Expert: Vietnam’s bio-diversity suffering from pollution

Vietnam’s bio-diversity is at an extremely high risk as a result of environmental pollution which is threatening the ecosystem.

The Vietnamese National Assembly issued a Law on Bio-diversity which took effect since July 1, 2009 (Illustrative photo)

The information was given by Hoang Minh Dao, Head of the General Department of Environment’s Pollution Control Department, at a seminar held recently in Hanoi.

Dao said that Vietnam has a tropical monsoon climate and diversified terrain, resulting in high bio-diversify, particularly in the forest and sea ecosystem.

He also noted that Vietnam is among 20 countries with the highest bio-diversify level, accounting for 6.5% of the world’s total species number. Many among those are only found in Vietnam or hardly detected in any other country around the world.

To enhance the protection of bio-diversify, the Vietnamese National Assembly issued a law on Bio-diversity which took effect since July 1, 2009.

Natural forests are suffering

Currently, Vietnam’s forest coverage has increased, but mostly in artificial forests. Meanwhile, the majority of the natural forests have suffered. Unexploited primeval forests are now only seen at some localities in the northern mountainous and Central Highlands region.

Forest degradation has caused desertification, natural disasters such as droughts and floods as well as land impoverishment in many localities, specifically in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai.

Sea ecosystem under threat

The excessive catching of aquatic resources has become a pressing issue in many coastal localities in Vietnam, particularly the destructive catching methods such as the use of mines. This has pushed more animal and plant species to the brink of extinction.

According to a report by Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi, Vice-Administrator of the Vietnam Administration for Seas and Islands, around 90% of pollution in the local seas are related to oil spills.

By late 2010, the discharged waste volume is forecast to sharply increase in coastal zones, with around 35-160 tonnes of oil, 26-52 tonnes of nitro and with 15-30 tonnes of ammonia per day.

Wetlands ecosystem a worrying issue

According to scientists, Vietnam’s wetlands are a matter of grave concern. The environment of the system in suburbs, industrial parks as well as aquatic breeding and rice growing areas has become worse. The living and migration environment of many creatures are being ruined; while discharge of waste, exploitation of mangrove forests and abuse of pesticide and fertiliser has also risen.

The overuse of underground water for shrimp breeding and some related services has resulted in salt-water encroachment and layer subsidence like the case in Ca Mau Peninsular in the southernmost province of Ca Mau.