Let the power of words inspire action for nature's protection

Inspiring environmental protection

Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh – Country Director, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) – Vietnam

With the mission of conserving the region’s biodiversity, WWF-Vietnam is committed to building a sustainable future for local communities. In this effort, communication plays a vital role — from raising awareness about conservation and influencing policy change, to fostering collaboration with businesses and communities.

The Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper and Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, with their extensive readership, have made significant contributions to spreading awareness and educating the public about pressing conservation issues. Through insightful articles that reflect real-life cases from communities and businesses, both newspapers have inspired individuals and communities to take action, helping to create new, environmentally sustainable trends.

In my opinion, the strength of the "two giants" in the agricultural and environmental communication sectors has played a significant role in effectively disseminating information to policymakers and industry professionals. In-depth articles, investigative reports, and reflections from journalists help policymakers make more informed decisions and regulations that profoundly impact the community and environmental protection efforts.

WWF-Vietnam believes that the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper (VAN News, following the merger of Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper and the Natural Resources and Environment Newspaper) will open up many opportunities for more extensive and effective conservation communication. Through the sharp pen of journalists, the VAN News is not only a source of news but also a platform to reflect urgent issues and promote positive changes in environmental protection policies.

In the digital age, we hope the newspaper will continue to utilize various forms of media such as social networks, videos, and podcasts, to make environmental issues more accessible to diverse audiences, especially young people. This will help spread the message: Building a future where humanity lives in harmony with nature.

Increasing marine conservation areas and ecosystem restoration

Mr. Jake Brunner, Head of Sub-Region and Country Representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Vietnam, Director of IUCN Lower Mekong Region

For many years, IUCN has closely collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment through the Directorate of Fisheries to assist Vietnam in removing the "yellow card" for IUU fishing. Codified in the amended Fisheries Law of 2017, regulations have been implemented to develop a co-management model for fisheries, helping fishermen to engage in sustainable and responsible fishing practices and to protect marine resources for long-term benefit.

To continue protecting and restoring the marine environment, we need a robust monitoring and enforcement mechanism that effectively deters illegal fishing activities. In recent years, destructive fishing practices have severely impacted the habitats of various fish species and the seagrass bed ecosystems.

We fully support Decision No. 1539/QD-TTg dated December 10, 2024, issued by the Prime Minister, approving the plan to expand and establish new marine protected areas (MPAs), fishery resource protection zones, and to restore marine ecosystems by 2030. The goal is to ensure that marine and coastal protected areas cover 6% of Vietnam's natural sea area.

Currently, marine protected areas in Vietnam account for only about 0.2% of the country's natural marine area, with strictly protected zones being minimal. This has prevented MPAs from producing significant and visible improvements in marine ecosystems.

Therefore, this plan represents a vital strategy to sustainably conserve natural values and enhance the effectiveness of marine conservation efforts.

At the same time, the Vietnamese Government must adopt stronger measures to restore and protect critical marine ecosystems that lie outside the boundaries of designated marine protected areas. This broader, more inclusive approach holds great potential for strengthening the long-term sustainability of national fishery resources and preserving marine biodiversity.

We highly value the role of mass media in promoting sustainable fisheries practices. Beyond raising awareness, the media is vital in shaping social behaviors toward more environmentally responsible and friendly actions.

The press's involvement is instrumental in amplifying the effectiveness of policies and regulations issued by the Government and relevant ministries. Strong, coordinated communication efforts can lead to significant shifts in public behavior and enhance overall awareness of the importance of sustainable marine resource management.