Six months after the National Assembly ratified the Law on Biodiversity, this law will take effect as of July 1, 2009. This law was compiled by over 150 Vietnamese and foreign experts.
At a workshop about the Law on Biodiversity in Hanoi on March 19, the compilation board said that this law was not only compiled by a big team of experts, but also refers to 46 laws in the world. The board organised many forums and dialogues with experts from many countries. With eight chapters, 78 articles, the law is said to be complete and sufficient to support biodiversity.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Nguyen Xuan Cuong, said biodiversity preservation is decisive in sustainable economic development. “Along with economic development and human life, biodiversity is being impoverished. Preserving biodiversity is an urgent need for Vietnam and the whole world,” he said.
A representative of the compilation board, Nguyen Van Tai, Director of the Institute for Natural Resources and the Environmental Strategy and Policy, said the law will unify management of biodiversity. At present, biodiversity management is stipulated in many laws, for instance the Law on Forest Protection, Law on Environmental Protection and the Law on Aquatic Protection.
“The law contains new contents, such as approaching genetic sources and interest sharing, control of harmful exotic creatures. These contents are highly applauded by international organisations. We hope that the law will well enforce its goals,” Tai said.
Vietnam has over 2 million hectares of forest and once the Law on Biodiversity takes effect, the country will need up to VND600 billion ($35.3 million) a year to preserve this area.
