Chile will host apec 2019

That was announced at a launch ceremony held by SAV in Hanoi on December 22. The Vietnamese agency, as the Chair of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) for the 2018-2021 term, chaired the online launch meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Auditor General of Vietnam Ho Duc Phoc said that from the proposal of the SAV on initiating an audit of cooperation among ASOSAI’s SAI members in Southeast Asia, on the basis of consultation with related stakeholders, the participating SAIs agreed to choose the subject for the collaborative audit on water management in the Mekong River basin in line with SDG implementation.

In July 2020, the 55th ASOSAI Executive Board Meeting officially approved the project with the participation of three SAIs, including Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand. The audit has been included in the 2020-2022 working plan for the ASOSAI Working Group on Environmental Auditing (ASOSAI WGEA) and the 2019-2021 working plan for the ASEANSAI Knowledge Sharing Committee (ASEANSAI KSC).

At yesterday’s online meeting, Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar signed a Statement of Commitments with terms of reference (ToR) for the cooperative audit, confirming cooperation among the three SAIs and the coordination relationship between the parties to the audit.

Accordingly, the cooperative audit is to be carried out in the form of a parallel audit, applying an operational audit type and will be conducted simultaneously by three SAIs. Each participating SAI may apply a different audit method tailored to the needs and interests of each country.

The two main objectives of the audit are defining the responsibilities of countries involved in implementing national SDGs in the Mekong River basin, and assessing whether the countries concerned have fulfilled the commitments linked to the implementation of the international SDGs in relation to the management, use and protection of water resources in the Mekong River basin.

The SAI of Vietnam, as the initiating and leading SAI of the audit, will be responsible for leading other SAIs in the project, while creating a mechanism for information exchange and close cooperation between the parties, as well as coordinating the support of international audit experts and participating SAIs to ensure the effectiveness and quality of the audit.

>>> Hopes raised for conservation of world’s rarest turtle in Vietnam

>>> New individual of world’s rarest turtle found in Hanoi

The Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) of Indo-Myanmar Conservation (IMC) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have made dramatic progress to possibly prevent the extinction of the Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle.

At a Hanoi workshop last week, scientists revealed that genetic testing has confirmed a female turtle captured last October in Dong Mo Lake in suburban Hanoi is definitively a Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle.

This confirmation means that in addition to the one known male Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle at Suzhou Zoo in China, there is now the female captured in Dong Mo Lake.

Authorities believe there is at least one more of these turtles in Dong Mo Lake and yet another in nearby Xuan Khanh Lake. Conservationists hope to at least to capture and determine the sex of the turtle in both Dong Mo and Xuan Khanh Lakes this coming spring.

The mission team photographed with the giant turtle captured in October 2020. (Photo credit: ATP/IMC)

Ultimately, conservationists aim to ensure at least one male and female are given a chance to breed to ensure this species can return from the brink of extinction.

Nguyen Huy Dang, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said: “This is a very important mission and it needs to be done effectively. We have been seeking advice and consultation from the Hanoi People’s Committee to promulgate guiding documents and to collaborate with international organisations to execute our development and conservation plan of rafetus swinhoei. Hanoi Department of Fisheries has been assigned to continue implementing the Plan #200 from the Hanoi People’s Committee to revive and preserve the Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle, a rare, precious and endangered species listed in Vietnam’s Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List.”

The team took measurements of the animal. (Photo credit: ATP/IMC)

Timothy McCormack, Programme Director of the ATP/IMC said: “It is so important that we are taking these steps, confirming the sex of the identified animals, and in the case of the animal in Xuan Khanh Lake confirming the species, as currently this has only been based on Environmental DNA. Once we know the sex of the animals in Vietnam, we can make a clear plan on the next steps, hopefully we have a male and a female, in which case breeding and recovery of the species becomes a real possibility. At the same time, our surveys in other areas of Vietnam suggest other animals might still survive in the wild, we need to be looking at bringing these together as part of the broader conservation plan for the species.”

WCS Vietnam Country Director Hoang Bich Thuy said: “In a year full of bad news and sadness across the globe, the discovery of this female can offer all some hope that this species will be given another chance to survive. In Vietnam, with the leadership of the government, we are determined to take responsibility to give this species another chance.”

A closer look at the rare turtle. (Photo credit: WCS Vietnam)

Andrew Walde, Chief Operating Officer of the Turtle Survival Alliance, a technical advisor on this project, said: “This is the best news of the year, and quite possibly the last decade, for global turtle conservation. As the most endangered turtle on Earth, a tremendous amount of energy and resources have been dedicated to the preservation of the Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle. Following the loss of the only known female at the time in 2019, the confirmation of this wild specimen as female is a cause for celebration for all those who have worked tirelessly to see this turtle species survive.”

Prior to this discovery, there had been a major effort to breed the remaining two known animals of the species. Then, the last known female Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle died on April 13, 2019, during recovery from anaesthesia after an artificial insemination procedure in Suzhou, China. The male and female turtles, which had failed to produce offspring naturally after they were brought together in 2008, were determined to be healthy for the procedure, and similar anaesthesia procedures had previously been performed without incident. When the female died, the hopes for the species turned to the possibility of additional turtles in two different lakes in Vietnam, Dong Mo and Xuan Khanh.

Since early 2019, with technical support from the ATP/IMC and WCS, Hanoi Fisheries Department had organised various consultation and review meetings to develop a technical approach for the discovery and capture, while conducting more surveys of Dong Mo Lake and selecting trapping locations.

The plan was delayed due to COVID-19 until September 2020 when a team returned to the field, including local fishermen, the Hanoi Fisheries Department and the ATP/IMC and WCS personnel.

The animal was fitted with a PIT tag device before being released to the lake. (Photo credit: ATP/IMC)

They spent weeks putting out a series of nets to create a trapping zone, making sure that from the 1,400 ha lake, the turtle could be observed in a fenced-in 90 ha capture zone. On October 22, an animal was seen next to the net fence and a quick-thinking team member was able to capture the animal with the help of a local fisherman.

With the close coordination and technical support from the capture and animal care teams, on October 23, a health check was done, samples were taken, an ultrasound was performed and a physical check was recorded. The animal weighed in at 86kg and 1m in length. An identification microchip was implanted, while swabs and blood samples were taken for a future conservation plan. She was healthy, strong and keen to get back in the lake where she was released on the same day.

Ultrasound was performed, which helped confirm the animal’s sex. (Photo credit: ATP/IMC)

A comparison of head markings from the animal captured in October 2020 against those of a large Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle rescued and released back into Dong Mo Lake in November 2008 indicate that it is the same animal.

With sightings of a second animal in Dong Mo Lake, additional work started at the end of November with the capture team which then did simulation exercises on different trapping methods. It is hoped the second animal can be captured and confirmed at the lake in spring 2021 when the water level is at the lowest.

The team is hopeful the second animal is also a Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle and a male, giving even more hope that the world’s rarest species can mate and produce offspring in either a semi-wild area or captivity in Vietnam.

The second Swinhoe’s Softshell Turtle discovered on Dong Mo Lake. (Photo credit: WCS Vietnam)

This comment was made by Outbox Consulting – a company specialising in providing in-depth research and consulting solutions for the tourism and hospitality sectors in Vietnam in a report on Vietnam’s Travel Trends in 2021, announced on February 24.

Changing travel habits

Before COVID-19, exploring a crowded city, strolling through bustling markets, enjoying dinner at a bistro brimming with locals, or touring major attractions were Vietnamese tourists’ favourite activities. However, as the epidemic has still been fully resolved, tourists are now giving their top priority to their safety in the new situation.

Therefore, socially distant travel is expected to be the trend once again in 2021. Travelers will select sparsely populated areas nearby so that they can set plans and tours that align with their travel demands and ensure protection from the pandemic.

Vietnamese tourists often spend 2-3 days, especially weekends or short holidays, travelling to domestic destinations. This year once again, they will choose destinations that are easy to move and near their cities they live.

Coastal and island destinations are still the Vietnamese tourists’ favourite, with Vung Tau and Nha Trang emerging as popular destinations for domestic tourists. In addition, other famous tourist sites such as Ha Long, Sapa, Phu Quoc and Da Lat will attract a large number of visitors.

If socially distant travel is how independent travelers will adapt to the new situation, small group travel is the choice for people who want to travel as a group and adapt to the current situation.

Different from regular trips in 2019 that could accommodate 20 – 30 visitors, sizes have shrunk down to control the spread of infectious diseases.

According to Outbox Consulting, the COVID-19 pandemic will make wellness travel an emerging trend this year. Wellness travel is not a new trend in the tourism industry; however, during the pandemic, fatigue and stress have become familiar to almost everyone. So, after the pandemic is controlled, visitors will find wellness retreats useful after a long period of repressed travel demand.

Vietnam was considered an emerging destination in the wellness travel trend in the Asian Pacific region in 2019. This, combined with an increase in visitors’ demands for wellness travel trends in 2021 will present an opportunity for Vietnam’s wellness tourism market, especially as Vietnam is emerging as a safe destination in terms of controlling the pandemic.

Another feature that has emerged during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic is that visitors tend to book accommodation at the last minute because they they perceive it may be harder to cancel and get a refund for hotel bookings as opposed to flight tickets.

Pre-COVID, Vietnamese travelers often planned their trip and booked services long before their departure, especially when it came to overseas tours, in order to save money. However, in the face of the complicated developments of COVID-19, shorter booking timeframes will help mitigate the risk of travel policy changes and mobility restrictions.

Contactless technology to inspire traveler confidence

The use of technology in tourism has long been popular across the world and in Vietnam in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic sped up this digital transformation in 2020.

This year, technology will be a leading factor helping visitors regain their confidence. A survey conducted by Censuswide tshowed more than 4 out of 5 travelers said that technology would increase their confidence to travel in the next 12 months. They noted that a mobile app that provides warnings and updates during trips, for example local outbreaks or the government’s latest guidelines, will be essential this year.

In addition, contactless payments (for example, Apple, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo) will help tourists travel more confidently within next 12 months. In 2021, safety will be of paramount importance, and simple technological solutions will be the driving force for travelers to explore the world more confidently. Vietnamese tourists are part of the general global technological .

Commenting on the roadmap for the recovery of Vietnam’s tourism, the Outbox Consulting report said it will depend on foreign countries’ ability to control the epidemic. Beside vaccines, the speed of tourism’s recovery depends partly on factors that boost destinations reopening timeframes.

All seven bears are now on their way to the bear sanctuary run by the international animal welfare organisation Four Paws in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

In addition to the recused bears in Binh Duong, six more bears in Lam Dong, Hai Duong and Hanoi were delivered in October and two others from Phu Tho were transferred on November 3.

From the beginning of October, a total of 15 bears have been transferred from bear bile farms to rescue centres, according to Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV), a local NGO focused on the conservation of nature and the environment.

In recent years, many bear owners have decided to transfer their bears to rescue centres, Vu Thi Quyen, ENV Director said, adding that her NGO will continue its efforts to mobilise other bear owners across the country to act in the same way and help put an end to bear bile farming in Vietnam.

In 2005, the country had more than 4,300 bears in farms for bile. However, as of November 2020, this number has decreased to less than 400 with more than 60% of provinces and cities in Vietnam no longer keeping bears for bile, thanks to the efforts of government, law enforcement agencies, the community and a number of NGOs in Vietnam.

Maya Pastakia, Global Campaign Manager at the World Animal Protection (WAP), appreciated the Vietnamese government’s efforts to end bear bile farming, adding that the number of bears in bear bile facilities has decreased by 90% since 2005.

A bear with mutated fur waiting to be rescued.

It was Four Paws’ biggest bear rescue trip in 2020, said Barbara van Genne, Four Paws’ Advocacy & Wildlife Programme Manager. At the Ninh Binh Bear Conservation Centre founded in 2019, Four Paws provides a new home for rescued bears, allowing them to live with similar species in a semi-wild environment with nutritious rations and the care of veterinarians.

In 2005, the WAP in cooperation with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reached a landmark agreement to gradually eliminate bear bile farming in Vietnam. In cooperation with the Government of Vietnam, the WAP and ENV have provided equipment and professional training to attach microchips to bears in bear bile facilities for better management.

In parallel with the activity, Provincial Forest Protection Departments have also strengthened inspection and supervision of bear captive activities, while transferring bears to rescue centres operated by the State or international organisations, such as Four Paws, Free the Bears and Animals Asia Foundation.

In addition to the sanctuary in Ninh Binh, Animals Asia Foundation also runs the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre at Tam Dao National Park. In the South, Free the Bears operates a Bear Rescue Centre in Cat Tien National Park. In Hanoi and some other localities across the country, there are also rescue centres capable of receiving bears.

According to the Vietnam Institute of Seas and Islands under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), plastic waste accounts for between 50% and 80% of marine waste. Currently, Vietnam is ranked fourth among the five countries which have the biggest volume of plastic waste in their seas, with a volume of between 0.28 and 0.73 million tonnes per year (equivalent to around 6% of the world’s total plastic waste discharged into the sea).

According to the experts, the main sources of pollution related to marine plastic waste in Vietnam include land-based waste sources and marine-based waste sources from activities such shipping, fishing, natural incidents, floating trash at sea and other activities. On the other hand, over recent years, the marine tourism industry has developed strongly, attracting hundreds of millions of domestic and foreign tourists each year. Thus, the volume of plastic waste discharged by tourists to Vietnam’s marine tourism areas is forecasted to be more than 206,000 tonnes by the end of 2020, of which nearly 40% will be discharged into the sea. Many beautiful beaches such as Ha Long Bay, or some islands such as Cat Ba, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, and Cu Lao Cham, are facing the risk of environmental pollution, especially an increasing amount of plastic waste. Worryingly, micro-sized (less than five millimeters) plastic waste formed during the manufacturing process, or fragmentation of plastic materials which exist as suspended matter and in seabed sediments do not decompose easily. They easily accumulate in the biological food chain causing a significant impact on marine ecosystems. Large plastic waste such as nets and floating fishing gear also cause serious harm to marine organisms when they become trapped, reducing fishing productivity and causing impacts on the other ocean ecosystems.

Facing this situation, at the end of 2019, the Prime Minister promulgated the National Action Plan on marine plastic waste management by 2030. The action plan hopes that by 2030, the country will have reduced 75% of plastic waste in the ocean, have collected 100% of lost or discarded fishing tools, and have eradicated the direct discharge of fishing tools into the ocean. With this scheme, Vietnam also hopes all tourist sites, tourist accommodation establishments and other tourism service providers in coastal areas will not use disposable plastic products or non-biodegradable plastic bags. Meanwhile, all coastal nature reserves will become free of plastic waste by 2030.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Minh Ngan said, as a management agency in the field of natural resources and environment, the MoNRE has actively implemented the National Action Plan on marine plastic waste management by 2030 in the whole industry, with the aim of focusing on communication, raising awareness and changing behaviour with plastic products and marine plastic waste. Meanwhile, the ministry has proposed and coordinated with coastal localities to build and pilot a model of sorting waste and plastic waste at source in a number of economic zones, urban areas, industrial zones and coastal processing zones.

Currently, the MoNRE is directing functional agencies to review, research, and develop a waste management mechanism for plastic marine waste, in which the focus is on completing and building a new system of environmental technical regulations on plastic marine waste to national standards. The ministry is developing policies to support and encourage organisations and enterprises to produce and use green, recyclable and environmentally friendly products. Meanwhile, the ministry is maintaining cooperative relationships and closely coordinating with countries and international organisations in the field of controlling and managing marine waste and implementing Vietnam’s initiatives with the international community on its management.. The MoNRE assigned the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, the General Department of Environment to be the lead agency, coordinate with relevant agencies to synthesize, statistise, classify and assess the sources of plastic waste in coastal areas, islands and from sea activities in order to build a unified specialized database of marine plastic waste, comparable with the national database on waste sources; lead the implementation of in-depth scientific research on the impact of plastic marine waste, especially microplastics on natural resources, the environment, marine ecosystems and human health.

Experts in the field of the marine environment have also suggested that the Government, ministries and branches, especially local governments in coastal localities should organise the effective implementation of movements and campaigns for waste collection and cleaning beaches at national and local level at least twice per year. In particular, it should be noted that the arrangement of storage facilities and waste and plastic waste centres is appropriate, safe and convenient, ensuring aesthetics and environmental sanitation. It is necessary to mobilize more active participation of local people in collection; at the same time, encourage and support organisations and individuals to collect, recycle and reuse plastic waste in river basins, coastal ecosystems areas, mangroves, beaches and coastal water areas. It is necessary to strengthen communcation and advocacy to raise awareness, changing people of all class’ behavior with regard to plastic products and the plastic marine waste.