Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay has entered the third phase of a campaign voting for the world’s seven new natural wonders, according to the New Open World (NOW) website on July 10. The bay, which has been twice recognised by the UNESCO for its landscapes and geological values, is in Group G, which includes sea landscapes and beaches.
Climate change impacts will force the displacement and migration of large populations in Vietnam, particularly the Mekong Delta, international experts reckon.
Danang is blessed with stunning coral reef but the city has failed to capitalise on its tourism potential and has yet to find a way to effectively protect it. Off the coast of Danang coral is in rapid deterioration. Over-exploitation of fish, pollution and the accumulation of sediment are all factors.
Demand for rhinoceros horns in Asia in general, and Vietnam in particular, has driven poaching to a 15-year-high and pushed the animals perilously close to extinction, major conversation groups have warned.
The Vietnam-Sweden Cooperation Programme on Strengthening Environmental Management and Land Administration in Vietnam (SEMLA) has worked well at localities benefiting from its projects. Representatives from those localities met at a seminar held in Hanoi on July 8 to review the five years SEMLA programme.
A 4.5 million USD project, funded by the Japanese Government’s ODA, to mitigate damage by natural disasters in Vietnam’s central region, was launched in Hanoi on July 9.
Scientists, sociologists, environmentalists, and representatives of international organisations explored measures to ensure sustainable development of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta at a meeting held in Can Tho.
More efforts to reduce the huge volume of dust around construction sites are being made by authorities in the capital, who are also working to reduce exhaust pollution.
The second annual Green Enterprises competition has honoured 12 companies and industrial zones for their efforts to protect the environment. Judges made their decisions based on an assessment of company technology, materials and products, as well as the treatment of pollutants, including waste water, dust and noise.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has warned that the country’s environmental pollution level will increase by 4-5 times within the next year alone. Over the past decade, Vietnam has seen a high economic growth rate, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, and massive exploitation of natural resources, all of which have contributed to the degradation of the environment, the ministry said.