The Natural Resources and Environment Strategy to 2020 should be approached in accordance with the economy’s operating mechanism, . . .

According to Chinh, the focus of the NRE Strategy is how State management of the environment, land, water resources, integrated with that of the sea and islands, meteorology and cartography.

A report on the Logical Framework and Monitoring Evaluation Framework Design prepared by the UNDP Poverty and Environment Project was one of the references used by participants to build the strategy.

Le Thi Kim Dung, deputy director of the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Department of Planning Management said: “The 10-year NRE strategy is of crucial importance, as it affects all other economic industries; therefore it should be prepared carefully.”

“Up to now there has been lack of consistency between socio-economic planning and NRE protection planning. For example, farmers in coastal areas and along the continental shelf exploit sea resources to achieve their economic targets, but environmental officials don’t have a good grasp on their activities,” Dung said.

She added that climate change should be put into the strategy because its impacts have already been felt. “Currently, many sea ports being developed along the coast without serious consideration of where they will be in the next 50 years. It’s possible they won’t even exist there anymore.”

She also noted that the strategy for hydro-meteorological management should not only focus on early warning of natural disasters but should also provide forecasting services to other industries.

Vu Van Tuan from the Asia-Pacific Natural Disasters Prevention Centre said: “Hydro-meteorology may play a more important role because the efficient use of renewable energies, which many people hope will become more popular in the coming years, will depend significantly on related activities.”

In terms of water resources management, the strategy should cover issues related to solving water-based disasters, as well as water use disputes, such as those that exist between hydroelectric plants and agricultural production, said Tuan.

Tran Thanh Lam, head of the South East Asia Institute of Water Resources and Environment said: “Placing economic value on natural resources is a good approach because it helps keep track of the number of resources used, leading to better management.”

Deputy Director of the Southeast Bio-technology Centre Nguyen Khac Tich highlighted the importance of integrating relevant laws into the strategy. “Several environmental laws which have been introduced in recent years can help build a solid institutional framework for effective management.”

Chinh said further discussion and review would be carried out before submission of the final proposal.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News