UN launches REDD phase 2 in Vietnam

The second phase of the United Nations’ “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation” (UN-REDD) projects has been officially launched in Vietnam.
The second phase of the United Nations’ “Reducing Emissions fromDeforestation and Forest Degradation” (UN-REDD) projects has beenofficially launched in Vietnam.

VietnameseMinister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat andrepresentatives from UN agencies on July 29 signed a document startingthe project’s second phase, making Vietnam the first among 47 UN-REDDpartners implementing the second phase with a non-refundable aid worthabout 30 million USD.

Funded by the NorwegianGovernment, UN-REDD is an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions byimproving forest management and land use.

InVietnam, the project is one a pillar of the plan to reduce 20 percent ofagricultural and rural development emissions by 2020. It also aims toincrease forest coverage to 45 percent by 2020 through making andimplementing policies on controlling deforestation and forestdegradation.

Speaking at the signing ceremony,Minister Phat said that as one of the nations seriously affected byclimate change, Vietnam has actively and positively joined theinternational community’s efforts to protect the earth, as well asissued a lot of policies and strategies to cope with climate change.

He also suggested the collaboration between theUN-REDD project phase II and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facilityprojects and other climate change response programmes to help Vietnampromptly develop capabilities to implement REDD plus, which goes beyonddeforestation and forest degradation and includes the role ofconservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement offorest carbon stocks.

UN Resident Coordinator inVietnam Pratibha Mehta said that the country should reach all goals ofthe second phase on time to benefit most from the project.

UN agencies will help optimise the effects of efforts to minimisenegative impacts of climate change in Vietnam, she affirmed.

The REDD project phase II focuses on six provinces of Bac Kan, Lao Cai, Ha Tinh, Binh Thuan, Lam Dong and Ca Mau.-VNA

See more

A green sea turtle returns to lay eggs on Cau Cang Beach. (Photo: VNA)

Rare sea turtle lays eggs on Lam Dong province's Hon Cau Beach

In recent years, to raise public awareness of marine conservation and sea turtle protection, the Hon Cau Marine Protected Area has actively engaged local residents and volunteers in beach patrols and nest ground monitoring. Thanks to these efforts, thousands of baby turtles have been successfully hatched and released back into the sea.

Emission inspections for motorcycles and motorised vehicles will begin in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on July 1, 2027. (Photo: VNA)

Emission standards for motorcycles to be issued in July

Under the draft, motorcycles produced before 2008 will be subject to the lowest level of inspection standards, level 1, while those manufactured from 2008 onwards will be assessed to a higher standard. Similar rules will also apply to motorised vehicles, with level 1 for those manufactured before 2016.

At the workshop (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam consults stakeholders on climate change scenarios

The 2025 scenarios build on Vietnam’s 2020 projections, incorporating the latest findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth assessment report and insights from domestic and global partners. The focus is on extreme weather events, particularly in urban areas, and rising sea levels, which threaten Vietnam’s low-lying coastal regions. The goal is to guide policymaking, urban planning, and local adaptation strategies.

Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam (right), presents the UNESCO Global Geopark Certificate for Lang Son to the provincial leadership. (Photo: VNA)

Lang Son becomes Vietnam’s 4th global geopark

Lang Son Global Geopark spans over 4,842 square kilometres, roughly 58% of the province, and is home to around 627,500 people. It features a rich blend of geological wonders and cultural heritage, including stunning caves and sinkholes such as Nguom Mooc Cave, Tham Lum and Ung Roac. Its biodiversity is also protected within the Huu Lien Nature Reserve.

Visitors flock to see rare insect specimens at the Da dang sac mau con trung Vietnam (The Diversity of Vietnamese Insects) exhibition at the Da Nang Museum. (Photo: nld.vn)

Da Nang exhibition features rare insects endemic to Vietnam

To run until July 13, the Da dang sac mau con trung Viet Nam (The Diversity of Vietnamese Insects) exhibition at the Da Nang Museum features hundreds of rare insect specimens, aiming to spotlight the diversity and uniqueness of the country’s endemic insects.

The Phu Ho agricultural cooperative in Phu Ho commune, Phu Vang district, Hue city mobilises manpower and pumps to drain floodwater and save rice crops for local farmers. (Photo: VNA)

PM orders strengthened disaster preparedness ahead of storm season

Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.

The research team collects seawater samples in Ha Long Bay and Cua Luc. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam pioneers use of AI and remote sensing to monitor seawater quality

According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.

"Shadow of the Wolf" tells the story of a genetically mutated wolf possessing near-human intelligence and emotions. (Photo courtesy of Pham Vinh Khuong)

AI-driven sci-fi film delivers environmental protection message

Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.