Approved avenues for voluntary commitment within multi-stakeholder platforms, based on a scientific diagnosis
10%
Number of vertebrates assessed as threatened according to the IUCN Red List (2021-1)
- 2.78 million ha
of natural forests between 2000 and 2018 due to land conversion to other production areas
THREATS SECTORS
Source: Assessing the biodiversity in Viet Nam - Analysis of the impacts from the economic sectors. WWF-Viet Nam (2021)
Vietnam is one of the nations with the highest volume of biodiversity, particularly at ecosystem and species level: it is home to over 50,000 species of flora and fauna, at least 21 of the world's 25 biomes (84.0%) and 60 of the world's 108 ecosystem functional groups (55.5%).
This Southeast Asian country boasts topography and climatic conditions conducive to the development of terrestrial and marine biodiversity, characterized by a long coastline (3,260 km), two main deltas, vast mountainous and hilly areas (75% of the country's surface area), as well as tropical zones and subtropical forests.
In recent decades, the development of intensive agriculture, plantations and a vast process of land conversion have led to the fragmentation of habitats and the disruption of ecosystems, in particular flooded forests which were particularly important for flood control. In the Mekong Delta region, it is estimated that 30-50% of the land in half the provinces could be flooded in the coming decades as a result of global warming.
In Vietnam, the dialogue revolved around bilateral meetings at regional and national level, as well as three national sector workshops, including a closing one. These workshops brought together representatives from ministries, banks and private companies.
Options chosen and scenarios discussed
Logging (forestry)
Logging (forestry) - Strengthening sustainable forest management
- Extending certified plantation areas
- Developing mechanisms to comply with international commitments
- Integrating forest resources into the international accounting system
- Promote forest land accumulation through vertical/horizontal links in the timber value chain to expand the area of large-scale timber plantations and encourage sustainable investment
- Increasing the income of forest-dependent owners in the ecosystem services value chain
Aquaculture
Aquaculture The Voluntary Commitments (VCs) will have to rely on seafood processing and export companies to put pressure on the whole value chain, and in particular on local small and medium-sized farms. These VCs could promote :
- the application of sustainable standards (national and international) and environmentally-friendly aquaculture farming models;
- the use of probiotics to replace antibiotics;
- and expansion of catfish, shrimp and marine fish farming areas in line with sustainable principles and certification schemes.
Solutions identified by stakeholders
Find out more about the voluntary work tracks obtained in Vietnam below.
Logging (forestry)
Forestry :
- Do not encroach on natural forests and/or convert them to plantations
- Convert land to forest plantations with FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sustainability certifications and plant long-cycle timber forests
- Use cutting-edge technologies to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity and the natural environment
Wood processing companies :
- Increase the percentage of wood used that is FSC-certified or other similar types of certification
- Do not use wood that cannot be traced or has no legal origin
- Do not consume or use for production raw materials that come from natural forests
Aquaculture
Fish farms :
- Use materials of transparent, traceable origin and reduce the use of industrial feed derived from wild fisheries.
- Register breeding area code in accordance with management agency requirements
- Practice sustainable aquaculture by following sustainability principles integrated with appropriate certifications
Fish processing activities :
- Strengthen links with farming areas and increase the proportion of fish farmed sustainably according to appropriate certifications.
- Do not use shrimps/fish that cannot be traced or are not of legal origin
For all players :
- Use cutting-edge technologies to minimize negative impacts on biodiversity and the natural environment