The Environment Department under the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment is looking to crack down on the import of exotic or alienspecies to Vietnam in a bid to protect local ecosystems.
Under the plan drafted by the department on control of invasivespecies, non-native flora and fauna would have to undergo checks toensure they are not harmful to native organisms, said Hoang Thi ThanhNhan, head of the department's Genetic Preservation Division.
The move follows a boom in the import of foreign species such asred-ear turtles and red swamp shrimp that have harmed local ecosystems.
Last March, a firm in southern Can Tho City legally imported 24,000red-eared turtles from America. It was later transpired that the companydirector did not know red-eared turtles were one of 100 most dangerousinvasive species in the world.
By early October, thereptiles had been processed and frozen for human consumptiondomestically because the company was unable to re-export the animals anddid not want to waste money.
Nhan said Vietnam has yet to conduct a comprehensive study on invasive species in the country and their effects.
Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and otherorganisms that are non-native to an ecosystem, and which may causeeconomic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health. Inparticular, they impact negatively on the native biodiversity throughcompetition, predation or transmission of pathogens.
Invasive alien species, introduced and/or spread outside their naturalhabitats, have affected native biodiversity in almost every ecosystemtype on earth and are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity,according to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Thedepartment said it wants to collect data on alien species in Vietnam,verify their habitation and tighten inspection and control at the importstage.
Those who raise alien species will have toregister the fact with relevant authorities such as the ministries ofNatural Resources and Environment, and Agriculture and RuralDevelopment.
They will also have to ensure the species areproperly controlled and that they cannot spread to the surroundingenvironment, said Le Thanh Binh, head of the Biodiversity PreservationDepartment.
"The programme focuses on preventiveactivities because Vietnam has not been properly monitoring theintroduction of alien species," Binh said.
Duong Minh Tu,from the Plant Protection Department, said there are not sufficientlegal documents in place to properly control the introduction ofnon-indigenous plants and animals and little understanding of theharmful effects of introducing alien species on local ecosytems.
Chu Tien Vinh, the General Fisheries Office deputy head, said a list of banned invasive species should be compiled.
"People import foreign species for commercial purposes or just asexotic pets. Guidelines should be issued to help customs officials crackdown on illegal imports," Vinh said.
Among invasive alienspecies that have been introduced to Vietnam are mimosa pigra, a woodyshrub; yellow snails; water hyacinth; beaver and red-eared turtles./.
Under the plan drafted by the department on control of invasivespecies, non-native flora and fauna would have to undergo checks toensure they are not harmful to native organisms, said Hoang Thi ThanhNhan, head of the department's Genetic Preservation Division.
The move follows a boom in the import of foreign species such asred-ear turtles and red swamp shrimp that have harmed local ecosystems.
Last March, a firm in southern Can Tho City legally imported 24,000red-eared turtles from America. It was later transpired that the companydirector did not know red-eared turtles were one of 100 most dangerousinvasive species in the world.
By early October, thereptiles had been processed and frozen for human consumptiondomestically because the company was unable to re-export the animals anddid not want to waste money.
Nhan said Vietnam has yet to conduct a comprehensive study on invasive species in the country and their effects.
Invasive alien species are plants, animals, pathogens and otherorganisms that are non-native to an ecosystem, and which may causeeconomic or environmental harm or adversely affect human health. Inparticular, they impact negatively on the native biodiversity throughcompetition, predation or transmission of pathogens.
Invasive alien species, introduced and/or spread outside their naturalhabitats, have affected native biodiversity in almost every ecosystemtype on earth and are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity,according to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Thedepartment said it wants to collect data on alien species in Vietnam,verify their habitation and tighten inspection and control at the importstage.
Those who raise alien species will have toregister the fact with relevant authorities such as the ministries ofNatural Resources and Environment, and Agriculture and RuralDevelopment.
They will also have to ensure the species areproperly controlled and that they cannot spread to the surroundingenvironment, said Le Thanh Binh, head of the Biodiversity PreservationDepartment.
"The programme focuses on preventiveactivities because Vietnam has not been properly monitoring theintroduction of alien species," Binh said.
Duong Minh Tu,from the Plant Protection Department, said there are not sufficientlegal documents in place to properly control the introduction ofnon-indigenous plants and animals and little understanding of theharmful effects of introducing alien species on local ecosytems.
Chu Tien Vinh, the General Fisheries Office deputy head, said a list of banned invasive species should be compiled.
"People import foreign species for commercial purposes or just asexotic pets. Guidelines should be issued to help customs officials crackdown on illegal imports," Vinh said.
Among invasive alienspecies that have been introduced to Vietnam are mimosa pigra, a woodyshrub; yellow snails; water hyacinth; beaver and red-eared turtles./.
