Honoring the values ​​of nature, biodiversity and sustainable development

On the morning of November 7, 2024, in Vinh City (Nghe An), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment coordinated with the People's Committee of Nghe An province and relevant agencies to organize a workshop to summarize the World Biosphere Reserve Network (WBR) of Vietnam in 2024.

Attending the workshop were Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, Deputy Director, Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, ( Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment ); Mr. Jonathan Baker - Chief Representative of UNESCO in Vietnam; Professor, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tri - Chairman of the National Committee of the Vietnam Man and Biosphere Program; Leaders of ministries, departments, branches, central agencies; Leaders of People's Committees, Departments, branches, branches of provinces and cities.

On the side of Nghe An province, attending the workshop were comrade Nguyen Van De - Provincial Party Committee member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; leaders of Departments, branches, District People's Committees, District Protection Forest Management Boards, Pu Mat National Park, Pu Hoat Pu Huong Nature Reserve Management Board.

Overview of the workshop summarizing the world biosphere reserve network of Vietnam in 2024.

Held annually since 2013 under the chairmanship of the Man and Biosphere Committee of Vietnam (MAB Vietnam), the Vietnam World Biosphere Reserve Network 2024 Conference is an opportunity to look back on a year of activities. Despite many difficulties and challenges, the 11 World Biosphere Reserves of Vietnam are making efforts every day; thereby increasingly receiving widespread recognition for their contributions to the cause of nature conservation and biodiversity, supporting sustainable socio-economic and environmental development and contributing to the achievement of national and global sustainable development goals.

Mr. Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee had to give an opening speech at the Workshop.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Van De - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee emphasized: The Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve was recognized by UNESCO in 2007, located in 9 districts of Western Nghe An, with a total area of ​​nearly 1.3 million hectares, accounting for more than 84% of the total natural area of ​​the province; a population of over 1 million people (including 6 ethnic groups), with unique and distinctive cultural features; over 871,000 hectares of forest, with 03 core areas including Pu Mat National Park and 02 Pu Huong and Pu Hoat Nature Reserves, including many unique ecosystems from primeval forests to rare flora and fauna species such as elephants, saola and many endemic plant species.

In 2024, the province directed and implemented many activities deployed by the Vietnam Man and Biosphere Programme Committee, UNESCO Vietnam, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; forest restoration and wildlife conservation programs with cooperation from international organizations such as UNESCO and UNDP, contributing to the management and sustainable development of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve. Many projects have been successfully implemented, helping to improve the effectiveness of resource management, environmental monitoring, and restoration of important ecosystems.

Many projects have been successfully implemented, helping to improve resource management, environmental monitoring and restore important ecosystems.

However, Nghe An, like many other provinces, is facing the degradation of forest resources due to illegal exploitation, infrastructure development and the impact of climate change. This requires a comprehensive management approach, combining conservation and economic development.

From practice, it is shown that coordination between government levels, consensus of the people and support of international organizations are decisive factors for the success in managing and conserving the Biosphere Reserve. The workshop is an opportunity for Nghe An province to discuss, share experiences, analyze challenges, difficulties and advantages to effectively implement biodiversity conservation, contribute to building and improving management and development of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, and at the same time meet the requirements of UNESCO, the Vietnam Man and Biosphere Programme Committee, and Central Ministries and branches.

Nghe An province is committed to continuing to strongly support conservation activities, ensuring that development programs and projects are always associated with environmental protection. We hope that ministries, branches, localities and international organizations will cooperate, share experiences and resources to build our Biosphere Reserve network to be stronger and more sustainable in the future.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, Deputy Director of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment), said: The Workshop on Summary of Activities of World Biosphere Reserves in Vietnam is an opportunity for us to gather here and look back on a year of activities of Vietnam's World Biosphere Reserves in 2024, and orient activities in 2025, thereby affirming the role, position and honoring the achievements of Vietnam's World Biosphere Reserves.

Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, Deputy Director, Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) spoke at the Workshop.

At the same time, this is also an opportunity for us to connect and share information and lessons learned in the field of environment and management of the World Heritage Site; and at the same time promote the image of the World Heritage Site.

“The Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, as an advisory body to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in guiding the nomination and management of biosphere reserves, has also carried out many activities in the past year to promote the strengthening and expansion of the biosphere reserve network; including developing and promulgating guidelines for nomination of biosphere reserves, guidelines for preparing periodic reports of biosphere reserves, strengthening the capacity of biosphere reserve management boards through organizing training courses and dialogue forums. Developing a Plan to strengthen and expand the biosphere reserve network, currently supporting the preparation of nomination dossiers for 02 new reserves and will submit them in 2025” - Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan said.

At the workshop, managers and experts in the field of management and conservation of Vietnam's IBD shared sustainable development orientations for IBDs, shared world experiences for Vietnam, updated Vietnam's legal policies on IBD management and plans for future network development. Thereby, affirming the role, position and honoring the achievements of Vietnam's IBDs; connecting and sharing information and lessons in the field of environment and IBD management.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tri - Chairman of MAB Vietnam spoke at the Workshop.

Speaking at the workshop, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tri - Chairman of MAB Vietnam shared: Right from the first days with the aim of building a scientific basis for the harmony between humans and nature, the activities of Vietnam's international biosphere reserves are the test to prove that harmony. Up to now, the network of Vietnam's international biosphere reserves has developed along with the general trend of the world, that each international biosphere reserve is a local model for sustainable development, both at the national and international scale.

Honoring individuals who contributed to the Vietnam World Biosphere Reserve Network in 2024.

The Chairman of MAB Vietnam proposed to continue implementing programs to investigate and evaluate the overall quality of the environment and resources of the World Biosphere Reserve, thereby proposing solutions for the management, exploitation and sustainable use of the World Biosphere Reserve. Actively participate in events of the regional Biosphere Reserve Network, actively participate and demonstrate the role of members of specialized networks; promote efforts to preserve and promote the cultural values ​​of local communities living in and around the World Biosphere Reserves; prioritize capacity building for staff of the Management Board, staff of the Office of the World Biosphere Reserve Management Board and staff of core areas, staff of departments, branches, localities, forest owners, related units...

Visit the exhibition booths on the sidelines of the Conference.

It is known that the Vietnam World Biosphere Reserve Network Summary Workshop 2024 is part of a series of events taking place from November 7 to 9, 2024 to honor the values ​​of nature, biodiversity and sustainable development of World Biosphere Reserves.

Closing the series of events on November 9, 2024 will be a field survey at Pu Mat National Park, creating opportunities for direct contact with the practice of biosphere reserve conservation, to promote information sharing, improve management capacity and inspire new initiatives. Throughout this series of events, there will be an exhibition space on the activities of the World Biosphere Reserves, including the display of local specialties and agricultural products from the communities living in the biosphere reserves.

Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/ton-vinh-cac-gia-tri-ve-thien-nhien-da-dang-bi-hoc-va-phat-trien-ben-vung-382845.html