Hesitation Will Exact A Terrible Price
Reported by Le Ha
The Saigon Times speaks with Prof. Vo Quy, Vietnam’s leading ornithologist and environmentalist, about current biological diversity in the country
Q: A remarkable number of Vietnam’s rare birds seem to be on the verge of extinction, don’t they?
A: Of the Vietnamese fauna, 877 species of birds have been identified and around 100 of them are rare. Some have been at risk of disappearance in recent years. Even those which used to be popular in flat plains several decades ago—such as common and imperial pheasants, black-billed magpies, collared and large-billed crows, black-naped orioles and Asian koels—have become hard to find. The scarcity results from our indiscriminate use of chemicals and insecticides. Possibly, many among the thousands of living creatures, including those remaining unknown, are facing extinction precipitated by reckless exploitation of natural resources and polluting activities.
Saurus cranes found in Vietnam have been listed in the world’s Red Book, which has prompted authorities to build a vast sanctuary in the Mekong Delta as their habitat. However, the cranes seem to have left the delta. Please elaborate on that issue.
In Vietnam, Saurus cranes were believed to have gone after the last war. However, in 1985, the Center for Natural Resources and Environment Studies under the Vietnam National University in Hanoi helped reinstate the flock of the cranes in the Dong Thap Muoi area, though the number was small, only a few dozens. Afterward, the local government allocated 9,000 hectares in Tam Nong to a sanctuary for the birds. Some time in the early 1990s, the flock amounted to over 1,000 individuals. Cajeput forests and Chinese water chestnut fields abounded in the area, providing a safe and sound habitat for Saurus cranes as well as birds of other species. However, the local growing population has gradually invaded the sanctuary. As a result, the size of the flock has dwindled.
Another reason is ascribable to local fluctuating water levels. In some years, cajeput forests and Chinese water chestnut fields were flooded, which deprived the cranes of food and residence. In this regard, the necessary and sufficient conditions for the cranes’ haven comprise not only a safe and tranquil environment but also the task of keeping water levels consistent.
How does the extinction of plants and animals adversely affect the environment?
Human beings have known about 10% of the number of living species present in the world. The extinction of any of them is bad news to humans because living creatures react reciprocally in the environment to help the earth’s existence sustain. In fact, the making and extinction of species in nature is an evolutionary process which takes a very long time. The present extensive and indiscriminate exploitation of forests and other natural resources has accelerated the extinction of species, presumably hundreds of times faster than the natural pace. In the next 10 or 20 years, this pace may be 1,000 times or even 10,000 times faster.
Nothing born by nature is redundant. It takes the earth millions of years to create a single species which engages in the chain of sustainable existence of the planet. An extinct species will never come to life again. That also means the protective role of the natural chain will become weaker, and thus the earth’s existence more fragile.
How would you solve the problem of development at the expense of the environment versus environmental protection?
In line with international practices, Vietnam has entered the zone of environmental hazard. Over the past decades, development-related activities have accelerated in an unwise way and the environment has carried the cane.
In Vietnam, if the rate of [environmental] destruction continues, droughts and floods will become more severe. The “tug-of-war” over the choice of economic development hinged on exploitable resources and the protection of natural resources has ever been a headache for any nations plagued by financial constraints. However, once the environment and natural resources are overexploited, it is hard to recover them and the costs are terribly high. Such a country with 75% of its territories being mountains and hills as Vietnam should have at least 50% of the area covered by natural forests. Meanwhile, our existing forests cover only 38% of the area. What’s more, the forests are mostly thin or replanted with merely 10% being natural. In comparison, some 78% of Japan’s area is covered with natural forests.
The Government is proceeding with a national plan for climate change, whose main task focuses on reforestation, especially upstream protective forests. What is your view in this regard?
Official statistics show that [Vietnam’s] forested area has risen to 38% from 28%. But as I have said, most of the reforestation consists of thin or fast-growing trees which allow green coverage of bare hills to be achieved in a short time. This may meet economic purposes but it helps little as far as nature is concerned. These forests are not suitable for many local species or biological diversity. Consequently, the forest coverage has improved over the years but ecological balance has not, especially in the backdrop of an ever-faster climate change on the global scale. As soon as possible, current acacia and eucalyptus forests should be gradually replaced by endemic species with high economic value for the sake of the country’s delicate biological diversity.
In 1985, as vice chairman of the national program on environmental protection and better use of natural resources, did you raise this issue to the country’s then top leaders?
Yes, I did. I remembered telling [late] Party General Secretary Le Duan that Vietnam’s forests would be gone after 20 years if natural environment was not protected. No forests would result in no water for agriculture, hence starvation would be a threat. The top leader seemed to agree with me. But I was later assigned with the task of explaining this issue to all party secretaries and chairs of districts nationwide. I said that was the responsibility of the State, and I was unable to fulfill the task.
Twenty-five years has elapsed since, and environmental protection have failed to attract due attention although many have come to realize how important it is to the existence of all of us.