The biodiversity conservation has attracted more and more concern and as a result, protected areas have been established as a solution to preserve natural integrity of fauna and flora which being implemented in many other countries.

Recognizing the important role of environment protection in general and natural conservation in particular, Vietnamese Government has issued many laws and sub-laws in the field such as Environment Protection Law 1993 and Environment Protection Law (amended) 2005, Law on forest protection and development 2004, Vietnam Biodiversity Law 2008… Although the limited implementation in some situations, these Laws have shown its necessity, been an important legal framework supporting governmental bodies and agencies in developing programs, strategies of environment protection and biodiversity conservation and handling environment violations as well as suggesting innovative and active solutions in protecting environment and conserving nature.

One of most effective solutions to reserve nature mentioned in Vietnam Biodiversity Law 2008: Establishment of Protected Areas; The Article 16 promulgates 4 types of protected areas, including: National Park, Nature Reserve, Habitat/Species Management Areas and Landscape/Seascape Conservation Areas. The development of the protected areas aims to reserve nature, preserve biodiversity gene source, protect cultural and historic structures, serve tourism purpose, protect environment especially soil and water in regions prone to erosion, slope land, protective forest regions where shield residences from natural disasters and contribute to scientific research as well as be invaluable for socio-economic development, maintain ecosystem and improve community’s living condition. For the target mentioned above, the Article 26 of Vietnam Biodiversity Law promulgates each Protected Area has to be classified by sub-areas with its different functions: Strict protected sub-area, ecological restoration sub-area and administration and service sub-area.

Thanks to various geographical features of Viet Nam such as mountain accounts for two third of land area; its dense network of rivers and lakes; its long distance of beach over 3,260 km with a numerous small islands and archipelagos; the biodiversity is in relative high level with its variously featured ecological regions such as tropical forest, mid-land forest, wetland, forest on island and archipelagos. In the relation with community living in the protected areas and buffer zones, the population now is continuously increasing, leading to raising demand of natural exploitation and as a result, environment protection and nature conservation meet many difficulties.

In order to conserve biodiversity and environment resources, and to protect special-purpose forest, Vietnamese Government has issued policies on forestry development, especially establishment and operation of, with both domestic and international supports, forestry management models linked to livelihood of the residences in the region. The models initially resolve the confliction between local conservation and economic development, improve income for local residences, and encourage them to participate in the forest development and protection. The typical models can be listed as community-scaled forestry management, establishment of buffer zone for protected areas and tourism service and scientific research activities in protected areas.

Practically, the protected areas can only be conserved effectively and sustainably when ensuring stable livelihood for the local community. To obtain the target of biodiversity conservation, not only the investment and appropriate policies should be issued from local authorities but also the participation and agreement of the local community should also be required.

Source: monre.gov.vn