t:ỉl e d u ca tio n th rn u g h th e mass m e d ia . th e Y o u th and
\V o m e n s U n io n s and School.v
\ w p r o m o tr Hgro fo ri\s try as p a rt o f a jo in t p ro g ra m w ith n g r ic u ltu r a l s ta ff.
We p ro m o tc a ^ r ic u ltu r t' and ỉo ro s try e x te n sio n a c tiv itie s fro m C e n tra l to grass roots lc v e ls , p ro v id e ía rm e rs w ith advanced tech n o lo g ie s, a s s is t th o m in d e sigm n g and s c ttin g u p d e m o n s tra tio n m odels. household econom ic m a n a g e m e n t s k ills and m a rk e tin g in fo rm a tio n .
We p ro m o te lo n g -te rm la n d /fo re s t a ỉlo c a tio n to fa rm e rs .
We p ro m o te s u s ta in a b le r u r a l de ve lo p m e n t w ith th e in v o lv e m e n t o f the p o p u la tio n .
O u r V isio n is now Vi*ry rle a r: “ to e ra d ic a te p o v e rty and l i f t th e people’s liv in g s ta n d a rd s . V ie tn a m m u st grovv. in d u s tr ia liz e and m o d crn ize , b u t econom ic, social and e n v iro n m c n ta l needs sho uld be addressed in an in te g ra te d m a n n e r to be s u s tiũ n a b k ' Ĩ11 th e lo n g -to rm ".
M a n y y r a r s atfo. reẾorestation ilì V ic tn a m was based on m o n o c u ltu ra l tim b e r p ro d u c tio n an d th e re wc*ri' few c o n v in c in g e xa m p le s o f successíul la rg e scale and lo n g -te rm tre e m o n o cu ltư re s. T o day, we are d e v e lo p in g a v illa g e -le v e l
process,
in vvhich loca l p e o p lr are p ro d u c in g la rg e n u m b e rs o f in d ig e n o u s tre e see dling s. These seedlings w ill be p la n te d in v illa g e s a n d s u rro u n d in g areas a n d w ill also be used fo r re ib rc s ta tio n p ro je cts.A fte r th e w a r, V ic tn a m e s e s c ie n tis ts a tte m p te d to r e p la n t s e v rra l species o f in d ig e n o u s tre e s in areas th a t had been d e stro ye d d u r in g th e m assive (le ío lia n t raicis o f th e w a r. These in it ia l t r ia ls iu ile d , la rg e ly because th e y o u n g s a p lin g s b u r n t in grass fir e s th a t vvere ig n ite d by th e in te n s e tro p ic a l sun d u r in g th e d r y season.
But wt* h a ve no w su(*cessfully re p la n tc d th o u s a n d s o f h e cta re s o f tro p ic a l io re sts. To protect th e se e d lin g s fro m the b u rn in g ra ys o f th e tro p ic a l sun* s c ie n tis ts have e s tỉib lis h e d a forest cover o f fa s t-^ ro w in g trees. W hen these tre e s ga in s u ffic ie n t h e ig lìt. w h ic h ta k e about th re e vears, th e y p la n t se ve ra l species o f fo re s t tre e s u n d c rn e a th th u m .
S p e a k in g n e a rly fo u r decades ago, P re s id e n t Ho C h i M in h pro m o te d the c o u n try s in i t i a l ìT g re e n in g r lĩ o r t s w ith a slogan s t ill q u o te d th ro u g h o u t V ie tn a m :
‘T o re s t is go l(ỉ. l f Wi» knovv hovv to ro n s iT v e and use it vvell, it w ill be v e ry preciou s".
T h ro u g h o ụ t t h i' c o u n try , th e v illa g e rs are fo llo w in g Ho C h i M in h 's w ords and s e ttin g up tre i* n u rse rie s. Kvi*ry vvínter. d u rin g o u r A n n u a l New Y e a r K e stiva l, w h ich m a n y nỉ you know as T e t. Wf ce le b ra te th e N ew Y e a r vvith tre e p la n tin g . A ll o f the s tu d e n ts in V ie tn a m m u st a l s o p la n t tre es e v e ry y e a r. T h a n k s to recent
8 Vo Q u y
p la n ta tio n e ffo rts , th e fo re s t cove r vvith in V ie tn a m has been in c re a s in g e v e ry ye a r, and has reached 35,8% o f n a tu r a l la n d of th e c o u n try .
T h e key o f a n y success an d to be s u s ta in a b le is p a r tic ip a tio n . T h e lo ca l p e o p l e
id e n tiíy t h e ir p ro b le m s and p r io r itie s , are assiste d in đ e v e lo p in g and im p le m e n tin g s o lu tio n s and th e y g a in b e n e íỉts . T h e y are (m ade) re s p o n s ib le fo r t h e ir p ro je ct in th e ir re g io n , and th e y see th a t th e y are no t le ft alone vvith t h e ir p ro b le m s . W hen people have the r ig h t to o rg a n iz e th e ir own life in t h e ir c o m m u n ity th e y w ill g a in confidence and s tre n g th . T h e y vvill use th e ir n a tu r a l resources e c o n o m ic a lly and d u ra b ly . T h ey vvill p ro te c t n a tu re , th e la n d and th e ío re s t on vvhich th e ir life depends. T h ey can s u c c e s s fu lly re a liz e these th in g s i f th e y a re a w a re t h a t these are th e íìr s t p r io ritie s ; i f th e y are e n tru s te d w ith enoug h povver, th e y w ill m o b iliz e and b rin g in to f u ll p la y t h e ir ow n ta le n ts and experiences to ach ie ve th e d e s ire d goals.
A c c o rđ in g to p la n tin g e xp erie nces fro m th e M a Da F o re s t F a rm , people in m a ny re g io n s are c u tt in g an d b u rn in g p e rn ic io u s grass in areas a ffe cte d by A g e n t O range d u r i n g th e w a r, th e n p la n tin g fa s t-g ro w in g s h a d e tre e s such as A cacia.
A fte r th re e or fo u r ye a rs, th e see dling s o f n a tiv e fo re s t tre e s, such as D ip te ro c a rp species, are p la n te d u n d e rn e a th th e m . I t is such a c tiv itie s t h a t g ive us hope th a t, in th e fu tu re , good tro p ic a l ío re s ts and b e a u tiíu l fa u n a w ill re place th e areas de stroye d by A g e n t O ra n g e , an d th e V ie tn a m e se people vvill be able to erase the scars o f th e d e v a s ta tin g w a r an d to c o rre c t th e m is ta k e s o f u n s u s ta in a b le d e ve lo p m e n t.
O f a ll the íb re s ts t h a t w ere dam aged d u r in g th e w a r, th e m a n g ro ve and M e l a l e u c a forests in th e M e k o n g D e lta were, pe rha ps, th e m o st s e rio u s ly dam aged.
T h e y vvere re p e a te d ly sp ra ye d w ith A g e n t O ra nge h e rb ic id e an d proved p a r tic u la r ly su sce p tib le to its effects. D e ío lia n ts e lim in a te d a p p ro x im a te ly 50% o f th e c o u n try ’s m a ngrove fo rests. A lm o s t a ll o f th e R h iso p h o ra , S o n n e ra ta , B ru g u ie ra and N ypa species died. As a re s u lt, th e íis h e rie s and s h rim p catches cra sh e d .
T h e M e la le u ca ío re s ts on th e peaty s o il b e h in d th e m a ngroves proved in A a m m a b le in th e d r v season, b u t m anv w ere d e stro ye d by n a p a lm b u rn in g .
These tw o m o st h ig h ly dam aged fo re s t ecosystem s a re in a m ore advanced State o f recovery th a n th e in la n d tro p ic a l ío re sts. A fte r th e w a r, th e V ie tn a m e se la u n ch e d a p ro g ra m to re p la n t th e m angrove ío re s ts in th e arcas de stro ye d by h e rb icid e s. Large areas w ere re p la n te d w ith R h iz o p h o ra a p ic a u d a seedlings.
T oday, some 70,000 h e cta re s o f m angrove ĩo re sts have been s u cce ssfu lly re p la n te d . The m angroves now v ie ld a s e lf-s u s ta in in g and p r o fit- m a k in g source fo r fu e l and c o n s tru c tio n wood fo r th e re s id e n ts o f th is area. As a r e s u lt o f re ío re s ta tio n , the íìs h e rie s are m ore p le n t if u l and th e s h rim p ca tch is r is in g each year. F is h , s h e llíis h a n d o th e r vvetla nd-bre đ foods c o n tin u e to a r riv e on local pe o p le ’s d in n e r ta b le s and we expect the m n o t to poison us \v ith tra n s fe rre d p o llu tio n . T h e colonies o f w e tla n d b ird s th a t had c o m p le te ly d isa p p e a re d d u rin g th e w a r ha ve re tu rn e d . O v e r seven m a jo r b ird colonies a re now p ro te c te d by reserves, new colo nies are a p p e a rin g , and the b ird p o p u la tio n s are b u ild in g up to th e ir old le ve ls a g a in .
E n v i r o n m c n t p r o t e c t io n
-
(I p r e r e q u is it e f o r . . 9Due to r a p iíỉ inrrt»asi\s in s h r im p e x p o rt, m a n y people have m oved to m a n ^ro v e are a s. U n íb rtu n a te ly . th is has re s u lte d in th e re d e s tru c tio n o f thí*
m a iìỊírovi* fo re s t fo r s h rim p pools. T h o ío re s t cle a ra n ce fo r s h r im p b re e d in g w ith o u t íu lc q u a tc to c h n iq u e s has re s u lte d in v e ry se rio u s consequences. R e ce ntly, p ro v in c ia l
a u th o r i t ies havtĩ been siKvessíul in imp ro v in g t h e local r e s i d e n t s ’ S t a n d a r d of living,
whiU* at th e sanie tilììe s u s ta in in g tlu* m a n g ro ve íorests. T h is has been achieved by a llo c n tin t' s iT tio n s ()f la m l and forest to th e p u b lic fo r co m b in e d s ilv o -fis h e ry or fis h o -fo re s try p ro d u c tio n . A m im ỈK T o f good m odels have been e s ta b lis h e d and have ìm p rove d th u econom ic and r n v ir o n m e n ta l s itu a tio n w it h in th e se c o m m u n itie s . In V ic tn a m as in m a n y d c v e lo p in t' c o u n trie s , vvetlands are f r u i t f u l l y u tilis e d by the local peoplí* to en hance t h e ir w e lfa re .( a n ( lio D is tr ic t, located in th e so u th e a st o f H o C h i M in h C ity , covers an area o f 7 5 ,7 4 0 ha. T h e e x te n t o f m a n g ro ve fo re s tla n d acco unts fo r 54.2% o f th e to ta l n a tu ra l a re a o f th e d is tr ic t. D u rin g th e la s t w a r, th e m a n g ro ve s in C an G io vvere com p le tữ lv d e stro ye d . T h ro u g h the g re a t e ffo rts o f th e local people, 22,000 ha ()f m angrove ío re s ts w ere r c h a b ilita te d a fte r th e w a r. To d a te , C a n G io has become one ()f the m ost b e a u tiíu l an d e x te n s iv e s ite s o f re h a b ilita te d m a n g ro ve s in th e vvorld.
and is chosen to he in c lu d e d in th e w o rld n e tw o rk o f lỉio s p h e re Reserves by
MAB/UNKSCO on January 21, 2000.
M e la le u c a fo re s t is a u n iq u e ty p e o f flooded fo re s t in th e M e k o n g D e lta . Ít onctì co vcrcd an area o f 250,000 hectares in lo w -ly in g , se a s o n a lly in u n d a te d areas.
ỉìu t. sinrt* th e w a r, o n ly some 116,000 hectares re m a in . W hen th e w a r ended, local people niade tre m e n d o u s e ffo rts to re s to re a g r ic u ltu r c on th e P la in o f Reeds. To đ ilu te th e a c id ity o f th e so il, th e y dug m ore ca n a ls to b r in g in fre s h w a te r. Hovvever, in most p la c rs . th e progress was too slow to check th e c o n tin u e d d e n u d in g o f th e arca. In t i m e, th e people ca me to re a liz e th a t in o rd e r to m a ke th e P la in pro sp e r again. th e s o il had to be w e ll w a te re d in th e d r y season and covered vvith M e la le u c a, as it once h a d been. S ince th e n , th e local people have b u ilt d ik e s to p re v e n t the P lain w a te r fro m d r a in in g in to th e c a n a ls d u rin g th e d ry season. T h e y have also p la n tc d M e ia le u c a on th o u s a n d s o f h e ctare s o f a cid ic s o il, sin ce i t is th e o n ly tre e species th a t can th r iv e in such c o n d itio n s .
Now ih a t th e w e tla n d h a b ita t o f th is area has been re s to re d , th e n a tu ra l p la r.ts and a n im a ls are g ra d u a lly r e tu r n in g to th e P la in . A s id e fro m fre s h w a te r fis h w h ic h a re a source o f food fo r lo ca l people, tu r tle s , sn a ke s, an d se ve ra l b ird s have riĩtu rn e d in s u r p ris in g n u m b c rs , in c lu d in g ra re species such as th e S arus C rane, P a in te d S to rk , and A d ju ta n t. In e a rly 1986. w ith th e h e lp o f researchers from H an oi U n iv e r s ity , the people o f T a m N ong D is tr ic t d c le g a te d 9,000 hectares fo r T ra in ( 'h im Iteservo fo r C ranes, w he re th e y hope th a t th e cra n e s breed once again. T h e re are a b o u l 1,000 cranes in T ra m C h im tociay, and m a n y o th e r species o f bird s havc? a lso re tu rn o d .
The re is a V ie tn a m e se sa yin g : “ B ird s o n ly s ta y in good la n d s M. A p p a re n tly , the re s to ra tio n eíTorts o f tht* people in th e P la in o f Reeds a n d T a m N ong D is tr ic t have bi»gun to p a y off. T h e C ra n e is a Symbol o f h a p p in e ss and lo n g e v itv , and its s ty liz e d
1 0 Vo Q u y
im age can be fo u n d in m ost te m p le s w ith in V ie tn a m . T h e cra n e s ha ve íìn a lly re tu rn e d to V ie tn a m , th e b e a u tiíu l la n d o f peace w h e re th e y a re w elcom ed by people vvho a p p re c ia te t h e ir b e a ú ty and b e n e íìt fro m th e ir presence.
R e í e r e n c e s
1. Vo Quy, Seeds of hope: Involvem ent of local com munities in the Conservation of
P r o t e c t e d a r e a s , I n t e r n a t i o n a l W orsh o p on B io lo g y, V o l . I. 2 0 0 1 .
2. V o Q u y , L o n g - t e r m e n v i r o n m e t a l i m p a c t s o f A g c n t O r a n g e / D io x in s p r a y e d in S o u t h Vietnam, 30 years after the w a rt Paper presented at "V ietn am -U n ited States Scientiíic Conference on Human Health and Environm ental Effects of Agent Orange/Dixoxin.
March 3-6, 2002, Hanoi, Vietnam .
3. Vo Q u y , R e h a b i li tc it io n ()f fo r e s t l a n d in Vietnarn d a m a g e d b y th e w a r a n d b y h u m a n a ctivitie s, Paper presented at “ Restore the Earth, An In te rn a tio n a l Conference for the H ealing o f O ur IJla n e t’s Ecosystems” Findhorn, Forres, Scotland from 30 I I I to 5-IV- 2002.
4. Vo Quy, Phung Tuu Boi, Bui T hi Lang, VVeyne Dwernychuk, A rth u r H. Westing, Long- Term Consequences of the Vietnam War, Ecosystems, Repori to the E nvironm ental Conference on Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Stockholm. 26*28 J u ly 2002.
5. Vo Quy, Hovv can we do to im prove the conservation of the B io d ive rsity in Vietnam.
Biology Today, The Vietnamese Union o f B iological Associations, T. 8, N.4 (30), 2002.
(in Vietnamese)
6. Vo Quy, The Effect of Massive Deíoliation on the Porest Ecology of Southern Vietnam
d u r i n g t h e W a r a n d K n v i r o n m e n t a l r e s t o r a t i o n p r o g r a m , In “I n t e r n a t i o n a l W o r k s h o p on M ilita r y A c tiv itie s and Environrnent (IW M E )'\ Japan, Okinavva ,19-23 M arch, 2003.
7. V o Q u y , B i o d i v e r s i t y : a v a l u a b l e n a t u r a l resources o f m o u n t a i n o u s a r e a s o f V i e t n a m , P a p e r p r e s e n t e d a t a N a t i o n a l C o n fe re n ce on “B i o d iv e r s it y a n d th e e r a d ic a t io n o f p o v e r ty in th e m o u n t a i n o u s a r e a s in V i e tn a m " 2 6 - 2 9 M a y , 2 0 0 3 , S a p a , V i e t n a m . (in V i e t n a m e s e ) .
