An ecosystem service assessment and valuation tool - ValuES - was introduced to national and provincial planners and decision makers at a worskhop on July 12 in Ha Noi.
In a speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Chinh, General Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE), emphasized the need to ensure that the ES concerns are mainstreamed into planning processes.
“It is now the time for policy makers to consider how they may apply global and regional lessons learned on ecosystem valuation at the national level,” he said.
Mr. Nguyen The Chinh were echoed representatives from the UN Development Program (UNDP) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).
“Ecosystems provide essential services to people’s lives and livelihoods, especially for local communities,” said Mr. Dao Xuan Lai, Head of UNDP Sustainable Development Cluster.
“There has been limited appreciation and integration of the economic values of ecosystem services into development planning, budgeting, and decision making processes" Mr. Lai added.
He underscored the importance of valuation of ecosystem services, which help enhance the understanding and trigger local actions on preservation and restoration of ecosystems.
"Healthy ecosystems provide high profits in terms of public health and public savings and achievement of broad objectives of overcoming poverty and achieving sustainable development goals," said Mr. Lai.
“Ecosystems contribute directly to the national economy through the services they provide. Valueing these services and integrating them into planning and investment decisions is essential to ensure long-term economic growth”, Michael Wahl, Chief Technical Advisor of the project Strategic Mainstreaming of Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Viet Nam (EbA), noted.
Michael Wahl stressed that in the context of the implementation of Viet Nam’s Green Growth Strategy, GIZ continues to support ministries to better integrate ecosystem services into policies.