VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam plans to start a new scheme to monitor environmental resources to prevent natural disasters, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) has said.

Illustrative image -- Photo: danviet

The ministry said the new system would be up to the best South East Asian standards.

The ministry will seek opinions from ministries and sectors to complete the contents of a national master plan for the environment and natural resources.

It will be submitted to the Government next month, said the Deputy Minister of the ministry, Chu Pham Ngoc Hien, at a workshop in Ha Noi on Monday.

A master plan approved by the Prime Minister in 2007 set out to make effective use of natural resources between 2016 and 2025, with a vision through to 2030.

However, after seven years, the plan was found to have shortcomings, such as failing to anticipate the rapid urbanisation of the nation.

The existing scheme monitoring system was built to serve separate fields and at different periods, resulting in overlaps in monitoring the environment, hydro-meteorology and water resources.

Vital factors that should have been taken into account, such as rainfall estimates, reservoir regulations and the control of cross-border water resources were excluded from the plan.

Existing hydro-meteorology monitoring systems in disaster-prone areas, key economic zones and highly polluted urban areas and craft villages are not only ineffective, the lack of information is becoming more worrisome in light of climate change.

To build a proper national environment and natural resources monitoring network, hydro-meteorology, water resources, seas and islands, satellite global positioning and earthquake monitoring must all be used.

The latest plan is to upgrade and modernise monitoring stations from next year, building new facilities and giving priority to areas vulnerable to natural calamities.

VNS