DSpace at VNU: Environment protection - A prerequisite for reduction of human suffering and sustainable development

V NU JO U R N A L OF S C IE N C E . N a l . Sci . & Tech . T XIX. Nọ4. 2003_________________________________________________

E N V I R O N M E N T P R O T E C T I O N - A P R E R K Q U I S I T E F()K
R E D Ư C T IO N O F H U M A N S Ư F F E R IN G
A N D S U S T A IN A B L E D E V E L O P M E N T 1

Vo Q uy
V ie tn a m N a tio n a l U n iv e rs itv , / 1(1no i
It is a g re a t h o n o r fo r me to he he rc and give th is le c tu re on a v e rv m em orable
(XTasion o f h a v iiii' re c e iv rđ tho H lue P lanet F riz e o f 2003. I w o u ld lik e to express
my s in co re th a n k s to a ll ol’ you a g a in to r th is h o n o r and th is g re a t o p p o rtu n itv also
to m eet so m a ny d is tin g u is h e d s c ie n tis ts and e x p e rts here th is a íte rn o o n .
T h e to p ic on w h ic h I w o u ld lik e to speak is n o t an e la b o ra te w o rk o f research,
sueh as those w h ic h have been done hy m any re c ip ie n ts o f T h e B lu e P lane t P rize.
N e ith e r do I have th e h o n o r o f n d d in g to the s c ie n tiíĩc u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e w o rld .
The to p ic I w oulcỉ lik e to speak a b o u t tod ay is c e rta in a c tiv itie s th a t the V ietna m ese
people have done and are d o in tĩ in o rd e r to re co ve r fro m th e scars o f a d e v a s ta tin g
w a r. to rn ise th u liv in g s ta n d a rd s o f puople, to develop th e econom y vvhile a t the
sam í' t i me c o n s e rv in g resources a n d p ro te c tin g th e e n v iro n m e n t. T h is e n ta ils the
ra tio n a l ust* o f n a tu ra l resources and the in v o lv e m e n t o f the

m a jo rity o f the

C()iintry*s in h a b ita n ts in th e process w ith a nevv approach d ire c te d a t how to s a tis íy
p ro p le s ’ needs vv ith o u t d a m a g in g th e ecological balance. I am plcased to be ablc to
say th a t ! ha ve (levoted m ore th a n t h ir t y years o f m y life to th is g re a t m ovem ent in
my c o u n try .
A h e a lth y e n v iro n m e n t a n d ecosystem is a íu n d a m e n ta l re q u ire m e n t fo r life
and s u s ta in a b le d e ve lo p m e n t.

B io lo g ic a l resources, forests, w e tla n d s and o th e r

lands s u p p o rt h u m a n liv c lih o o d s , a n d m ake i t possible to a d a p t to c h a n g in g needs
and e n v iro n m e n ta l c o n d itio n s . H ow eve r, presen t tre n d s o f econom ic developm ent,
ty p ic a llv o v e re x p lo ita tio n o f v a lu a b le n a tu ra l resources, fo re s t a n d la n d , are le a d in g
to th e re d u c tio n o f ecosystem processes and services w o rld w id e . As a re s u lt, the
clegradation o f m a ny ecosystem s. h io m s and h a b ita ts are le a d in g to unprecedented
social strifí», and th e poorest people and c o m m u n itie s , w ho a re d ire c tly dependent
on n a tu ra l resources, w ill s u ffe r th ê most. M o s t o f th is has ta k e n place in the
đo ve lo p in g w o rl(l and in c o u n trie s in tra n s itio n .
W e u n d e rs ta n d th a t. th e d e g ra d a tio n o f e n v iro n m e n t a n d h a h ita t, the
irre v e rs ib lc 4 n a tu rt* o f species c x tin c tio n , the loss o f genes and tra n s fo rm a tio n o f
ecosystems th ro u g h o v e re x p lo ita tio n , and the d e v a s ta tio n o f w a r, a ll com prom ise
o p tio n s fo r p resen t and fu tu r e g e n e ra tio n s. E n v iro n m e n ta l p ro te c tio n and
re s to ra tio n are a p re re q u is ite fo r s u s ta in a b le de ve lo p m e n t, and fo r th e re d u c tio n o f
h u m a n suiT ering. W ith o u t e n v iro n m e n ta l p ro te c tio n , we c a n n o t ad dre ss th e problem
of’ p o v e rty a lle v ia tio n and im p ro v e m e n t o f liv e lih o o d s . In re c o g n itio n o f th is .

1 Lecture presented at United Nations University. Tokyo. Sept 23. 2003

3


Vo Q u y

1

d e ve lo p m e n t agencies, p o licy m a kers and leaders need to in te g ra te th e c o n se rv a tio n
e n v iro n m e n t an d th e p re s e rv a tio n o f h io d iv e rs itv and ecosystem s in d e ve lo p m e n t
a c tiv itie s , a n d to im p le m e n t eco lo g ica lly e ffe c tiv e , s o c ia lly b e n e fíc ia l and
eco nơ m ica llv v ia b le ecosystem m a nag em e nt pra ctice s in ío re s ts , vvetlands, C o a s t a l

and m a rin e areas, m o u n ta in s and agro-ecosystem s etc.
T h u s , i t has been recognized th a t the fu tu re o f o u r liv in g e n v iro n m e n t and o u r
n a tu ra l re sources vvill depend on m a nag ing la rg e areas u s in g an in te g ra te d
approach t h a t recognizes h u m a n p o p u la tio n s as h a v in g a keen in te re s t in e n s u rin g
the c o n tin u in g p r o d u c tiv ity o f the ecosystems v v ith in w h ic h th e y liv e . Such an
appro ach vvill have to m eet local needs, e sp ecially o f th e poor, m a in ta in o r re sto re
ecosystem in te g r ity , and conserve b io d iv e rs ity , s im u lta n e o u s ly .
A fte r 30 ye a rs o f d e v a s ta tin g w a r, th e V ietna m ese people and th e G o v e rn m e n t
have m ade e ffo rts to develop th e econom y w h ile a t th e sam e tim e con se rvin g
resources a n d p ro te c tin g th e e n v iro n m e n t. A N a tio n a l C o n s e rv a tio n S tra te g y vvas
p re p a re d in 1985 and since th e n a N a tio n a l A c tio n P la n fo r th e E n v iro n m e n t and
S u s ta in a b le D e ve lo p m e n t has been developed and p a rtly im p le m e n te d . O n the basis
o f th is n a tio n a l p la n , v a rio u s a c tiv itie s are be ing c a rrie d o u t in th e c o u n trv re la tin g
to
e n v iro n m e n ta l
le g is la tio n ,
m anagem ent,
e d u c a tio n ,
re search
and
e x p e rim e n ta tio n . We have e s ta b lis h e d a M in is tr y o f Resources and the
E n v iro n m e n t, enacted lavvs, r a tifie d m a jo r in te r n a tio n a l c o n v e n tio n s and
cooperated w it h in te rn a tio n a l agencies to im p le m e n t v a rio u s e n v iro n m e n ta l
projects. T h e G o v e rn m e n t has e m b a rk e d on a nation-vvicle re íb re s ta tio n scheme, and
in c lu đ e d in te g ra te d e n v iro n m e n ta l m a nag em e nt in its p o lic ỵ s ta te m e n t. O u r c iv il
society has becom e in c re a s in g ly a c tiv e on e n v iro n m e n ta l m a tte rs .
T h e o n g o in g tr a n s itio n fro m a c e n tra liz e d p la n n e d econom y to a m a rk e to rie n te d one, acce lera ted econom ic grovvth, th e lib e r a tio n o f a g r ic u ltu r a l and
in d u s tr ia l p ro d u c tio n , as w e ll as the develop m en t o f th e S e r v i c e sector, the op enin g
o f th e c o u n trv to ío re ig n in v e s tm e n t, and the p ro m o tio n o f e x p o rts an d p a rtic ip a tio n
in re g io n a l a n d in te rn a tio n a l tra d e are a ll o f g re a t b e n e íit to th e people o f V ie tn a m .

as th e y m ean re la tiv e ly ra p id econom ic g ro w th . V ie t N a m , th a n k s to key re fo rm s v
has m ade re m a rk a b le progress across a broad range ơf socio-econom ic de velop m en t
m easures. T h e m ost im p re s s iv e is th e fa ll in th e p o v e rty ra te fro m w e ll over 70% in
th e m id -1 9 8 0 s to a ro u n d 29% o f th e p o p u la tio n in 2002 - one o f th e sha rpe st
de clin es o f a n y d e ve lo p in g c o u n try on record (U N D P , 2003). A t th e same tim e ,
V ie tn a m is b e in g c o n íro n te d w ith a n u m b e r o f v e ry re al c h a lle n g e s re g a rd in g tra d e offs in its d e ve lo p m e n t o b jectives, p a rtic u la rly b e tw e e n g ro w th and the
e n v iro n m e n t. T ra d e -o ffs in v o lv in g th e e n v iro n m e n t are p a r tic u la r ly p ro b le m a tic
because econom ic g ro w th and p re s e rv in g the in te g r ity o f th e e n v iro n m e n t fo r fu tu re
g e n e ra tio n s a re o fte n in d ire c t c o n flic t w ith onc a n o th e r.
As we kn o w , po verty, ignorance, greed and e n v iro n m e n ta l d c g ra d a tio n are often
in te rre la te d . L ik e m any co u n trie s in th e w orld, in V ie tn a m , lack o f resources drives
people to e x h a u s t th e ir n a tu ra l resourees, th ro u g h d e ío re sta tio n , irra tio n a l use o f land,
u n s u s ta in a b le fis h in g and a g ric u ltu re . ille g a l m in in g , or the w ild life tra de.
A lth o u g h progress is btíin g m ade, V ie tn a m is p re s c n tly faced w ith serious
e n v iro n m e n ta l p ro b le m s such as d e fo re s ta tio n , the d e g ra d a tio n o f la n d resources.


E n v i r o n m c n t p r o t e c iin n * a p r e r e q u is ite fo r..
th e

im *ffi<;ient

ro n s r r v a tio n

of

fre sh

5

w a te r.

and

fre sh

w a te r

s h o rta g e ,

th e

o v e re x p lo ita tio n o f b io lo n ic .ll n*soun*c»s. th re a ts to ecosystem s. th e (lc p le tio n o f
re s o u rre s an d t h r nrnvvth o f e n v iro n m e n ta l p o llu tio n , not to m e n tio n th e
lo n g -te rm 1 ‘n v m m m r n tỉil im p a n C)f th e vvar. These p ro b le m s are c u r r e n tly b e in g
cxa e e rb a te d hy n ip id p o p u líit ion tfro w th and p o v e rty .
It

is t!u*n*l'orc

n r r r s s .ir v

tí) ỉin tic ip a te

th e e n v iro n m e n ta l

p ro b le m s

th a t

(le ve lo p m u n t vvill m r v it ỉih ly b rin lĩ w ith it, and to takt* th e necessary p rc c a u tio n s in
a d v íin cc to m itÌK íitr th r m

hy (le ve lo p in g an e n v iro n m e n tiilly sound s tra te g y oí’

s u s ta in a h le (le v o lo p m rn t. th ro u ^ h th e s u s ta in a b le use o f n a tu ra l resources, an d th e
m v o lv e m i M i t o f t h r m a j o r i t v C)f t h e c o u n t r y ’s i n h a b i t a n t s i n t h e p ro c c s s .

In

th e

s u s ta in a b ility

poor

c o u n trie s .

lik e

in

V ie tn a m .

thí*

ecologieal

and

econom ic

i> as im p o rta n t as the social s u s ta in a b ility o f th e d e v e lo p m e n t

process. A lso . i f th e c u r r c n t pace c o n tin u e s o f d e s tru c tio n o f th e e n v iro n m e n t, o f
dam age to th e ecological base rs s e n tia l fo r s u s ta in a b le advances in

b io lo g ic a l

p r o d u c tiv ity . such as la n đ , w au*r, flo ra , fa u n a , ío re s ts , vvctlands, an d oceans,
s u s ta in a b le đ e ve lo p m e n t ra n n o t be achieved.
T h e re is no d o u b t th a t o u r n a tu ra l resources are a t s e rio u s ris k . B u t we do n o t
have to accept fu r th e r d e clin e . We can b u ild on w h a t we have a lre a d y le a rn e d , on
vvhat wc kn o w o f s u s tỉìin a b lo practices an d co n s e rv a tio n m easures. We u n d e rs ta n d
th a t e ffe c tiv e system s o f m a nug em e nt can ensure th a t n a tu ra l resources n o t o n ly
s u rv iv e . hut incrcasí* w h ik ‘ t h i‘v are being used, th u s p ro v ic lin g th e ío u n d a tio n fo r
s u s ta in a lỉk * d c v e lo p m c n t. vvv have made some progress in o u r e ffo rts to b a la n c e th e
socio-econom ic needs o f o u r ra p id ly Krovving p o p u la tio n vvith o u r fra g ile n a tu ra l
resource base.
We have to assu re th e p re s e rv a tio n o f ecosystem s an d b io lo g ic a l d iv e rs ity , yes,
b u t we m u s t a lso h e lp secure thi* liv e lih o o d s o f c o m m u n itie s in o u r c o u n try . People
are o u r w o rld 's most im p o rỉa n t rcsource, and ecological p re s e rv a tio n m u s t be p a rt
o f a la rg e r e ffo rt to pre so rve th e h u m a n species, n o t ju s t c o lle c tiv e ly b u t each
precious

in d iv id u a l.

Any

tru e

co n se rva tio n

p la n

m u st

in c lu d e

c o m p re h e n s iv e

a p p ro a c h e s to t h e red u c tio n C)f th e growing problem of h u m a n poverty, one of th e
m a in c o n trib u tin g fa c to rs to e n v iro n m e n ta l dam age.
I w o u ld likt* to takc» an exn m p le - th e re h a b ilita tio n o f fo re s ts • to e x p la in how
we im p le m e n t th is np p ro n ch in o u r c o u n try , V ie tn a m .
R e h a b i l it a t io n o f íb r o s ts in V ie t n a m
O r ig in a lly , thi* e n tire c o u n try o f V ie tn a m was covered in fo re s t, b u t o v e r th e
past few decades, thi* ỉo re sts <>f V ie tn a m have su ffe re d s e rio u s d e p le tio n because o f
o u r c o u n try s

Krovving dem and fo r a g ric u ltu ra l

la n d ,

fire w o o d

and

tim b e r fo r

con struction, a n d t h e fact th a t WI* ỉost over two million h e c ta re s of forest d u r i n g th e
la s t w a r, to d e íb lia tio n and bom bin g. T he d e s tru c tio n o f fo re s t v e g e ta tio n lea ds to a
ra p id im p o v e ris h m e n t o f th o soil and loss o f sto re d n u tr ie n ts , in c lu d in g d ra s tic
changes in th e p h vsica l iin d b io lo g ica l c h a ra c te ris tic s o f th e ecosystem , e s p e c ia lly


Vo Q u y
the upper-sloped areas in th e N o rth p a rt and th e C e n tra l H ig h la n d s o f V ie tn a m .
Severe erosion re s u lts fro m o v e r-c u ltiv a tio n o f th e s o ils th a t a re in h e r e n tly h ig h ly
susce ptihle to d e te rio ra tio n . M o s t o f th e deforested areas have become b a rre n , an d
n e a rly 30,5% o f V ie tn a m is now considered u n p ro d u c tiv e vvasteland.
R ecognizing th a t fo re s t loss is th e sin g le m ost se rio u s ía c to r th r e a te n in g th e
lo n g -te rm p ro d u c tiv ity o f th e c o u n try ’s re new a ble n a tu ra l resources, th e people o f
V ie tn a m have begun an in te n s iv e p la n tin g p ro g ra m . T h is p ro g ra m is expected to
regreen th e w a r-s c a rre d

la n d , co rre e t th e m is ta k e s o f ra p id

d e v e lo p m e n t, re-

e s ta b lis h th e ecological balance w ith in the c o u n try , an d pre se rve b io d iv e rs ity . T he
a im is to re fo re st 40-50% o f th e c o u n try s id e by th e 218t c e n tu ry . In th is vvay we hope
to re e s ta b lis h th e ecological balance in V ie tn a m . to p re se rve b io d iv e rs ity , a n d to do
o u r p a rt in d e la y in g g lo b a l vvarm ing.
To g row one o r tw o tre e s is v e ry easy, b u t to p la n t h u n d re d s o f th o u s a n d s o f
hectares o f íorests is n o t s im p le , esp e cia lly u n d e r c o n d itio n s in w h ic h th e s o il is
leached and com pacted, and th e once cool, m o is t and fe r tile c lim a te is novv d r y and
b la zin g .
Before 1985, vvhen we íìr s t launched o u r N a tio n a l C o n s e rv a tio n S tra te g y , we
w ere p la n tin g o n ly 60,000 hectares o f forest a n n u a lly - and lo s in g 200,000 hectare s.

Today, we are p la n tin g a b o u t 200,000 hectares o f fo re s t a n n u a lly . Wc* hope to soon
reach o u r goal o f 300,000 to 400,000 hectares a y e a rt even th o u g h th is w ill n o t f u lly
com pensate fo r th e o n g o in g fo re s t d e s tru c tio n .
As we knovv, th e ío re s t p la ys a Central ro le in re d u c in g greenhouse gasses, in
m o d e ra tin g c lim a te change, and in p ro v id in g ric h h a b ita t fo r d iv e rs e p la n ts and
a n im a ls fo r the E a rth as a vvhole. Besides th is , in V ie tn a m , th e fo re s t p la y s a rnost
im p o rta n t role in th e econom y, in developm ent and in th e e n v iro n m e n t. R e co g n izin g
th is , the V ie tn a m e se G o v e rn m e n t has banned th e e x p o rt o f tim b e r a n d p la n s to
g ra d u a lly reduce th e p ro d u c tio n o f wood e x p lo ite d fro m th e n a tu ra l íò re s ts fro m
520,000 cu.m . in

1997 to less th a n 300,000 c u .m /y e a r by 2000. T h is p rojecte d

volu m e is expected to s a tis íy th e dem and o f those liv in g in th e fo re s t region s. In
N ovem ber 1997, th e N a tio n a l A ssem bly o f V ie tn a m adopted a n a tio n a l p rogram in
w hich 5 m illio n hectares o f b a rre n la n d w ould be reforested between 1998 and 2015.
T h is stra teg ic policy w ill c o n trib u te to the recovery o f the liv in g e n v iro n m e n t in
general, and to th e conserva tion o f s ig n iĩic a n t b io d iv e rs ity values across th e c o u n try ,
We hope to re a liz e these goals in m a n y w ays. K irs tly , to achieve success we
m u st have the s u p p o rt o f th e

local people. To fa c ilita te

th is , w e have been

p ro m o tin g p u b lic aw a ren ess and a g ro -fo re s try tr a in in g in loca l v illa g e s an d schools
and am ong policy m a ke rs as w e ll. We have la u n c h e d a m o ve m e n t to ed u ca te people
th a t s u s ta in a b le de ve lo p rn e n t and a lle v ia tio n o f p o v e rty can o n ly be acco m p lish e d
th ro u g h pro p e r m a n a g e m e n t and in v e s tm e n t in la n d s an d ío re s ts in o u r c o u n trv .
We are tr y in g to m ake re s to ra tio n o f degraded la n d areas a h ig h n a tio n a l

p r io rity . Large areas m u s t be re fore sted . The h ill- d w e llin g pcoplc m u s t be h e lp e d in
a d o p tin g more re s o u rc e -e ffic ie n tt e n v iro n m e n ta lly fr ie n d ly te ch n o lo g ie s, so th a t


E n v ir o n t n e n t p r o i v c i i o n • a p r e r e q u is ite fo r .

7

th r y ra n 11SC n ỉìtu r a l rc s o u rc rs r n tio n .illv and s u s ta in a b ly . Kort*st co n s e rv a tio n th a i
c»nsurcis tiu* s u r v iv íil oí I hi* p ra s a n ts 1S d e sp e ra te ly neeckĩd in in a n y r u r a l rlĩgions.
We p ro m o ti' I n r p lỉih tm t' OI1 c n m m u n a l lands, such as roadsidus, canal sides
and v illa g e W ỉis trl;u i(ls .
VVc cMicoum^e in d iv id u a l ra rn u T s to grow trees on p riv a te la n d and fa rm
b o u n d a rie s. in hoiììc ^ardiM ìs and so un
\ w p ro m o tí' i* n v iro n rm n t:ỉl ed u ca tio n th rn u g h the mass m e dia. th e Y outh and
\V o m e n s U n io n s and School.v
\ w p ro m o tr Hgro fo ri\s try as p a rt o f a jo in t pro g ra m w ith n g r ic u ltu r a l s ta ff.
We p ro m o tc a ^ r ic u ltu r t' and ỉo ro s try e xte nsion a c tiv itie s fro m C entral to grass
roots lc v e ls , p ro v id e ía rm e rs w ith advanced technologies, a s s is t tho m in desigm ng
and s c ttin g u p d e m o n s tra tio n m odels. household econom ic m a n a g e m e n t s k ills and
m a rk e tin g in fo rm a tio n .
We p ro m o te lo n g -te rm la n d /fo re s t a ỉlo c a tio n to fa rm e rs .
We p ro m o te s u s ta in a b le r u r a l developm ent w ith

th e

in v o lv e m e n t o f the

p o p u la tio n .
O u r V ision is now Vi*ry rle a r: “ to e ra d ic a te p o v e rty and l i f t th e people’s liv in g

sta n d a rd s. V ie tn a m m ust grovv. in d u s tria liz e and m o dcrn ize , b u t econom ic, social
and e n v iro n m c n ta l needs should be addressed in an in te g ra te d

m a n n e r to be

s u s tiũ n a b k ' Ĩ 11 th e lo n g -to rm ".
M a n y y ra rs atfo. reẾorestation ilì V ic tn a m was based on m o n o c u ltu ra l tim b e r
pro d u ctio n and th e re wc*ri' few co n v in c in g exam ples o f successíul larg e scale and
lo n g -te rm tre e m onocultư res. T oday, we are de ve lo p in g a v illa g e -le v e l

process, in

vvhich local p e o p lr are p ro d u cin g la rg e n u m b e rs o f in d ig e n o u s tre e seedlings. These
seedlings w ill be p la n te d in villa g e s and s u rro u n d in g areas a n d w ill also be used fo r
re ib rc s ta tio n projects.
A fte r th e w a r, V ictn a m e se s c ie n tis ts a tte m p te d to re p la n t s e v rra l species o f
ind ig en ous tre e s in areas th a t had been destroyed d u rin g th e m assive (le ío lia n t
raicis o f th e w a r. These in it ia l tr ia ls iu ile d , la rg e ly because th e y o u n g s a p lin g s b u rn t
in grass fire s th a t vvere ig n ite d by th e in te n se tro p ic a l sun d u r in g the d ry season.
But wt* have now su(*cessfully re p la n tc d th o u sa n d s o f hectares o f tro p ic a l io re sts. To
protect th e se e d lin g s fro m the b u rn in g ra ys o f the tro p ic a l sun* s c ie n tis ts have
e s tỉib lis h e d a forest cover o f fa s t-^ ro w in g trees. W hen these tre es ga in s u ffic ie n t
h e ig lìt. w h ic h ta ke about th re e vears, th e y p la n t seve ral species o f fo re s t trees
u n d c rn e a th thu m .
S p e a k in g n e a rly fo u r decades ago, P re s id e n t Ho C h i M in h

prom oted the

co u n try s in it ia l ìT g re e n in g r lĩo r ts w ith a slogan s t ill quoted th ro u g h o u t V ie tn a m :
‘T o re s t is gol(ỉ. l f Wi» knovv hovv to ro n s iT v e and use it vvell, it w ill be v e ry precious".

T h ro u g h o ụ t th i' c o u n try , the v illa g e rs are fo llo w in g Ho C h i M in h 's w ords and
s e ttin g up tre i* nu rserie s. Kvi*ry vvínter. d u rin g o u r A n n u a l New Y ear K estival,
w hich m a n y nỉ you know as T e t. Wf cele bra te th e N ew Y e a r vvith tre e p la n tin g . A ll
o f the s tu d e n ts in V ie tn a m m ust a l s o p la n t trees e v e ry y e a r. T h a n k s to recent


Vo Q uy

8

p la n ta tio n e ffo rts, th e fo re s t cover vvith in V ie tn a m has been in c re a s in g eve ry yea r,
and has reached 35,8% o f n a tu r a l la n d of th e c o u n try .
T he key o f a n y success and to be s u s ta in a b le is p a rtic ip a tio n . T h e local p e o p l e
id e n tiíy th e ir p ro b le m s and p r io ritie s , are assisted in đ e v e lo p in g and im p le m e n tin g
s o lu tio n s and th e y g a in b e n e íỉts . T h e y are (m ade) re s p o n s ib le fo r th e ir project in
th e ir re g io n , and th e y see th a t th e y are not le ft alone vvith th e ir p ro b le m s. W hen
people have the r ig h t to o rg a n ize th e ir own life in th e ir c o m m u n ity th e y w ill g a in
confidence and s tre n g th . T h e y vvill use th e ir n a tu ra l resources e c o n o m ica lly and
d u ra b ly . T hey vvill p ro te c t n a tu re , the la n d and th e ío re s t on vvhich th e ir life
depends. T hey can su cce ssfu lly re a liz e these th in g s i f th e y are a w a re th a t these are
the íìr s t p rio ritie s ; i f th e y are e n tru s te d w ith enough povver, th e y w ill m o b iliz e and
b rin g in to fu ll p la y th e ir ow n ta le n ts and experiences to achieve th e d e sire d goals.
A cco rđ in g to p la n tin g experiences fro m th e M a Da F o re s t F a rm , people in
m any re gion s are c u ttin g and b u rn in g p e rn icio u s grass in areas affected by A g e n t
O range d u r i n g th e w a r, th e n p la n tin g fa s t-g ro w in g s h a d e tre e s such as A cacia.
A fte r th re e or fo u r years, th e seedlings o f n a tiv e fo re s t trees, such as D ip te ro c a rp
species, are p la n te d u n d e rn e a th the m . It is such a c tiv itie s th a t give us hope th a t, in
th e

fu tu re ,

good tro p ic a l

ío re sts

and b e a u tiíu l

fa u n a

w ill

replace

th e

areas

destroyed by A g e n t O ra nge , and th e V ietna m ese people vvill be able to erase the
scars

o f th e

d e v a s ta tin g

w ar

and

to co rre ct

th e

m is ta k e s

o f u n s u s ta in a b le

developm ent.
O f a ll the íb re sts th a t w ere dam aged d u rin g th e w a r, the m angrove and
M e l a l e u c a forests in th e M e ko n g D e lta were, perhaps, th e m o st s e rio u s ly dam aged.

T h ey vvere re p e a te d ly sp ra ye d w ith A g e n t O range h e rb ic id e and proved p a rtic u la rly
susce ptible to its effects. D e ío lia n ts e lim in a te d a p p ro x im a te ly 50% o f th e c o u n try ’s
m angrove forests. A lm o s t a ll o f th e R hisop ho ra, S o n n e ra ta , B ru g u ie ra and N ypa
species died. As a re s u lt, th e íis h e rie s and s h rim p catches crashed.
T he

M elaleuca

ío re sts on

th e

peaty

so il b e h in d

th e

m angroves

proved

in A a m m a b le in th e d rv season, b u t m anv w ere de stroye d by n a p a lm b u rn in g .
These tw o m o st h ig h ly dam aged fo re s t ecosystem s are in a m ore advanced
State o f recovery th a n th e in la n d tro p ic a l íorests. A fte r th e w a r, th e V ietna m ese
lau nche d a p ro g ra m to re p la n t th e m angrove ío re s ts in th e arcas destroyed by
he rbicide s.

Large

areas

w ere

re p la n te d

w ith

R h iz o p h o ra

a p ic a u d a

seedlings.

Today, some 70,000 h e ctare s o f m angrove ĩorests have been su cce ssfu lly re p la n te d .
The m angroves now v ie ld a s e lf-s u s ta in in g and p ro fit-m a k in g source fo r fue l and
c o n s tru c tio n wood fo r th e re s id e n ts o f th is area. As a re s u lt o f re ío re s ta tio n , the
íìsh e rie s are m ore p le n tifu l and th e s h rim p catch is ris in g each year. F is h , s h e llíis h
and o th e r vvetland-bređ foods c o n tin u e to a rriv e on local people’s d in n e r ta b le s and
we expect them n o t to poison us \v ith tra n s fe rre d p o llu tio n . T he colonies o f w e tla n d

b ird s th a t had c o m p le te ly d isa ppe are d d u rin g th e w a r have re tu rn e d . O ve r seven
m a jo r b ird colonies a re now p ro te cte d by reserves, new colonies are a p p e a rin g , and
the b ird p o p u la tio n s are b u ild in g up to th e ir old leve ls a g ain.


E n v ir o n m c n t p r o te c tio n - (I p r e r e q u is ite f o r ..
Due

to ra p iíỉ

inrrt»asi\s

in

s h rim p

m a n ^ro ve areas. U n íb rtu n a te ly . th is

9

e x p o rt, m a n y

has re s u lte d

in

people have moved to

th e re d e s tru c tio n o f thí*

m aiìỊírovi* fo re s t fo r s h rim p pools. T h o ío re s t clearance fo r s h rim p b re e d in g w ith o u t
íu lc q u a tc to ch n iq u e s has re su lte d in v e ry se rio u s consequences. R ecently, p ro v in c ia l

auth orit ies havtĩ been siKvessíul in improving the local r e s i d e n t s ’ S ta n d a r d of living,
whiU* at th e sanie tilììe s u s ta in in g tlu* m angrove íorests. T h is has been achieved by
a llo c n tin t' s iT tio n s ()f la m l and forest to th e p u b lic fo r com bine d s ilv o -fis h e ry or
fis h o -fo re s try p ro d u c tio n . A m im ỈK T o f good m odels have been e s ta b lis h e d and have
ìm proved th u econom ic and rn v iro n m e n ta l s itu a tio n w ith in these c o m m u n itie s . In
V ic tn a m as in m a n y d c v e lo p in t' c o u n trie s , vvetlands are f r u it f u lly u tilis e d by the
local peoplí* to enhance th e ir w e lfa re .
( a n ( lio D is tr ic t, located in th e so u th e a st o f H o C h i M in h C ity , covers an
area o f 75,740 ha. T h e e x te n t o f m a ngrove fo re s tla n d accounts fo r 54.2% o f th e to ta l
n a tu ra l a rea o f th e d is tr ic t. D u rin g th e la s t w a r, the m a ngroves in C an G io vvere
com pletữ lv destroyed. T h ro u g h the g re a t e ffo rts o f the local people, 22,000 ha ()f
m angrove ío re sts w ere rc h a b ilita te d a fte r the w a r. To da te, C an G io has become one
()f the most b e a u tiíu l and e xte n sive s ite s o f re h a b ilita te d m a ngroves in th e vvorld.
and is chosen to he in clu d e d in th e w o rld n e tw o rk o f lỉio s p h e re Reserves by

MAB/UNKSCO on January 21, 2000.
M e la le u ca fo re s t is a u n iq u e ty p e o f flooded fo re s t in th e M e ko n g D elta. Ít
onctì covcrcd an area o f 250,000 hectares in lo w -ly in g , se a so n a lly in u n d a te d areas.
ỉìu t. sinrt* th e w a r, o n ly some 116,000 hectares re m a in . W hen the w a r ended, local
people niade tre m e n d o u s e ffo rts to re sto re a g ric u ltu rc on th e P la in o f Reeds. To
đ ilu te the a c id ity o f th e soil, th e y dug m ore can als to b rin g in fre s h w a te r. Hovvever,
in most p la c rs . th e progress was too slow to check the c o n tin u e d d e n u d in g o f the
arca. In t i m e, th e people ca me to re a liz e th a t in o rd e r to m ake th e P la in prosper
again. the s o il had to be w e ll w a te re d in the d ry season and covered vvith M e la le u c a ,
as it once h a d been. Since th e n , th e local people have b u ilt d ik e s to p re v e n t the
P lain w a te r fro m d r a in in g in to the ca n a ls d u rin g th e d ry season. T h ey have also
p la n tc d M e ia le u ca on th o u sa n d s o f hectares o f acid ic soil, since i t is the o n ly tree

species th a t can th r iv e in such c o n d itio n s .
Now ih a t th e w e tla n d h a b ita t o f th is area has been re s to re d , th e n a tu ra l
plar.ts and a n im a ls are g ra d u a lly re tu r n in g to th e P la in . A s id e fro m fre sh w a te r
fis h w h ich are a source o f food fo r local people, tu rtle s , sna kes, and se ve ra l b ird s
have riĩtu rn e d in s u rp ris in g n u m b c rs , in c lu d in g ra re species such as the S arus
C rane, P a in te d S to rk , and A d ju ta n t. In e a rly 1986. w ith th e h e lp o f researchers
from H anoi U n iv e rs ity , the people o f T a m N ong D is tr ic t d c le g a te d 9,000 hectares
fo r T ra in ( 'h im

Iteservo for C ranes, w here th e y hope th a t th e cranes breed once

again. T h e re are ab oul 1,000 cranes in T ra m C h im tociay, and m a n y o th e r species o f
birds havc? also re tu rn o d .
The re is a V ie tn a m e se saying: “ B ird s o n ly sta y in good la n d s M. A p p a re n tly , the
re s to ra tio n eíTorts o f tht* people in th e P la in o f Reeds a n d T a m N ong D is tric t have
bi»gun to p a y off. T he C rane is a Symbol o f happiness and lo n g e v itv , and its s ty liz e d


Vo Q uy

10

im age can be fo u n d in m ost te m p le s w ith in V ie tn a m . T h e cra nes have íìn a lly
re tu rn e d to V ie tn a m , th e b e a u tiíu l la n d o f peace w here th e y a re w elcom ed by people
vvho a p p re c ia te th e ir b e a ú ty and b e n e íìt fro m th e ir presence.

R e íe re n ce s
1.

Vo Quy, Seeds of hope: Involvement of local communities in the Conservation of

P r o t e c t e d a r e a s , I n te r n a t io n a l W orshop on B io lo g y , Vol . I. 2 0 0 1 .

2.

V o Q u y , L o n g - te r m e n v ir o n m e ta l im p a c ts o f A g c n t O r a n g e / D io xin s p r a y e d in S o u th

Vietnam, 30 years after the w a rt Paper presented at "V ietnam -U nited States Scientiíic
Conference on Human Health and Environm ental Effects of Agent Orange/Dixoxin.
March 3-6, 2002, Hanoi, Vietnam.
3.

Vo Q u y , R e h a b ilitc itio n ()f fo rest l a n d in Vietnarn d a m a g e d b y the w a r a n d b y h u m a n

a ctivitie s, Paper presented at “ Restore the Earth, An In te rn a tio n a l Conference for the
Healing o f O ur IJlanet’s Ecosystems” Findhorn, Forres, Scotland from 30 I I I to 5-IV-

2002 .
4.

Vo Quy, Phung Tuu Boi, Bui Thi Lang, VVeyne Dwernychuk, A rth u r H. Westing, LongTerm Consequences of the Vietnam War, Ecosystems, Repori to the E nvironm ental
Conference on Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam , Stockholm. 26*28 J u ly 2002.

5.

Vo Quy, Hovv can we do to improve the conservation of the B iodiversity in Vietnam.
Biology Today, The Vietnamese Union o f Biological Associations, T. 8, N.4 (30), 2002.
(in Vietnamese)

6.

Vo Quy, The Effect of Massive Deíoliation on the Porest Ecology of Southern Vietnam
d u r i n g t h e W a r a n d K n v i r o n m e n t a l r e s t o r a t i o n p r o g r a m , In “I n t e r n a t i o n a l W o rksh o p on
M ilita ry A ctivitie s and Environrnent (IW M E )'\ Japan, Okinavva ,19-23 March, 2003.

7.

V o Q u y , B i o d i v e r s i t y : a v a l u a b l e n a t u r a l resources o f m o u n t a i n o u s a r e a s o f V i e t n a m ,

P a p e r p r e s e n t e d at a N a ti o n a l C onference on “B io d iv e r s ity a n d th e e r a d ic a tio n o f p o verty
in

th e

m o u n ta in o u s

Vietnamese).

a rea s

in

V ie tn a m "

26-29

May,

2003,

Sapa,

Vietnam.

(in