Foreword - Mission of  VACNE for National Environment Protection and Sustainable Development

Contents of the  research works collection of VACNE  

Foreword

Mission of Vietnam Association for conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE) for National Environment Protection and Sustainable Development

General Vo Nguyen Giap who signed the official decree approving the first commemoration of the World Environment Day in Vietnam on June 5, 1982, commented in his letter to the Fourth Plenary Session of VACNE taking place on  November 4, 2003 that: “from the first day of its establishment,  VACNE has actively contributed to the development of natural resources and environmental protection in our country through the conduct of scientific research activities, technology transfer, technical consultation, social appraisals, education programs propagation, and guidance in the construction of sustainable production models”. Achievement of the 2008 Vietnam Environment Award given by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reaffirmed the significant contribution of our organization to the mission of national environment protection and sustainable development. 

To mark the 20^th anniversary of our organization, we have held a series of events including the successful organization of the International Exposition on bio-products, three national workshops on urgent national environment issues such as: Global Climate Change and Vietnam Response Measures Workshop (Ha Noi, February 2008); Conservation of Biodiversity of Truong Son Mountain Range Workshop (Hue, May 2008) and Waste Treatment Technology Workshop (Ho Chi Minh City, August 2008). Our members took charge in initiating numerous celebration activities, from the “writing about environment” essay competition organized by VACNE-Cao Bang and “communication about environment” competition organized by VACNE-Khanh Hoa to the Program for the Preparation of Environment Teaching Materials by the Environment Education and Training Network in Ho Chi Minh City. Institution members from Kien Giang, Binh Thuan, and Khanh Hoa together with the participation of business enterprises, non-government organizations, universities and research institutes, have successfully recruited new members, raising institution membership to nearly 130.   

To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the organization and in accordance with guidance from the Executive Committee, individual and institution members have proceeded with the selection of research, consultation and appraisal work for publication in a Selection of Scientific Work issue commemorating the 20^th anniversary of the organization. This is a very arduous task due to fiscal and time constraints. Moreover, the separation of work done by VACNE is not easy as members work for the government or its agencies, and many institution members are also government agencies.  However, in every work/research that was publicized, there was a contribution from the organization. In every work that was included, there was a contribution from individual VACNE member. It is important that all those work contribute to the mission of environment protection and sustainable development for our country and their publication in the Selection issue acknowledges both the individual and collective contributions from our organization.

The selection and editing tasks were handled attentively and scientifically by an editorial board headed by Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Dang. Besides the common work of VACNE and its institution members, each author or member can only choose published work for preliminary consideration in the Selection issue.  The selected work could be revised or supplemented to reflect the latest development without losing the published core content. In spite of great efforts by the editorial board, the Selection issue might not fully reflect the contributions of the organization, its institution and individual members. Therefore, I will try to summarize the related issues so that the readers could have a collective picture of this concern.

VACNE role in providing consultant services for environment strategies, directions and legal documents 

Since VACNE was established VACNE its members have played active roles in development and implementation of the environment-related strategies, directions, policies and legislation. On the position of the governmental officers or VACNE member, VACNE members always contribute significantly to the publicized works and implemented activities.  

The typical works which have the contribution of VACNE members in the position of the initiator or the researcher or the co-author or the direct study team member include: 

·      Vietnam Environment and Sustainable Development Plan in 1991-2000 period

·      The Environment Protection Law (1993 and 2005)

·      The bio-diversity short-term Action plans (1995 and 2006).

·      The reports on existing environment conditions in Vietnam submitted to the National assembly from 1994 to date.

·      The Directive (1998) and the Resolution (2004) on environment protection in industrialization and modernization process of the Politburo. 

·      The National Environment Protection Strategy to 2010 and orientations to 2020.

·      Vietnam national reports at UN’s Environment Summits in 1992 (RIO), 1997 (RIO + 5) and 2002 (Joha).

·       The Government’s Resolutions and the Prime Minister’s Directives.

·      Other documents related to environment and sustainable development of ministries/sectors and localities.

Various advices and recommendations of VACNE and its members have been considered in the preparation of the environment and sustainable development strategies and policies. Nevertheless, much of that recommendations and researches are still not being implemented, including the recent following recommendations on:

·      Organization of implementation of the prioritized programs in the List of the Priority Programs of the National Environment Strategy (environmental protection socialization, the public participation in environment protection program, and the environment protection program of Sai Gon – Dong Nai River Basin).

·      The Study on the procedure to join the Partnership for Principle 10 (PP10), Rio Declaration.

·      The Study on development of an environment/sustainable development law.

·      The national target program framework for response to the global climate change in Vietnam.

·      Recommendations on “Tam Dao 2” Project

·      Others

VACNE role in social critical assessment on environment issues

Social critical assessment is the key role of VACNE. The establishment of VACNE in 1988, 5-year earlier than the establishment of the official governmental environment protection agency is the evidence of VACNE’s signification role in this field. Since that, this role has been carried out at various scales and by various methods.

With its prestige, VACNE have been authorized to assess super-large projects, e.g. Son La Hydroelectricity Project in 2000 – 2002, Ho Chi Minh Road Project – the sections crossing Cuc Phuong National Park and Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park (2001 – 2002), etc. VACNE’s assessments were prepared scientifically and feasibly. In addition VACNE also actively evaluates the urgent environment issues. Typically is the assessment on the import of used-ships to disassemble to get the material for recycle in 2005 – 2006 and the assessment of “Tam Dao 2” Project which is planned  to exploit hundreds hectare in the core of Tam Dao National Park in 2006 – 2007. These assessments are highly appreciated by Vietnam and international communities. Green Peace Organization, EU representatives have requested VACNE presenting these assessments in detail.

VACNE’s assessments attract great attention of public and communities, especially the recommendations on draft regulations of the government, ministries and localities. The recommendations on the Draft Environment Protection Law, the Biodiversity Law, and other relevant regulations are the foundations for finalizing them to submit to the National Assembly for ratifying. New ideas and sensitive issues related to the organizational structure of governmental agencies have been taken into account to propose proper organization structures in order to promote their operation efficiently and effectively.   

Environment Training and Communication – VACNE Strengths

The environment training and communication have been developed since VACNE was established. The environment education documents have been published widely, attracting great attentions of the communities.

VACNE and its members’ publications in Table A conveyed VACNE’s voice since VACNE was established. Annually, on the occasion of the International Environment Day (June 5), VACNE information and message are widely broadcasted on Voice of Vietnam and Vietnam Television as well as local mass-media.

If all published and broadcasted papers are re-published a great collection will be issued.

Many documents and textbooks have been prepared and edited by VACNE to disseminate to communities in nationwide, especially the training manuals. Environmental administrative officers at central and local levels have been engaged in VACNE’s training courses. For example, the training manual for district environment experts which was developed in 2006 to distribute to the experts of Vietnam Science and Technique Association in 2007 have  been highly appreciated and are still used widely.

 Many environment researches, documents and messages were publicized in various events, especially in Table B. Some events were hold by VACNE without assistance of donors, including, among others, 1^st International Environment Technologies Exhibition (2006), 2^nd International Environment Technologies Exhibition (2007), and the International Exhibition on Ecological Products (2008). Some nationwide workshops were promoted by self-financial funding, including the Workshop on Global Climate Change and Vietnam Response Measures, the Workshop on Waste Treatment Technologies, etc. It could be said that VACNE role in these events is significant and precious.

Table A           Publications of VACNE/VACNE Join-Author/Coordinator

(including member associations)