Da Nang (VNA) -༺ Good practices and barriers in implementing integrated coastal management (ICM) in Vietnam and promoting cooperation for the protection of natural resources and environment of the seas of East Asia were discussed at a forum held in the central city of Da Nang on November 19.

As part of the 5th East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress, the forum focused on the needs, opportunities and challenges in promoting and strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and other EAS countries in the conservation and protection of natural resources and the environment for sustainable development of the East Asian seas. It also reviewed the evolution of ICM practices in Vietnam over the past years and identified good practices and areas to be further strengthened, including the support mechanisms required to facilitate the development and implementation of the National Action Plan for the implementation of the Vietnam Integrated Coastal Management Strategy to 2020 and Vision to 2030. As a member of the Partnerships in Environmental Management in the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), Vietnam has made active contributions to the realisation of the Sustainable Development Strategy for the Seas of East Asia (SDS-SEA) and other programmes and projects. The government’s approval of the Vietnam Integrated Coastal Management Strategy to 2020 and Vision to 2030 indicated the country’s determination to pursue the targets of sustainable coastal development. Speaking at the workshop, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands Vu Sy Tuan said ICM was first introduced in the country in 2000 through a PEMSEA-supported national pilot project in Da Nang city and three others in Nam Dinh, Thua Thien-Hue and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces. To date, many personnel at central and local agencies have been trained and provided with fundamental knowledge about ICM. In 2007, the government requested 14 central coastal provinces to implement ICM. In 2016-2020 and beyond, Vietnam will focus on improving policies and laws regarding ICM, stepping up the implementation of ICM in coastal localities and enhancing cooperation with other PEMSEA countries in this field, he added. Many delegates shared a view that the ocean- and coast-based economy plays an extremely important role in promoting economic growth and prosperity of localities, sub-regions and regions. However, rapid economic growth and urbanisation, especially in coastal cities, have posed negative impacts on marine ecological systems.

To prevent the degradation of marine natural resources and environmental pollution, they suggested that the integrated management of marine natural resources and environment should be carried out in all coastal countries.
The same day, PEMSEA and Vietnam co-organised a workshop on the future of coastal cities, where panelists deliberated the need for, and critical role to be played by cities and local governments in the region to lead the way in susta𓆏inable development and comb🧜ating climate change.

The workshop aimed to increase awareness on the progress, achievements and good practices in sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation among local governments and cities in the region, using ICM as the management framework and platform for action. It also explored the benefits and opportunities for strengthening PEMSEA Network of Local Governments (PNLG) initiatives in sustainable development and climate change through linkages with other international networks of local governments and their programmes.-VNA