09 Prohibited acts related to biodiversity in Vietnam

09 Prohibited acts related to biodiversity in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. What is biodiversity?

According to Clause 5, Article 3 of the Law on Biodiversity 2008, biodiversity means the abundance of genes, organisms and ecosystems in the nature.

In which:

- Gene means a unit of heredity or a segment of genetic material that defines specific characteristics of an organism.

- Ecosystem means a community of organisms and non-living elements interacting and metabolizing as a functional unit in a certain geographical area.

(Clause 7 and 9 Article 3 of the Law on Biodiversity 2008)

2. 09 Prohibited acts related to biodiversity in Vietnam

Individuals and organizations are strictly prohibited from performing the following acts on biodiversity:

(1) Hunting, fishing and exploiting wild species in strictly protected sections of conservation zones, except for scientific research purposes; encroaching upon land, destroying landscape, deteriorating ecosystems and rearing or planting invasive alien species in conservation zones.

(2) Building structures or houses in strictly protected sections of conservation zones, except works for defense and security purposes; illegally building works and houses in ecological restoration sections of conservation zones.

(3) Investigating, surveying, exploring and exploiting minerals; raising cattle and poultry on a farm scale, conducting aquaculture on an industrial scale; illegally living and polluting the environment in strictly protected sections and ecological restoration sections of conservation zones.

(4) Hunting, fishing, exploiting bodily parts of, illegally killing, consuming, transporting, purchasing and selling species on the list of endangered precious and rare species prioritized for protection; illegally advertising, marketing and consuming products originated from species on the list of endangered precious and rare species prioritized for protection.

(5) Illegally rearing or growing and planting or culturing wild fauna and flora species on the list of endangered precious and rare species prioritized for protection.

(6) Illegally importing or releasing genetically modified organisms and genetic specimens of genetically modified species.

(7) Importing and developing invasive alien species.

(8) Illegally accessing genetic resources of species on the list of endangered precious and rare species prioritized for protection.

(9) Illegally changing use purposes of land in conservation zones.

(Article 7 of the Law on Biodiversity 2008)

3. State policies on the conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity in Vietnam

Specifically, in Article 5 of the Law on Biodiversity 2008, the State policies on the conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity include:

- Giving priority to the conservation of natural ecosystems which are important, specific or representative for an ecological region and the conservation of species on the list of endangered precious and rare species prioritized for protection; ensuring control of access to genetic resources.

- Ensuring funds for basic survey, observation, inventory and building of databases on biodiversity and planning of biodiversity conservation; investing material- technical foundations for conservation zones and biodiversity conservation facilities set up by the State; and ensuring local people’s participation in the process of formulating and implementing biodiversity conservation plannings.

- Encouraging organizations and individuals to invest in and apply scientific and technological advances and traditional knowledge to the conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity, and guaranteeing their lawful rights and interests.

- Developing ecotourism in association with hunger eradication and poverty alleviation, ensuring stable livelihood for households and individuals lawfully living in conservation zones; sustainably developing buffer zones of conservation zones.

- Promoting domestic and foreign resources for the conservation and sustainable development of biodiversity.

Thanh Rin

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