Session 4 Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity

Session 4 Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity Conservation in National, Sectoral and Donor Strategies

The importance of adaptation to …… How to mainstream enforcement of Conventions on Climate Change and biodiversity conservation into national policies? Finance

Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Climate Change into Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategies • Review Climate Change-related actions • Why do policy maker not consider? : no strong recommendations; economic analysis must be attached; lobbying; there is no denying a fact that sometimes a trade-off is needed in order to achieve a balance between development and conservation

The importance of adaptation to …… How to mainstream enforcement of Conventions on Climate Change and biodiversity conservation into national policies? Finance

Law on Biodiversity of Vietnam • A focal point for biodiversity management in Vietnam • A uniform conservation system • Classification of endangered species

Biodiversity conservation corridor initiative

Adaptation to Climate Change - initiative of GTZ India • Adaptation – still a lot of controversies • National Environmental Policy has incorporated adaptation needs into respective programs, piloting in 3 sectors: agriculture, rural development and water resources – Risk analysis – Development of adaptation techniques – Financing tools

National Strategy • Impacts of National Strategy on Climate Change and biodiversity loss • incorporate biodiversity conservation into Comprehensive Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy and Orientations for Sustainable Development Strategy in Vietnam (since 1994)

Linkages between Climate Change, biodiversity and sustainable development • Impacts of climate change – Health – Agriculture – Forest – Water resources – Coastal areas – Ecosystem • Climate Change is caused by human activities – because of rich countries • Vietnam is one of 3 countries worst hit by Climate Change – Strategies and orientations for incorporating climate change into development processes – Action plan for realization of Kyoto Protocol – CDM projects in Vietnam – MONRE is a focal point agency • A framework to incorporate climate change, biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction – economic analysis

Q&A – 3 guiding questions 1. What are the priorities in Vietnam to avoid biodiversity loss caused by climate change? 2. In this context, WHO needs to do WHAT? 3. What is this Symposium’s message to decision makers in Vietnam and the international community?

Plenary discussion • • • According to statistics there are more than 2, 000 restaurants offering wildlife meats and products with a huge volume. Wildlife in Vietnam is posed to a huge threat. How to address this problem while discussing about biodiversity conservation? – With regard to threats from wildlife trading, MARD has issued a strict regulation on wildlife trading but its enforcement is still questionable. – Vietnam has committed to anti-wildlife trade for 2 year. However, wildlife trade takes place only in mountainous regions. Vietnam has established environmental policy force. How to link nature conservation and poverty reduction? May ethnic minority people get benefits from nature conservation? How to get this segment of population involved? – In Vietnam, people are consulted at community level In recent years in Vietnam, how to mainstream CC and BD into strategies and action programs? How to combine these commitments? – Incorporate into Agenda 21, at present, Vietnam is still piloting in the industrial sector Biodiversity loss in Vietnam is not so terrible. Proposed solutions should not be specific for Vietnam only but global solutions are needed. There are big biodiversity conservation projects but also huge infrastructure development projects. MPI does not pay much attention to this issue. Agencies working in environmental protection field do not have comprehensive working relationship with all agencies. Technical assistance is needed. Vietnam should call on international organization’s support for building new works in Vietnam should balance between development and conservation.

1 • With regard to biodiversity conservation, seriousness in law enforcement is needed as the same as seriousness in implementation of poverty reduction programs – Awareness raising for agencies and sectors at all levels – Incorporate into provincial agenda: common voices; propose pilot assistance programs for Provincial People Committees • A roadmap is being developed, based on Laws then to develop other guiding legal documents • Vietnam incorporated an Action Plan on biosafety and Action plan for implementation of Categena Protocol • Specific objectives for biodiversity conservation – indicators? ?

2 • What is the most likely scenario to happen in Vietnam? – One agency alone can not answer this question/issue – PCSM – A scenario for Vietnam has been developed if the sea level rises 1 m

3 • Donors pay much attention to climate change and poverty reduction -> message: Climate Change and biodiversity – links with poverty reduction and sustainable development. • because biodiversity is local people’s livelihood. Thus it must be managed and used in a more sustainable manner.

Conclusion • GTZ’s representative: – How to incorporate Climate Change into biodiversity? Responsible people should consider. – How to get concerned organizations and stakeholders involved? • MONRE’s representatives: – Workshop presented Impacts of Climate Change and biodiversity loss; adaptation measures to different scenarios of Climate Change