Digital transformation in nature and biodiversity conservation for green development

Viet Nam is recognized as one of the world's leading nations in terms of high biodiversity. From headwater forests to islands, from wetlands to limestone mountains, Viet Nam’s nature holds a rich biological treasure trove with thousands of rare species and valuable genetic resources. Biodiversity is not only a "safety net" that balances the ecosystem but also the foundation for sustainable green economic development, benefiting agriculture, aquaculture, traditional medicine, and tourism.

Recognizing this critical role, the Party and State consistently consider nature and biodiversity conservation a core task, affirmed in the Constitution and consistently woven into national development policies and directives.

New steps in conservation and management

Over the past term, nature and biodiversity conservation has achieved many outstanding results. The legal framework continues to be refined, creating a solid legal corridor to protect and enhance the value of biodiversity.

A key milestone was the establishment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, a step demonstrating organizational innovation aimed at centralizing the state management of biodiversity, thereby increasing administrative effectiveness and efficiency.

Concurrently, the network of nature reserves has been expanded, with a focus on ex situ conservation and the restoration of forest, marine, and wetland ecosystems. Many rare animal and plant species have been successfully protected and rehabilitated. Models such as ecotourism, forest environmental service payments, and green livelihoods are spreading, helping local communities connect with and benefit from conservation work.

In parallel, the national biodiversity database system is being incrementally built, connecting with systems for natural heritage, biosafety, and Ramsar sites, contributing to the modernization of state management. International cooperation has also been vigorously expanded, demonstrating Viet Nam's commitment to the global community in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2022 and other global conservation commitments.

Six breakthrough solutions for green development and effective governance

The period from 2025 to 2030 is identified as a time for strong action to realize strategic biodiversity goals, moving toward a green, nature-friendly economy. The focus will be on expanding and enhancing the efficiency of managing nature reserves, while also implementing conservation measures in high-value biological areas outside the reserves. Other priorities include restoring degraded ecosystems, protecting endangered and rare species, and managing genetic resources and biosafety.

Key action groups include:

Institutional innovation: Reforming institutions to ensure unified and synchronous conservation management. Priority will be given to amending and supplementing the Law on Biodiversity and related documents to fully institutionalize international commitments and build an effective inter-sectoral coordination mechanism.

Capacity building and infrastructure: Improving the capacity of personnel and investing in infrastructure for conservation management from central to local levels, while strengthening coordination among forces such as forest rangers, fisheries inspectors, environmental police, border guards, and local communities.

Strategy implementation and digital transformation: Accelerating the implementation of the National Strategy on Biodiversity to 2030, with a vision to 2050, by vigorously applying digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in inventorying, monitoring, and building the national database.

Law enforcement: Strengthening inspection, examination, and guidance on law enforcement to ensure the transparent and regulated management and protection of biological resources.

Resource mobilization: Developing mechanisms to mobilize social resources and diversify green finance for conservation. Priority investment will be given to key programs and projects that bring practical benefits to local communities and livelihoods.

International cooperation: Promoting international partnerships and establishing a Partnership Forum on Nature and Biodiversity Conservation, creating a bridge between nations, international organizations, and businesses in this field.

The Agency of Nature and Biodiversity Conservation recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continue to strengthen unified leadership and direction, promoting the coordination role among units within the sector. Concurrently, they urged prioritizing the finalization of policies and laws, and enhancing the capacity of the conservation system in terms of finance, human resources, and technology. Based on this foundation, Viet Nam aims to link nature conservation with sustainable development, building a green economy and a society in harmony with nature so that "no one is left behind" in the journey of preserving vital resources for today and the future.

Despite these policy and institutional advancements, Viet Nam's biodiversity conservation efforts still face significant challenges, including the increasing pressure from illegal wildlife trade, habitat fragmentation due to rapid urbanization, and the impacts of pollution on coastal ecosystems. To bridge the funding gap, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is actively seeking private sector engagement and international green financing. There is a strong emphasis on developing market-based mechanisms, such as bio-trade and ecosystem service payments, to transform conservation from a cost center into an investment opportunity. Ultimately, sustained success depends on mobilizing capital and integrating conservation mandates across all economic planning, ensuring that the country’s natural heritage drives, rather than limits, its green growth trajectory.