Strive to expand area, establish new ones, and effectively manage 27 marine protected areas by 2030

Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area (Internet source).

According to the Decision, the general objective of the Project is to manage and protect marine, coastal and island ecosystems well; increase the area of ​​marine and coastal protected areas to about 6% of the natural area of ​​Vietnam's sea by 2030, contributing to biodiversity conservation, restoration and conservation of important marine ecosystems, ensuring the integrity and natural relationship between terrestrial and marine ecosystems; proactively respond to climate change and rising sea levels; sustainably develop the marine economy in association with ensuring national defense and security, maintaining independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, aiming to make Vietnam a strong maritime nation, rich from the sea.

Specific goals by 2030: Expand the area, establish new ones and effectively manage 27 marine protected areas to ensure that by 2030 the total protected marine area will reach about 0,463% of the natural area of ​​Vietnam's sea.

Effectively manage 59 aquatic resource protection areas and 63 areas where fishing is prohibited for a limited period in the sea, ensuring that the total area zoned for aquatic resource protection, protection of concentrated spawning areas, and areas where young aquatic species live and thrive reaches about 2,303% of the natural area of ​​Vietnam's sea.

Expand the area, establish new ones and effectively manage Ramsar sites, wetland reserves and important coastal wetlands to ensure that the total area of ​​Ramsar sites, wetland reserves and important coastal wetlands reaches about 1,5% of the natural area of ​​Vietnam's sea.

To achieve the set goals, the Decision also clearly states the tasks and solutions for implementation. Accordingly, 6 groups of tasks include: Adjusting and expanding the area of ​​marine reserves, Ramsar sites, and coastal wetland reserves currently operating according to approved plans.

b) Establish new and expand the network of marine reserves, Ramsar sites, and coastal wetland reserves according to approved plans.

c) Develop regulations and organize the management of areas applying other effective conservation measures in Vietnam's seas.

d) Restoration of typical marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests.

d) Effectively organize the management of marine reserves, Ramsar sites, coastal wetland reserves, aquatic resource protection areas, areas where fishing is prohibited for a limited period of time, important coastal wetlands, and areas where other effective conservation measures are applied.

e) Integrate the overall database on marine biodiversity, aquatic resources, environment, policy mechanisms, management models of marine reserves, aquatic resources protection areas, areas where fishing is prohibited for a limited period, areas applying other effective conservation measures and areas for restoring marine ecosystems in Vietnam's seas into the component database on protection and development of aquatic resources; Ramsar sites, wetland reserves, important coastal wetlands into the database of Vietnam's seas and islands.

4 groups of implementation solutions include solutions on: Mechanisms, policies and law enforcement; propaganda, training and human resource development; science, technology and international cooperation; financial resources.

Priority tasks and projects include:

1. Communication to enhance capacity on conservation, protection and restoration of marine ecosystems.

2. Investigate and identify areas with potential to establish other effective conservation areas in Vietnam's seas.

3. Restoration of degraded coral reef, marine and mangrove ecosystems.

4. Investigate and evaluate the overall effectiveness of conservation, protection and restoration of marine ecosystems in the period 2021 - 2030.

5. Develop a mechanism for payment of natural ecosystem services in marine reserves and aquatic resource protection areas.

6. Assess the carbon storage capacity of typical marine ecosystems.

7. Application of geographic information systems and remote sensing technology in marine ecosystem management.

8. Control waste and sources of environmental pollution in marine areas that are preserved, protected and restored.

Regarding implementation funding, the Decision clearly states that it is necessary to diversify capital sources and effectively use resources to implement the Project. Annual state budget sources: development investment expenditure, regular expenditure (economic career capital, environmental career capital, scientific career capital) according to the current state budget management decentralization. Capital sources are integrated in national target programs, programs, plans, projects, public investment projects for the period 2026 - 2030, and other projects.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is assigned to preside over and coordinate with ministries, branches, People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities and relevant agencies to effectively implement the Project.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Preside over and coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to guide localities in building and organizing the management of coastal wetland conservation areas, Ramsar sites, and important coastal wetlands in accordance with legal regulations and approved plans.

Ministry of Planning and Investment Preside over reporting to competent authorities to determine state budget investment capital for development investment by sector and field in the medium-term and annual public investment plan to implement projects according to the provisions of the Law on Public Investment.

The financial Based on the balancing capacity of the central budget, on the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, relevant ministries and branches, submit to competent authorities to balance and arrange funds from the central budget and integrate into other national target programs, programs and projects in accordance with the annual state budget balancing capacity to implement the Project, tasks and priority projects according to the provisions of the State Budget Law and implementing documents.

The People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities, within the scope of their tasks and powers, shall organize the implementation of the Project in accordance with legal provisions, in accordance with local conditions and instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and relevant ministries and branches.