The Environmental News and environmental journalists have voted to choose the Top 10 environmental events in Vietnam in 2013. This is the third year in row the Environmental News and environmental journalists have joined this event.
1. Longest lava cave in Southeast Asia found in Dong Nai
The Vietnam Institute of Tropical Biology discovered a lava cave in Dong Nai province, which is measured to be the longest in Southeast Asia.
Since February 2013, scientists of the Vietnam Institute of Tropical Biology and the Berlin Speleo club of Germany made the finding during a two-month survey of 11 lava caves stretching 1.8 km in Dong Nai province. Particularly, Hang Doi (Bat Cave), an arch-shaped cave, located in Village 8, Phu Loc Commune, Tan Phu District, comprises of two parts called Bat Cave No 1 and Bat Cave No 2. The largest section of Bat Cave is 4 metres high and 10 metres wide. In some lava caves in Tan Phu, many species such as bats, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, cavecrickets, flies, ferrets, frogs are found.
However, local residents often use nets to trap bats for food and this seriously affects the living environment of this animal which feeds on mosquitoes.
2. Nicotex Thanh Thai Company found to bury tonnes of pesticides
The incident started on August 26, 2013 when hundreds of locals blocked a road to prevent a truck of Nicotex Thanh Thai Joint Stock Company based in Cam Van commune, Cam Thuy district, Thanh Hoa province carrying many drums from exiting the company. Guessing that the drums contained the waste of pesticide production being transported for dumping in an illegal location or to be destroyed because inspectors planned to probe the company.
After that, authorities and local villagers found more than 843 tonnes of toxic pesticides buried underground in the company plot. On September 18, Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Quyen signed a decision to impose a fine of more than VND420 million on Nicotex Thanh Thai Joint Stock Company for violating environmental protection laws and halted the company’s operations in order to address the environmental pollution it had caused.
But so far, Nicotex Thanh Thai Joint Stock Company has not reached an agreement with environmental treatment units on cooperation contents, leaving the case in a stalemate. The Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee said that if the company did not keep pace with the schedule, the province would take coercive action in accordance with the law.
3. Permanent cancellation of Dong Nai 6 and 6A power plant projects
After nearly three years of discussing, surveying and conferencing from 2011 to 2013, the way-out for two hydropower plant projects, Dong Nai 6 and Dong Nai 6A, were eventually found out.
After receiving Report 142/BC-BTNMT dated August 30, 2013 submitted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Prime Minister issued Document 7958/VPCP-KTN dated September 23, 2013 to give opinions and directions to these two projects.
According to the guidance of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Industry and Trade eliminated the two projects from the power development planning. This decision was applauded by scientists and residents.
4. Rare giant muntjac discovered in Sao La Nature Reserve
On October 23, 2013, Le Ngoc Tuan, Director of Sao La Nature Reserve in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, discovered the existence of giant muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis), a rare animal species, in the area.
Before that, other indigenous animals like annamite striped rabbits, red-shanked douc langurs, and crested arguses were also found here. At present, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is helping the reserve set more camera traps to take further images of rare species here.
5. Krempf flower found in Vietnam after over 100 years
On November 2, Vice Director of Biology Faculty under Da Lat University, Mr Luong Van Dung, said a Krempf flower species has been found in Hon Giao Island in the central province of Khanh Hoa after German botanist M. Krempf first discovered it over 100 years ago.
After comparing specimens, local experts affirmed that the finding was a Krempf flower, scientifically named Camellia Krempfii (Gagnep.) Sealy. Researchers included Mr Luong Van Dung, Pham Huu Nhan and Truong Quang Cuong, and two staff members at Biduop Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong central highlands province.
The Krempf flower was discovered at an altitude of 800 metres. This is a small flowering plant species and its flower has a diameter of 5.5 - 7cm.
6. Red sludge reservoir breaks in Binh Thuan
A red mud reservoir broke its banks at 7:30 am on November 18 in Thuan Quy commune, Ham Thuan Nam district, Binh Thuan province where the Binh Thuan Investment and Mineral Joint Stock Company was exploiting titanium. The incident saw red mud spill into nearby pine woods and under-construction resorts before sliding into the sea. The knee-deep red sludge also blocked traffic routes connecting Phan Thiet City to La Gi Town via Ham Thuan Nam district.
This is not the first time the reservoir broke in Binh Thuan province. According to an official of Binh Thuan province, spills will inevitably impact the surrounding areas because titanium contains radioactive factors.
7. Hao Duong Company has operations suspended for discharging waste into the Dong Dien River
Hao Duong Company has been fined many times since 2005 for discharging toxic wastewater into the surroundings. However, it continued to violate the environment laws.
On October 26, 2013, the Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department (C49) detected and caught Hao Duong Company, a leather tanner, discharging wastewater into the Dong Dien River.
On November 20, 2013, Mr Le Manh Ha, Deputy Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, signed a decision to temporarily suspend the operation of Hao Duong Company until it finished carrying out environmental protection measures.
But on December 3, the C49 police force inspected the company and found three underground pipes discharging wastewater that was found to contain toxic contents dozens or even hundreds of times above the allowed limit.
8. National Assembly passes revised Land Law
On November 29, the lawmaking National Assembly ratified the revised Land Law with 89.96 percent of ayes. The new law specifies regulations on revocation of land for national defence and security purposes, and for socioeconomic development and public purposes.
Before casting votes, the lawmakers heard explanatory reports on public opinions by Chairman of Economic Committee of the National Assembly, Nguyen Van Giau. In addition, compilers also organised conferences on the revised laws to collect valuable comments and opinions from organisations, individuals and authorities.
The new Land Law details the order and procedure of coercion. It also specifies land price framework based on market mechanism.
9. Prime Minister requires closure of all natural forests in 2014
On December 23 and 24, 2013, the Government held an online conference with local authorities to implement the Resolution of the National Assembly on socioeconomic development tasks and State budget estimations in 2014 under the chair of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
He said the country currently has a total of 10.5 million ha of natural forests, including 2 million ha of special-use forests, 4 million ha of protective forests where commercial logging is forbidden, and 4.5 million ha of natural forests for planned commercial exploitation. Especially, the cabinet leader stressed that all natural forests will be firmly closed in 2014 for restoration.
The climate change response scheme drafted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment set targets for Vietnam to increase forest coverage to 45 percent by 2020, maintain special-use forest area at 2 million ha, recover 0.62 million ha of natural forests, newly plant 250,000 ha and replant 750,000 ha of protective forests and special-use forests, and restore 350,000 ha of poor natural forests.
10. Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group’s affiliate cuts rubber forests to grow sugarcane
On December 25, the Chairman of Provincial People's Committee of Gia Lai province asked Gia Lai Forest Planting Joint Stock Company, an affiliate of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, to stop cutting rubber trees, keep the site intact and halt growing sugarcanes on its nearly 200 ha of land in Po To commune, Ia Pa district, Gia Lai province.
In 2008, Gia Lai province recalled more than 1,500 ha of poor forest area in Po To commune and allocated it to Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company. Then, this forest land was assigned to Gia Lai Forest Planting Company, also subordinated to Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, for rubber planting.
The demolition of rubber trees for sugarcane cultivation was not reported to the provincial government and was not permitted by the provincial government.
The public is waiting for the verdict of Gia Lai province for the spectacular bypass action of this company. Planting rubber trees on 50,000 ha of poor forest area is a major policy of the Government. Tough measures on intentional violations of this policy are necessary.
Vietnamese
