Initial outcomes from a Japanese-supported project on developing anational biodiversity database system in Vietnam were introduced at aworkshop in Hanoi on January 27.

The project, running from 2011to March 2015, is implemented by the Vietnam EnvironmentalAdministration (VEA)’s Biodiversity Conservation Agency in coordinationwith the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

It hasbeen piloted in the Xuan Thuy National Park in the northern province ofNam Dinh and is scheduled to be expanded to all natural reservesnationwide.

The project has been working on a development planfor the national biodiversity database, designing indicators monitoringbiodiversity in Vietnam and in the Xuan Thuy Park. It is also buildingcoordination mechanisms for relevant agencies in managing, sharing andusing the database.

VEA Deputy General Director Nguyen The Dongsaid a complete national biodiversity database system will greatlyassist State agency management of biodiversity and implementation oflegal regulations on biodiversity conservation.

It will also be a reliable source of information for domestic and foreign individuals and organisations to refer to, he added.

Expertshave noted Vietnam’s rich biodiversity, which makes up about 10 percentof global organisms. Nam Dinh province has prominent high-biodiversityareas such as the Xuan Thuy National Park, the first Ramsar site in thecountry as well as in Southeast Asia.-VNA