MAE targets improvement of soil and water quality at natural heritage sites

According to Decision No. 1137/QD-BNNMT issued on April 1, the program focuses on national parks, nature reserves, species and habitat conservation areas, landscape protection areas, and internationally recognized heritages such as Ramsar sites, World Biosphere Reserves, and Global Geoparks.

The program aims to complete or integrate environmental management regulations into existing plans, maintain monitoring activities, and gradually improve environmental quality in these areas.

The program calls for strengthened assessment of the effectiveness of natural heritage management, as well as the implementation of biodiversity and environmental monitoring, particularly in national parks. In polluted or degraded areas, competent authorities are required to implement remediation and restoration measures.

Another notable component is the control of activities that pose risks to the heritage environment, including production, business operations, infrastructure development, investment projects, and land-use conversion. The Decision also requires enhanced inspection and supervision, along with the development of plans to respond to environmental pollution risks.

In the field of conservation, the program sets out tasks to restore ecosystems, protect habitats, and conserve endangered and rare species. At the same time, it encourages organizations, enterprises, and communities to participate in investment, management, and the sustainable development of biodiversity conservation areas.

The Decision also highlights the promotion of scientific research, the application of technology, and digital transformation in environmental monitoring and supervision. International cooperation will be expanded through conservation networks and partnership programs with international organizations.

Regarding implementation, the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency serves as the focal agency for executing the program. Units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, along with relevant ministries and sectors, will coordinate implementation in line with their assigned functions.

Key tasks include raising public awareness, assessing the effectiveness of heritage management, and surveying the level of ecosystem degradation in internationally recognized sites. In addition, reviewing projects that may adversely impact the environment and investing in biodiversity and environmental monitoring systems. These tasks will primarily be funded through environmental non-business expenditure sources and public investment capital to be implemented in phases through 2030.

For the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology, the core task is to conduct surveys and assessments of potential ecological zones for economically valuable and medicinal plant species, to support conservation and development. This activity will be carried out during the mid-term phase of the program, in coordination with relevant specialized management agencies.

Provincial and municipal People's Committees are responsible for organizing inspections, supervision, and allocating resources for implementation at the local level.