Prompt actions urged to control invasive alien species
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) has called for prompt actions by ministries and sectors to control invasive alien species (IAS), some of which have entered Vietnam’s natural environment and caused serious consequences.
Boxes of crayfish, listed as a species with high invasion risks, seized in Lang Son province on May 25 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment (MoNRE) has called for prompt actions by ministries and sectors tocontrol invasive alien species (IAS), some of which have entered Vietnam’snatural environment and caused serious consequences.
According to the Biodiversity ConservationAgency of the MoNRE’s Vietnam Environment Administration, there are more than90 IAS, both plants and animals. It is worrying that some IAS have enteredVietnam in large volume and broken out in nature, affecting local biodiversity.
Most recently, on December 28, 2018, the MoNRElisted crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) as a species with high invasion risksthat must be prevented from spreading to the natural environment.
Reports from localities, market surveillance andcustoms agencies and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showthat illegal batches of crayfish were uncovered in some provinces and cities thisMay. Notably, the northern border province of Lao Cai busted seven traffickingcases, seizing 945kg of crayfish.
After that, agencies managed to control the situation,and no new illegal crayfish trafficking and importing cases were discovered inJune.
At a MoNRE meeting in Hanoi on June 26,participants said to control the spread and minimise negative impact of IAS, itis necessary to fine-tune policies and laws in this field, step upcommunications to raise people and businesses’ awareness of IAS prevention anderadication, and manage information online.
MoNRE Deputy Minister Vo Tuan Nhan saidministries and sectors need to join hands in the work and increasecommunications to raise public awareness. He also asked the Vietnam EnvironmentAdministration to assess the IAS situation nationwide and propose solutions tothe Prime Minister to prevent and minimise negative impactof these species.-VNA
VNA
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