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vietnamBiodiversity Resources

  • 12,000 vascular plant species
  • 9,500 species of terrestrial anthropoda
  • 547 species of freshwater fish
  • 2,000 species of marine fish
  • 158 frog species
  • 260 species of reptiles
  • 830 species of birds
  • 300 species of mammals (78 are endemic)
  • 300 species of hard coral
  • 2,500 species of mollusks
  • 1,500 crustacean species
  • 700 species of polychaete

Ratification of MEAs:

  • CBD – 1994
  • CITES – 1994
  • Ramsar Convention –1989
  • WHC – 1987
  • Cartagena Protocol – 2004

Description

Viet Nam covers 320,000 sq km, is 1650 km long, has a 3,260 km-coastline and thousands of islands.  Ecosystems in Viet Nam range from mountains to lowlands, river basins, lakes, coastal lagoons, ocean and islands. Forests range from closed evergreen forest to deciduous forest, needle forest, limestone forests, mangroves, and bamboo forests.  Wetlands are found all over the country but are mainly in the Mekong and Hong river delta.

Pressing Biodiversity Issues

There are serious threats to biodiversity in Viet Nam, including degradation in species and genetic resources; poor management of forests and natural conservation areas; lack of planning in wetland use and management; widespread trade in wild animals and plants; increase in invasive alien species; as well as poor access to genetic resource and benefits of biodiversity by local communities.  After more than 10 years of being a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity and successfully implementing the Vietnam Biodiversity Action Plan, Viet Nam has achieved several positive results in conserving and developing biodiversity. A protected area system and ex-situ conservation have been established and expanded, and forest coverage is increasing. The budget for biodiversity conservation, especially from foreign funds, is increasing significantly.  The contribution of natural resources to the economy is increasing, and biodiversity management capacity has been enhanced.

Protected Areas

A total of 128 protected areas have been declared, which covers 7% of the total area of Viet Nam.  Of these, there are 30 National Parks, 60 Conservation Areas, and 38 Landscape Protection areas.  Some Nature Reserves are internationally recognized, including 2 World Heritage Sites, 4 Biosphere reserves, 2 Ramsar sites as well as 4 ASEAN Heritage Parks.

The number of globally threatened species in Vietnam is increasing in both quantity (from 226 to 259 species) and level of threat.  Species that have joined the endangered list the ban-teng (Bos javanicus), dhole (Cuon alpinus), grey-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus), and black-shanked douc Langur (Pygathrix nigripes).  Though not globally threatened, the woolly-necked stork (Ciconia episcopus) is vulnerable due to loss of habitats and pollution of food sources.

 

 

Sources:

  • Tran Ngoc Cuong.  2007.  Country Report of Viet Nam.  2nd ASEAN Heritage Parks Conference.  Sabah, Malaysia.
  • Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment  and Viet Nam Environment Protection Agency.  Socialist Republic of Viet Nam:  Third National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity