The Prime Minister on August 12, 2008 approved a plan to turn the coastal southern central region into an important sea-based economic zone from now till 2025.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will start charging fees for forest environmental services on a trial basis in several provinces as from January, 2009.

An ecotourism company from HCMC has released animals including deer, wild boars, tortoises, pythons and snakes, porcupines and species of bird into natural forest in the central highlands.

The Nam Cat Tien National Park in southern Dong Nai Province on July 12 put into operation a wildlife rescue centre, specializing in primate.

Almost 4 ha of saline-submerged land in Ninh Hoa district, the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, were put under mangrove between July 25-27 under a Japan-Vietnam afforestation programme.

The food safety and hygiene quality and acute diarrhoea prevention were investigated on July 21, 2008 in Quy Nhon City.

Eco-labels for commodities will be applied on a trial basis in 2009 and will be in widespread use as of 2011, according to General Department of Standardisation and Quality Measurement

A project to clear Van Lake in Ha Noi’s Temple of Literature is currently taking place with results expected this weekend.