Participants at the conference (Photo: VNA) Thua Thien – Hue (VNA) - The ForestProtection Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in coordination with the Department of Forest Inspection of Laos, organised a conference in the central city of Hue on February 24 to review theircooperation in the last five years and discuss coordinationactivities in 2023 – 2028.
The event broughttogether representatives of forest management and protection units in 10provinces of Vietnam and Laos.
The two agenciesagreed to exchange information on new regulations and policies in managing andprotecting forests, and timber and wildlife trade; continue mutual support at internationalforums; share experience in formulating mechanisms, policies and laws; strengthencooperation in preventing and controlling forest fire along the border areasshared between the two countries; and coordinate to build a system for earlydetecting and monitoring forest changes.
They will also coordinatein deploying many activities to respond to changes in wood and wood products inthe international market, especially large ones; improving sustainableforest management ability; and creating favourable conditions for businesses toexpand investment in producing and processing forest products in accordancewith current laws of the two countries.
The two agencies willwork closely to supervise and promote trade in forest products; enhance coordinationin preventing illegal cross-border transportation and trade of rare animals andplants; and boost communication and education activities to raise publicawareness on forest protection and biodiversity preservation.
They will also coordinatein proposing bilateral programmes and projects and mobilising resources frominternational organisations to build a cross-border biosphere reserve; monitoringthe conservation and restoration of endangered species; and searching for, breedingand restoring the saola (an endangered bovine, scientifically known as pseudoryx nghetinhensis) population in the central area of Truong Son Mountain Range between the two countries.
Vietnam and Laos share a 2,340 km borderline,sketching through 10 Vietnamese provinces which adjoin 10 Lao provinces. Thetwo countries share seven international border gates, and six main border gates./.
