Vietnam News: New plan targets marine sustainability (11 April 2014)

New plan targets marine sustainability

Local people clean the water in Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh Province. Viet Nam is aiming to reduce sea pollution as part of a national strategy to improve its marine ecosystem. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Dan

HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam will work to improve the resistance of its marine ecosystems to climate change impacts while maintaining their productivity, policy makers said on Wednesday.

The "Strategy for Sustainable Exploitation and Utilisation of Marine Natural Resources and Environment Protection until 2020, vision towards 2030," was officially released by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

It targets, by 2020, to increase the area of mangrove forests in coastal areas and around islands by 30 per cent higher than 2010, according to Nguyen Van Tai, director of the ministry's Institute of Strategy and Policy.

The area of mangroves has reduced drastically to over 15,000ha in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta. From 1943-1955, the area was 154,000ha.

The strategy also targets that the area, size and quality of coral reefs in the country in 2010 are maintained by 2020. It is estimated that just16,000ha, accounting for 14.5 per cent of total coral reef area, are in good condition now.

Another target is not to have the number of aquatic species threatened with extinction to increase compared with 2010, levels.

The ministry has listed 37 species of marine fish, five species of shrimp, 27 species of mollusks and three species of Cephalopoda as precious and rare, endangered and facing the threat of extinction.

Sardines (Clupanodon thrissa) and abalone (Haliotis diversicolor) are among the endangered species inhabiting coral reefs off the islands of Bach Long Vi, Cat Ba, and Co To.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Tran Hong Ha said that the strategy also aimed to compile a more comprehensive database of the nation's seas and marine diversity, and reduce the rate of resource degradation and pollution of the marine environment.

He said the new targets followed up on the discovery and realisation that the nation faces several marine resources management issues including unsustainable exploitation that has severely depleted and degraded them.

Marine biodiversity had been badly affected, as also ecological functions and biological productivity of marine ecosystems, he said, adding that a downward trend had been seen in water quality.

Tai said six measures had been identified to effectively implement the new national strategy, including: raising public awareness of sustainable use of marine resources; consistent management of marine resources and environment by relevant institutions; and training human resources to better manage the nation's marine resources and marine environment.

Viet Nam lies to the west of the East Sea and touches the sea in three directions, with a long coastline of over 3,200km and territorial sea of more than 1 million square kilometres, which is triple the area of its mainland. — VNSsource from: http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/253246/new-plan-targets-marine-sustainability.html

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Vietnam news: Central region hit by drought (7 April 2014)

Central region hit by drought

Central region hit by drought

A man in Binh Phuoc Province's Dong Xoai Town takes water from the Suoi Cam Lake for everyday use. — VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue

HCM CITY (VNS) — The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked affected localities to preserve water in reservoirs and dredge rivers, canals and wells to mitigate the impact of drought and saline intrusion in the southern and central areas of the country.

Localities were also asked to restructure their crop cultivation and irrigate water in a more efficient manner.

In the south-central region and the Central Highlands, rainfall levels have dropped 50-90 per cent this year compared to the first three months of last year, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, water levels in reservoirs have reached only 60-70 per cent of their designed capacity.

Saline intrusion has also affected agricultural production and the lives of local people downstream of the Vu Gia-Thu Bon River in the central province of Quang Nam and coastal areas in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

About 27,000ha of the 2013-14 winter-spring crops in the southeast and central regions have been affected by drought.

Mai Trong Dung, deputy head of the Dak Lak Province's Sub-department of Irrigation, said drought had caused damage to more than 5,500ha, including 4,000 ha of rice and 450 ha of coffee, causing VND93 billion (US$4.4 million) in damages.

In Dak Nong Province, drought has caused damage to 240ha of rice and 1,860ha of coffee and other crops in Krong No District.

In Cu Jut District, which is one of the key crop cultivation areas in Dak Nong, farmers have faced severe water shortages.

Hua Van Lam, who owns a 0.4ha rice field in Cu Jut's Dak D'rong Commune, said there had been no rain over the past 20 days, and ponds had dried up.

"I may lose all my rice this crop," he said.

Similarly, hundreds of households in Cu Jut are in danger of losing their crops because of drought.

More than 20 reservoirs in several districts, including Krong No, Cu Jut and Dak Min, have not had water to irrigate 2,500ha of coffee, cacao and other industrial trees, according to the Dak Nong Province Irrigation Work Exploiting Company. If hot weather continues and farmers do not save water, the shortage will become more severe.

The Central Highlands and south-central regions will continue to have prolonged hot weather, and the rainy season is expected to come late this year, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The ministry has asked the Prime Minister to order agencies to help the localities affected by drought and saline intrusion.

The ministry said that hydro-power reservoirs should release water for downstream areas when needed so that households and businesses could have sufficient water.

It also said the Government should give financial support to affected localities to cover the cost of dredging rivers and canals and pumping of water. — VNSsource from: http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/253362/central-region-hit-by-drought.html

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VIetnam News: Da Nang plans a greener future (13 April 2014)

Da Nang plans a greener future

Da Nang City. It plans to develop a 130ha downtown centre for finance, banking, trade and services as well as a 3,700ha coastal service area. — VNA/VNS Photo Tran Le Lam

DA NANG (VNS) — The central city of Da Nang will have a face-lift as it becomes a green city following the Prime Minister's decision on the city's adjusted master urban plan for 2030 and 2050.

The plan, which was officially announced on Saturday, will build Da Nang as a centre of sports, education, science and technology for the central and Central Highlands region.

Da Nang also plays a strategic role in defence and security for the south central area, the Central Highlands and the entire country, boosting the socio-economic development for the region.

"The adjusted urban plan will play a key role for strategic and sustainable development of the city and the central and the Central Highlands regions," said chairman of the city's People's Committee, Van Huu Chien.

"It's also a legal base and a driving force to call for more investment in the city and the central region," Chien noted.

As planned, the city will include six inner districts and two suburban districts of Hoa Vang and Hoang Sa, with an expected population of 2.3 million.

The city will be built on 128,543ha, of which Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands are on 30,500ha.

The city, which was recognised as a First Class city in 2003, will develop a 130ha centre for finance, banking, trade and services in the downtown, and a 3,700ha coastal service area.

Under the adjusted plan, the city will develop public transport with 15 bus routes, eight Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes and three metro routes, which aim to reduce carbon emissions, as well as address overcrowding and traffic congestion.

The main route of the city's Bus Rapid Transit system will help connect Son Tra peninsula to the city's centre, Hoi An ancient town, My Son Sanctuary and the Ba Na Hills resort, along with industrial parks, university areas and tourist attractions.

Also, Da Nang Airports will be expanded to host 15 million passengers in 2030, while Tien Sa port will be upgraded to handle 5.5 million tonnes of cargo and 300,000 tourists per year, as well as new construction at Lien Chieu port.

The plan also includes upgrading national highway No 1 and No 14G, as well as construction of new ring roads.

Further, the city will build a 100ha solid clean technology waste processing plant at Khanh Son dump to treat 2,000 tonnes of waste per day.

The plan also includes the development of industrial parks on over 1,100ha and a 397ha centralised Information Technology park.

Last year, the World Bank agreed to finance the Da Nang City Sustainable Development Project with US$272.1 million, of which $202.4 million will be funded by the World Bank.

The American firm Rocky Lai & Associates Inc began construction of a 341-ha Da Nang IT Park as the largest ‘Silicon Valley' in the central region of Viet Nam, with a total investment of $278 million.

The city plays an important role as a logistical centre for the coastal central region and the East-West Economic Corridor, which links Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Viet Nam. — VNSsource from: http://vietnamnews.vn/society/253364/da-nang-plans-a-greener-future.html

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Vietnam News: Viet Nam Earth Hour reduces power usage by 431,000 kWh (9 April 2014)

Viet Nam Earth Hour reduces power usage by 431,000 kWh

Viet Nam Earth Hour reduces power usage by 431,000 kWh

Representatives participate in a ceremony to kick off the 2014 Earth Hour in Ha Noi on Saturday. This year's campaign saw all 63 provinces and cities nationwide participate to reduce electricity usage. — VNA/VNS Photo The Duyet

HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam saved 431,000kWh of electricity, equivalent to VND650 million (US$31,000), by switching off unnecessary lights and electrical equipment during Earth Hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on Saturday.

The savings were calculated by the Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN).

Addressing a ceremony in Ha Noi on Saturday, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Cao Quoc Hung said the campaign not only helpes reduce electricity consumption for one day, but also has a spillover effect throughout the entire year.

The event contributed to raising public awareness about using energy in an economical and effective manner, promoting sustainable socio-economic development and coping with climate change, Hung added.

Danish Ambassador John Nielsen, who is also Ambassador of the 2014 Earth Hour campaign, said that protecting the Earth, which is the responsibility of everyone, should start from daily changes in life to build a sustainable future.

The campaign has also seen 3,000 volunteers join a "riding for the environment" programme along streets in Ha Noi and central Da Nang city. As many as 5,000 restaurants and coffee shops pledged to donate to the campaign and offer discounts to riders.

This year's campaign saw all 63 provinces and cities nationwide participating in reducing electricity use.

In Ha Noi, lights were turned off at famous sites, such as the Ha Noi Opera House, Ngoc Son Temple, Truc Bach Lake and areas surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake.

Meanwhile, in central Quang Nam Province, thousands of local residents and tourists came together at Song Hoa Square and An Hoi Sculpture Garden in Hoi An City to light up the areas with lanterns, as well as sing and dance together in response to the campaign. All restaurants in the ancient city turned their lights off at 8.30pm and lit candles or oil lamps for diners.

Also, major streets and all billboards along the Han riverside in central Da Nang City turned off their lights.

As many as 5,000 young people gathered at Youth Cultural House in HCM City to perform a "Green dance step" flash mob as part of the campaign on Saturday.

The Central Highland province of Kon Tum also called upon local people to economise on electricity, setting a target of saving 40,000 kWh of electricity during the campaign and 3 million kWh during the dry season.

Earth Hour was first organised by the World Wild Fund for Nature in Australia in 2007 for action to prevent climate change, and has since grown to become the world's largest voluntary action for the planet, uniting organisations and individuals on seven continents and in more than 7,000 cities.

Earth Hour was first held in Viet Nam in 2009. It saved 401,000kWh of electricity last year, equivalent to VND576 million ($27,000). — VNSsource from: http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/253038/viet-nam-earth-hour-reduces-power-usage-by-431000-kwh.html

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Vietnam News: Delta households face water shortage (11 April 2014)

Delta households face water shortage

An agriculture officer examines a rice paddy in Tran De District in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang to look for damage caused to the crop by drought and saline instrusion. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Hieu

HCM CITY (VNS) — More than 377,000 people in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta face a fresh water shortage because of saline water intrusion in the area, according to the National Centre for Rural Clean Water Supply and Environmental Sanitation.

The price for fresh clean water has soared as a result. In Kien Giang, Ben Tre and Ca Mau provinces, people have been buying clean water for VND25,000-60,000 (US$1.2-$2.9) a cubic metre, far higher than the normal price of VND7,000-10,000.

Vo Thi Thong, 47, from Hon Dat District's Binh Son Commune in Kien Giang said the bore wells of hundreds of households had been affected by saline intrusion and acidic soil.

To have water for cooking and drinking, people here have to travel about 10km to the commune's centre to buy clean water, she said.

Saline water intrusion and drought in the delta has affected agricultural production, with salt water concentration increasing to 0.9 per cent in several areas in Hau Giang Province, Nguyen Van Dong, director of the province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

In Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces, the water is more saline than last year, officials said.

In Ca Mau Province, the salt concentration reached 3 per cent. Rice will die when the salt concentration in fields becomes higher than 3 per cent.

About 100,000ha of farmland in the delta have been affected by saline water intrusion, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

This intrustion occurred one month earlier than in the past, and entered 40-50 km deep into river mouths.

In some areas in Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Tien Giang and Long An provinces, saline water has intruded 50-60km into rivers.

Since early February, strong winds combined with drought have created favourable conditions for deeper saline water instrusion.

Steps have been taken to provide fresh water to farms.

Hau Giang and Vinh Long provinces have dredged and upgraded dozens of canals to supply irrigation water for 38,000ha of rice and fruit fields in affected areas.

Tien Giang Province has built 173 temporary dams to prevent saline water intrusion and has set up 173 sites to pump water into fields.

And Kien Giang Province has closed sluice gates along sea at Rach Gia - Ba Hon areas to keep fresh water.

Nguyen Huynh Trung, deputy head of the Kien Giang Irrigation Sub-department, said the water levels of rivers would decline as there would be little rain during the dry season.

"Saline water intrusion will likely continue to enter deeper inland with a higher concentration of salt," he said. — VNS

source from: http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/253088/delta-households-face-water-shortage.html

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Vietnam News: Mekong summit calls for greater riparian co-operation (3 April 2014)

Mekong summit calls for greater riparian co-operation

HCM CITY (VNS)— Mekong River riparian countries have improved co-operation since the first Mekong River Commission (MRC) summit held in Thailand four years ago, a senior Vietnamese official has said.

Deputy Minister of Natural resources and Environment Nguyen Thai Lai, an alternate member of the MRC Council representing Viet Nam, speaking yesterday at the preparatory meeting for the second summit to be held in HCM City this week, said: "Since the first meeting member countries have performed some tasks that we assessed as very important, such as developing a joint strategy for developing the Mekong River and a plan to manage the river till 2015, and determining standards for the quality of water which had been under debate earlier.

"The member countries have also agreed with instructions to build hydropower dams according to international standards.

"The spirit of co-operation among the member countries is very good.

"With a fast growing population and economy, achieving water, energy, and food security is vital for us.

"The trans-boundary dimension of this challenge is obvious, not least for food production in the Mekong Delta, but also for us to harvest our hydropower potential to satisfy fast growing energy needs."

Water resources are limited but demand for water for socio-economic development is increasing, he said.

Zhong Young, director general, Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology at China's Ministry of Water Resources, said China, which shares rivers directly with 13 countries, wants co-operation with these countries.

It has set up multiple transboundary river co-operation mechanisms with 12 neighbouring countries, including Viet Nam, which have promoted exchanges and co-operation in providing hydrological data during the flood season, flood control, protection of water resources, and others, he said.

"The Lancang – Mekong River links six riparian countries closely. China is ready to enhance co-operation with downstream countries to jointly cope with the water, energy, and food security challenges facing the greater Mekong sub-region in the context of global climate change."

Water, energy, food

The Mekong region is not only seeing increased demands for water, energy, and food but is also confronted with changing weather conditions that have affected agricultural production among others.

Rapid development in the region, including tributary and mainstream hydropower projects, planned water diversion for increased irrigation, navigation, and aquaculture, has implications for food and water supplies.

The rising sea level has caused saltwater intrusion that has affected food production.

Meanwhile, unusually high rainfall in mid-December last year resulted in unprecedented fluctuations in water levels and flows and muddier water in southern Laos and northern Cambodia, the MRC said in a press release.

The summit gathers heads of governments of the member countries — Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Viet Nam — and delegations from China and Myanmar besides more than 300 senior representatives of some 20 international river basins and aquifers from all continents, and more than 20 international sponsors to discuss the most pressing issues related to the Mekong River and its resources.

The summit, to be held on Saturday, aims to revive transboundary cooperation and seek the political will of the national leaders to work together to overcome constraints and challenges facing the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin. — VNS

source from: http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/253205/mekong-summit-calls-for-greater-riparian-co-operation.html

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Vietnam News: Red sludge steel could solve VN's pollution problem (9 April 2014)

Red sludge steel could solve VN's pollution problem

Scientists have reported that experiments in making steel from red sludge, a by-product of producing aluminium, offers a solution to environmental problems in the bauxite-alumina project in the Central Highlands.— Photo daibieunhandan

HAI PHONG (VNS)— Scientists have reported that experiments in making steel from red sludge, a by-product of producing aluminium, offers a solution to environmental problems in the bauxite-alumina project in the Central Highlands.

The announcement was by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai during a visit to a factory in Hai Phong City where the industrial-scale experiment was carried out.

The tests involved the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the Thai Hung Company.

The academy said red sludge, or red mud, a toxic by-product of the production of alumina from bauxite contained high amounts of iron. They added that this could give Viet Nam an advantage in steel production.

The report also said that a batch of steel refined from red mud met the strict standards set for Japanese SD 390 steel.

Nguyen Van Tuan, director of Thai Hung Company, said 2.4 tonnes of dry red mud could produce a tonne of iron ore.

Vu Duc Loi, deputy director of the Institute of Chemistry, said experiments would be completed by June and that the research team could then start feasibility studies on production.

Assessing the result of the trial project, Professor Nguyen Van Hieu, a leading scientist, said the project was a breakthrough in various ways, including opening up a path for more sustainable bauxite development.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai praised test results, saying they would help provide solutions to environmental degradation around the mining sites in the Central Highlands.

Hai aksed relevant parties to continue their research, adding that the Government would consider supporting the project with appropriate policies. — VNS

source from: http://vietnamnews.vn/environment/253519/red-sludge-steel-could-solve-vns-pollution-problem.html

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Vitname News: Urgent measures taken to prevent forest fires (10 march 2014)

Urgent measures taken to prevent forest fires Thứ sáu, ngày 07 tháng 03 năm 2014 cập nhật lúc 15:31

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent an urgent instruction to people's committees in cities and provinces on Wednesday asking them to promptly strengthen inspections of fire-related agricultural practices such as burning terraced fields in order to lower the risk of forest fire.

The request followed alarming forest fires in the northern mountainous region, the Central Highlands and southwest, which have been seriously affected by prolonged dry weather.

The highest-level alert was announced in 19 cities and provinces nationwide, and 12 others were warned of serious forest fires, according to a report released yesterday by the Viet Nam Forestry Administration's Forest Management Department.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the National Steering Committee on Forest Protection and Development were assigned to co-operate with local People's Committees to ensure safety in high-risk provinces and cities.

Local authorities were asked to keep a close watch on the warning system and promptly report any blaze to the administration's hotline 098 666 8 333.

Dung also required localities to prepare fire-fighting teams, materials and equipment to cope with forest fires when needed.

Many provinces and cities face the risk of forest fires and have sounded very high levels of alerts during the dry season, according to the Department of Forest Management.

Dong Nai, An Giang, Bac Can, Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Ca Mau, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Hoa Binh, Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lam Dong, Nghe An, Ninh Thuan, Tay Ninh, and Yen Bai have put out a level-five alert and warned that if fires do break out they will spread widely.

Ha Noi, Bac Giang, Ba Ria, Cao Bang, Dong Thap, Ha Nam, Long An, Ninh Binh, and Thanh Hoa sounded level four alerts.

A few forest fires broke out last week.

Because of the dry season, the park's management board focuses on protecting the forest by banning people from burning fields as a precautionary measure.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said all localities have to implement forest-protection and fire-prevention regulations and improve their fire fighting capabilities.

They should educate people about the dangers of forest fires and measures to prevent them, he added.

Firefighters battle with Hoang Lien National Park fire

A fire is raging through a large area of the Hoang Lien National Park, about 10 kilometres southwest of Lao Cai Province's Sa Pa District.

The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in Ta Van Commune and strong winds and the cold weather have helped it to spread.

There's a risk of it spreading to the primeval forest.

Firefighters and the local people have been mobilised to help douse the fire.

Doan Van Huong, chairman of the provincial People's Committee, asked the authorised agencies to help the firefighters immediately in stamping out the fire. About 500 people, including fire fighters, police, rangers and locals have joined the job.

Nguyen Van Vinh, secretary of the provincial Party Committee said on the scene that it took more than three hours to walk through the forest trails to approach the nearest fires. The province has sent around 300 more people from 13 communes to support the fire fighters.

The fire would be under control by early morning at the latest, he said.

Initial statistics showed that tens of hectares of forest have been burnt up.

Two fires broke out in the park during the past month, destroying hundreds of hectares of forest. The cold weather, lack of rain and low humidity were the main reasons for the fires.

The forest is located more than 1,500 metres above the sea level and is 30 kilometeres away from Sa Pa, the popular tourist town. The park is home to Fansipan, the tallest peak in Indochina.

source from: http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131958&Code=UGDV131958

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Vietnam News: Threat from persistent organic pollutants in Mekong basin (10 March 2014)

Threat from persistent organic pollutants in Mekong basin Thứ hai, ngày 10 tháng 03 năm 2014 cập nhật lúc 09:38

The recent findings by the US Geological Survey reveal some hotspots of persistent organic pollutants in some parts of Mekong basin. This is a significant threat to residents’ heath and wildlife in the area.

After testing 531 animal samples collected from 450 wetlands across 5 Southeast Asian countries, the research team found that fauna samples collected from some hotspot sites such as Tonle Sap have high chemical concentration.

The research team also analyzed the concentration and distribution of endosulfan, a persistent organic pollutant that has been banned in the U.S. and some other countries. The study indicates that the total loading of persistent organic pollutants in wetland sediment located in Mekong basin is generally low; however, there are some hotspot sites where concentrations exceeded established ecological risk thresholds.

“The study findings provide important database for guiding development and conducting preservation in Mekong basin in the future. Accordingly, future tasks focus on the classification and distribution of wetlands in Mekong basin, investigation into heavy metal contamination and monitoring of surface elevation in the coastline of Southeast Asia”, said Scott Wilson of the USGS National Wetlands Research Center.

 

source from:

http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131976&Code=4ZFN131976

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Vietnam News: Binh Duong: Tighten monitoring of industrial wastewater treatment (10 March 2014)

Binh Duong: Tighten monitoring of industrial wastewater treatment Thứ hai, ngày 10 tháng 03 năm 2014 cập nhật lúc 09:41

According to Binh Duong Center of Natural Resources and Environment Monitoring (under Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Binh Duong), the automatic surveillance system monitors constantly 29 large waste disposal sites in the province producing about 116,000 cubic meters per day. There are 21 control stations using automatic monitoring devices and 8 wastewater monitoring stations using cameras.

There are currently 19 out of 21 automatic monitoring stations transferring monitoring data to the Central operation station. Two stations at Bo La rubber and Cuaparis rubber factories have recently been installed and on test run.

The surveillance data shows that 14 stations have operated reliably and the indicator of COD in wastewater reached permitted level while 5 stations whose the quality of wastewater exceeds by 1 to 1.5 times account for 26 percent. If COD indicator in wastewater quality in some disposal sites exceeds standardized level, Central station will promptly call enterprises to inform about their violation.

It is expected that in March 2014, Central station receives more monitoring data transferred from 4 enterprises.

source from: http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131978&Code=FURW131978

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Vietnam News: Locals outraged by polluting shrimp firm (18 Feb 2014)

Locals outraged by polluting shrimp firm 

Thứ ba, ngày 18 tháng 02 năm 2014 cập nhật lúc 10:43

Hundreds of households in southern SocTrangProvince's Thanh Phu Commune are demanding strong action against a local shrimp processing company that has continued to pollute their main water source despite being fined several times for the offence.

The Tan Nhat Phuong Aquaculture Company, commune residents say, has not stopped discharging untreated waste water into the CanDuoc Canal, their main water source for irrigation and daily life needs, forcing them to suffer a "horrible" odour and badly affecting rice production.

They say that the Can Duoc canal irrigates thousands of hectares of rice fields in the province.

Commune resident Thi Bich Nga said the enterprise usually released waste water from night until dawn, and the terrible smell it caused made it difficult for all those who lived along the canal to sleep and even breathe.

Nga said the polluted water had seriously affected her rice field. Productivity had fallen from 1000kg per sao (1,300sq.m) to 700kg.

The seafood processing firm has been fined several times, but it has continued to repeat its offence, and local authorities say they do not have the power to shut it down.

Two weeks ago, My Xuyen District's Department of Natural Resources and Environment had carried out an inspection, and fined the company VND50 million ($2350) for relapsing their action.

Three previous inspections had found the firm dumping untreated waste water containing toxic chemicals 10 times higher than the allowed levels, according to the department.

The firm was fined more than VND74 million ($3450) and ordered to take measures within 30 days to have its waste water treated.

However, the situation has not changed.

Mai Thanh Cau, Chairman of the Thanh Phu People's Committee, said that Tan Nhat Phuong had two factories in Can Duoc and Zone No2 hamlets with 100 workers who process raw shrimp.

Both factories were releasing foul smelling waste water, he said.

Cau said his administration was helpless and did not have the authority to shut down the firm.

Meanwhile, a company representative contacted local reporters with a report saying it is building a waste water treatment plant.

The VND500 million ($23,500) plant, with a capacity of 200 cubic metres per day, would be completed in July, the report said, but the representative refused to respond to any query.

source from: 

http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131639&Code=JSKW131639

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Vietnam News: Aluminum recycling seriously affects people’s health (18 Feb 2014)

Aluminum recycling seriously affects people’s health 

Thứ ba, ngày 18 tháng 02 năm 2014 cập nhật lúc 10:44

The people in Nam Truc district of Nam Dinh province, who earn their living by recycling aluminum, are exchanging their futures for the daily bread.

The aluminum recycling has been “imported” to the locality for a short period, but it has been growing so rapidly, simply because the job brings high income to local people.

However, the strong development of the handicraft also means the more alarming environment pollution.

According to the Nam Dinh provincial Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, the process of collecting aluminum from beer cans discharges some 40 tons of solid hazardous waste every day. Meanwhile, the waste water generated by the product cleaning could be up to 500 cubic meters per day.

The hazardous waste has been discharged directly to the villages’ sewers, roads, fields, or the local canals. Therefore, no creature can survive here for many years recently.

The paths and houses of the Binh Yen aluminum recycling village all produce a bad odor and terrible noise. Here the sewers all look milky because of the big amount of precipitated sulfuric acid.

The precipitated sulfuric acid looks solid, but in fact, it is flabby, thus causing canals and sewers to be stuck, blocking the water streams.

According to Bui Binh Minh, deputy head of the Binh Yen Village, there were only four households in the village recycling aluminum in 1989, with the materials brought from Van Chang commune or Bac Ninh province.

However, the number of households earning their living with this job has been increasing rapidly: 269 out of the 570 households in the village now recycle aluminum.

In fact, local people have been aware of the high risks they face when doing the job. However, they still have to do the job for daily bread.

Therefore, Dang Ngoc Ben, Head of the Binh Yen Village, admitted that it is impossible to eliminate the aluminum recycling village, because it brings money to people.

“What we want is to relocate the craft village to another place far away from residential quarters,” Ben said. “Only by that time, will we have fresh air to breathe.”

The polluting aluminum recycling village has been a hot potato to the Nam Dinh provincial authorities over the last many years. The provincial people’s committee funded the VND3 billion project on dumping and treating solid waste from the Binh Yen village.

Under the project, financial support was given to help local households build manholes, plastics tanks to put solid waste and labor protection tools

However, the project was not really effective partially because of the overly high construction cost and the people’s low responsibility for environmental protection.

According to Nguyen Van Ngoan, Chair of the Tam Thanh Commune People’s Committee, the canals in Binh Yen village cannot be dredged because it is unclear where to throw the waste mud. Meanwhile, the serious pollution has narrowed the area of land ready for agriculture production.

Meanwhile, Director of the Nam Dinh provincial department of natural resources and the environment--Vu Minh Luong, admitted that the local authorities have become powerless in dealing with the problem in Binh Yen.

source from: 

http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131640&Code=9JLX131640

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Vietnam News: Research cooperation on river basin management (8 Feb 2014)

Research cooperation on river basin management Thứ ba, ngày 11 tháng 02 năm 2014 cập nhật lúc 15:43

At a workshop on environmental and river basin management in Bangkok (Thailand), Dr. Nguyen Quang Hung,University of Natural Sciences (HanoiNationalUniversity) said that appropriate river basin management is an urgent issue. The river basins are facing many challenges, such as water scarcity and water quality deterioration. Especially in the context of the increase of natural disasters and climate change, the control of river basin’s quality becomes increasingly difficult.

These important advances in research and evaluation of the relations between climate change, environment and water resources have contributed to help countries to control and mitigate environmental risks in the river basins. This also encourages scientists to enhance their cooperation with each other in this field.

At present, Asia has formed the International ResearchCenter for River Basin. Environment - Network (ICRE-Net). Many universities inHanoi and Ho Chi Minh City along with research institutes on environment and Hydrometeorology in Vietnam participated to the network.
The workshop attracted many Asian countries’ experts in the field of environment in order to share information on recent advances in research and management of river basin systems. Vietnam delegation presented 5 topics in the fields of climate and water resources, water treatment problems and healthcare.

source from: 

http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131559&Code=FL1Y131559

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Vietnam News: Vietnam move forward MDG on environment sustainability in 2015 (6 Feb 2014)

Vietnam move forward MDG on environment sustainability in 2015 Thứ bẩy, ngày 25 tháng 01 năm 2014 cập nhật lúc 17:27

Vietnam has seen considerable achievements in ensuring a sustainable environment over the past years, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Sustainable development is part of the country’s socio-economic development strategy of 2011 to 2020 and it was also included into the country’s socio-economic development plans during the 2006-2010 and 2011-2015 periods.

In order to reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on ensuring environmental sustainability by 2015, the UNDP has encouraged the country to continue to prioritise clean water, environmental sanitation, climate change, and biodiversity preservation.

Localities have been urged to mobilise the community and their authorities’ involvement in ensuring the sustainability of water and environmental services.

Attention should be paid to protecting the living environment and biodiversity conservation. Relevant agencies should put forth prioritised policies to encourage the private sector’s participation in environmental protection, said UNDP.

source from: 

http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131453&Code=PWCC131453

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Vietnam News: 2014 Earth Hour: "Turn off the lights, turn on the ideas" (4 Feb 2014)

2014 Earth Hour: "Turn off the lights, turn on the ideas" 
Thứ tư, ngày 22 tháng 01 năm 2014 cập nhật lúc 16:13

The contest "Turn off the lights, turn on the ideas 2014" was launched on 21 January, in Hanoi and called for e "I Will If You Will2014" campaign.

With the theme "For a Green Clean and Beautiful Vietnam", this year’s contest is to response to Earth Hour 2014, an annual eventof the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) which will take place from 20:30 to 21:30 on 29 March, 2014.

The "Turn off the lights, turn on the ideas”slogan is "An Idea, A Shirt, One Planet".  It is not only a T-shirt design contest as in previous years, but also plan for the marketing of the products. 10 best designs will be printed on 1,000 T-shirts and sell on the market. All the profits from the sale will be given to support reforestation fund in 2014 contributing to disaster prevention and climate change mitigation. The T-shirt will be an effective tool to convey an Earth Hour’s message to Vietnam’s youth community.

The message of this year's campaign is "Let's Spread The Green". “I Will If You Will 2014” aims to raise funds to plant 3,000 mangrovetrees in Hue. The event will attract the participation of 3,000 – 5,000 with a purpose of making the Guinness record for the largest number of forest planters in Vietnam. Also, "I Will If You Will 2014" will call for students to contribute old things so as to raise reforestation fund.

source from: 

http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131418&Code=4BSF131418

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Vietna News： PM instructs to plant replacement forests （3 Feb 2014）

PM instructs to plant replacement forests

Thứ hai, ngày 10 tháng 02 năm 2014 cập nhật lúc 16:47

The Prime Minister has instructed the ministries, People's Committees of provinces and cities directly under the central government to strengthen their direction to plant new forests which will replace the old forest which have been conversed into other uses. Thereby, PM urged the People’s Committees of provinces and cities under the central government to review investment projects which have changed the purpose of land use.

Completion time for planting replacement forests for each project is different. For instance, investment projects which have been approved by the  authorities and have been conversed the purpose of land must plant replacement forest right in 2014 and ensure the completion in 2015. For new investment projects, when the authorities approve investment projects, the plan of replacement forest plantation will be approved at the same time.
In addition, the conversion of the purpose of forestry land use into other uses from 2014 onwards will only apply for projects which are in the land use planning to  2020 and land use planning in the period 2011-2015.

source from: http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131537&Code=XURG131537

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Vietnam News: Environmental management through economic instruments (1 Jan 2014)

Environmental management through economic instruments

Law on Environmental Protection and bylaw documents were institutionalized in the views on the application of Economic Instruments (EIs) in environmental management, in particular, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Official Section of Communist Party issued Resolution No. 27/NQ-BCSDBTNMT on strengthening the economization policy of natural resources and environment sector. Thereby, in terms of management, EIs can be divided into two groups: EIs in pollution management and biodiversity conservation.

Application of EIs in environmental management is the right approach to curb pollution and environmental degradation in Vietnam. Currently, a number of EIs have been deployed at different scales, initially, EIs has a positive impact in curbing pollution and environmental degradation. However, the process of deploying these instruments has faced many difficulties; there are many EIs which have not been applied, especially in areas such as biodiversity conservation.

The EIs in pollution management

Currently in Vietnam, taxes/fees imposed on pollution unit discarded into the environment is being applied in the form of fees for environmental protection (EP) for wastewater, solid waste and mineral extraction.

Environmental protection fee for wastewater is first defined in Decree 67/2003/ND-CP dated 13/6/2003. However, after years of implementation, environmental protection fee for wastewater still exists many problems. The agency also faced difficulties in fee collection and calculation. Businesses still find the way to evade and owe fees. As a result, the fee collection rate of industrial wastewater is low.

Environmental protection fees for common solid waste and hazardous solid waste is regulated in Decree 174/2007/ND-CP dated 29/11/2007. However, revenues from these fees are not enough to offset the cost of collection and treatment of solid waste.

Environmental protection fees for mineral extraction is implemented under Decree No. 63/2008/ND-CP of the Government dated 05.13.2008. However, the fee collection still faces many difficulties because fee payers do not voluntarily perform such obligations. There still exists the situation that businesses enumerate the lower amount of mineral extraction compared to reality to reduce fees payable.

In addition to three types of fees included in Pigouvan tax/fee group which was mentioned above, there is Law on Environmental Protection Tax. This is tax regulation charged on raw materials/products, including 8 groups of products: Oil, coal, cleaning solvents containing HCFC, plastic bags and restricted-use group such as: plant protection drugs, herbicides, termiticides and warehouse disinfectants.

The pros of applying environmental protection taxes for materials/products are easy to calculate and apply. Regarding the cons, this type of tax only encourages pollution but not encourage the investment in pollution treatment in product manufacturing process. For the kind of luxury goods, this tax is more effective in curbing pollution (through curbing consumption/production) but for the essential commodities, this tax has little effect on reducing pollution.

The EIs in biodiversity conservation

Compared to the EIs in pollution management, the EIs in biodiversity conservation has not been widely applied in Vietnam, including taxes for natural resource, environmental services and environmental label some forestry and fishery products.

Currently a number of EIs in biodiversity conservation is being studied and applied such as: Development rights, which can be exchanged or traded, are the rights given to the owner of the land in the area of biodiversity conservation. These rights can be sold to investors who intend to invest in development projects in other lands; however, according to regulations of law, a certain number of conservation licenses are required to have the right to implement investment activities. As a result, investors should acquire this license from those who carry out conservation activities.

Besides, there is also Green development mechanism, a form which is studied and proposed by international scientists. Green development mechanism will create a exchange market for the quotas of economic development activities affecting biodiversity. Accordingly, there will be a number of certain quotas of development activities which are determined for a regional or global area. If a country wants to develop the economy exceeding this quota, it must buy the rights from other nations.

source from:

http://www.monre.gov.vn/v35/default.aspx?tabid=675&CateID=58&ID=131075&Code=PBPY131075

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