The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) published the National Environment Report 2014 on June 24 with a focus on the rural environment in the past five years.

The report includes six chapters: 1-reform and development in rural areas and the environment; 2-pollution pressure on the rural environment; 3-the current state of the rural environment; 4-impacts of environmental pollution on rural areas; 5-management of the rural environment; and 6-pressing issues in the rural environment and future direction for protecting rural environments.

Bui Cach Tuyen, Deputy Minister of MoNRE and Head of the Vietnam Environment Administration, said that economic growth in the past five years has had adverse impacts on the environment, not only in cities but also in rural areas which are home to 70 percent of the population.

According to Tuyen, environmental pollution has become a serious problem in many rural areas, caused by a number of reasons including weak management, lack of specialised environmental observation and supervision equipment and dedicated employees.

He added that most rural localities are meeting with difficulties in fulfilling the criterion on the environment under the programme on building new-style rural areas.

The report is expected to provide an overview of the environment in rural areas for policy makers to adjust and add policies and solutions to address the problem.-VNA