Biodiversity in the world has been under threat. Plenty of species have already become extinct. The reason? Mostly human activities. To have a sustainable and prosperous development is always target and wish of the mankind. Thus, the theme of the 2010 World Environment Day (WED) is “Many Species. One Planet. One Future.”
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Binh Dinh Province’s marine environment has been destroyed by practices of overexploitation – in the photo: a corner of Hai Minh Island in Qui Nhon City. Photo Tran Hoa KHa
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Warned threats
The biodiversity, as scientists say, means diversity of ecosystem, playing an important role in the water and air regulation, anti-erosion of land, waste disintegration, environmental purification, conservation of biocirculation and natural energy, elimination of natural disasters, etc. The diverse forms of life in the ecosystem also create a variety of manners and customs, traditions, languages, religions, ethics and cultures, etc. Our populations are quickly growing while most animals and plants are becoming rarer and fewer.
A total of 17,291 species are statistically known to be threatened with extinction. Many species disappear before they are even discovered. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UK-based World Conservation Monitoring Centre report that around 17.000 of species in our planet is under threat of extinction and one species of animal or plant- from little-known plants and insects to charismatic birds and mammals - disappear forever every 20 minute. Biologists even call the mounting loss of the species nowadays “the Earth’s Sixth Great Mass Extinction”.
The scientists say that it’s human activities that caused the catastrophic consequences. “We are facing an extinction crisis,” says Jane Smart, Director of the IUCN Biodiversity Conservation Group. “The loss of this beautiful and complex natural diversity that underpins all life on the planet is a serious threat to humankind now and in the future.” “Species and ecosystems are disappearing at an unsustainable rate. We humans are the cause. We stand to lose a wide variety of environmental goods and services that we take for granted,” warns UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon.
Practical actions
In his message for the celebration of the 2010 WED, Mr. Ban says: “We must generate a greater sense of urgency and establish clear and concrete targets. Biodiversity is life. Biodiversity is our life.”
In response to the call, Vietnam has organized a lot of practical activities in the recent days. The Government, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment decided to hold integrated activities in celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity (2010), of the 2010 WED (June 5), of the World Occeans Day (June 8) and Vietnam’s first Sea and Island week-long Festival. These activities aim to enhance people’s awareness of the importance of natural resources in sustainable development.
On the occasion of the 2010 WED, state agencies and bodies all over the 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam also hold many activities to mark environmental events. Binh Dinh Province locates in the coastal area of southern Central Vietnam. It has benefited lots of marine and ocean resources. With its 134-km long coast and lagoons, the province has favourable conditions to develop its marine exploitation and aquaculture, building up important marine ports and marine tourism. Thus, in its economic development strategy, Binh Dinh determines to target in the marine economy as drive of boosting the province’s comprehensive socio-economic development. However, marine environment in Binh Dinh has been destroying by practices of overexploitation, leading to rapid exhaustion of aquatic resources. A large amount of untreated solid wastes and sewages from businesses and households have been discarded into the ocean, causing pollution and severe quality loss of water in the lagoons and coastal seas.
With aim to protect the environment, Binh Dinh Province People’s Committee orders its provincial related agencies and units to perform practical activities on the occasion of the 2010 WED. The committee call the agencies, organizations and all of the province’s people: Enhance communication about environmental protection to raise awareness of the officers and people about causes and threats of the biodiversity loss; integrate solutions of environmental protection in general and biodiversity conservation in particular into action plans and socio-economic development programmes; encourage businesses to practice “green manufacturing”, gaining strong brand name in term of economics and environment friendly products and services. “Each of the local individual should be aware more about environmental pollution, biodiversity preservation and role of the sea – islands. The awareness should be put into practice as particular action to keep the province’s environment clean and green,” calls the committee.
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