Instrument

Date

Objective

1. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

1992

Conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.

2. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity (The Biosafety Protocol)

2000

To contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and specifically focusing on transboundary movements.

3. Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

1969

To eliminate acts or practice of racial discrimination against persons, groups of persons or institutions and to ensure that all public authorities and public institutions, national and local, act in conformity with this obligation.

4. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)

1979

To ensure that States Parties condemn discrimination against women in all its forms and pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women.

5. Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

2005

To protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions; to create the conditions for cultures to flourish and to freely interact in a mutually beneficial manner; to encourage dialogue among cultures with a view to ensuring wider and balanced cultural exchanges in the world in favour of intercultural respect and a culture of peace; to foster inter-culturality in order to develop cultural interaction in the spirit of building bridges among peoples; to promote respect for the diversity of cultural expressions and raise awareness of its value at the local, national and international levels; to reaffirm the importance of the link between culture and development for all countries, particularly for developing countries, and to support actions undertaken nationally and internationally to secure recognition of the true value of this link; to give recognition to the distinctive nature of cultural activities, goods and services as vehicles of identity, values and meaning; to reaffirm the sovereign rights of States to maintain, adopt and implement policies and measures that they deem appropriate for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions on their territory; to strengthen international cooperation and solidarity in a spirit of partnership with a view, in particular, to enhancing the capacities of developing countries in order to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions.

6. Convention on the Rights of the Child

1989

That State Parties respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present Convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination of any kind, irrespective of the child's or his or her parent's or legal guardian's race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.

7. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

1973

Regulation of international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora.

8. Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage

2003

To safeguard the intangible cultural heritage; to ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned; to raise awareness at the local, national and international levels of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage, and of ensuring mutual appreciation thereof; to provide for international cooperation and assistance.

9. Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially Waterfowl Habitats (RAMSAR)

1971

The conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world.

10. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

1966

To ensure that State Parties respect and ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the civil and political rights recognised in the Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

11. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

1966

To ensure that each State Party to the Covenant undertakes to take steps, individually and through international assistance and co-operation, with a view to achieving progressively the full realisation of the economic, social and cultural rights recognised in the Covenant by all appropriate means, including particularly the adoption of legislative measures

12. UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage

1972

To ensure that effective and active measures are taken by State parties for the protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage situated on their territory.

13. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

1994

To combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought in countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification, particularly in Africa, through effective action at all levels, supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements, in the framework of an integrated approach which is consistent with Agenda 21, with a view to contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in affected areas.

14. United Nations Convention against Corruption

2005

To promote and strengthen measures to prevent and combat corruption more efficiently and effectively; to promote, facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in the prevention of and fight against corruption, including in asset recovery; to promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property.

15. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

1992

To achieve, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

16. Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC

1997

The Protocol shares the objective and institutions of the UNFCCC.

17. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)

2007

The UNDRIP promotes the rights of indigenous peoples.

National programme

Target

Progress

National Biodiversity Strategy to 20210, Vision to 2030 (2013)

To improve the quality and increase the area of protected ecosystems, ensuring that the area of terrestrial protected areas (TPAs) accounts for 9% of the total territorial area

2020

As of 2018, area of TPAs has reached 2,269,426 ha, accounting for 6.84% of the territorial area^[1]. As of 2021, TPAs covered 7.58%, according to the World Bank^[2].

The area of special use forest TPAs will increase to 2.4 million ha by 2020, as set out in Decision 1976/QD-TTg (2014) of the Prime Minister approving the master plan for the national special use forest system^[1].

Forest coverage reaches 45% (revised to 42%)

2020

Forest cover reached 41.9% in 2019 and 42% in 2020^[3].

Primary forest remains at 0.57 million hectares, and is coupled with effective protection plans; mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs are maintained at the current levels

2020

Natural forest cover has increased from 9 million to 10.3 million hectares in 2020^[3].

It is estimated that there are about 0.5 million ha of primary forest in Viet Nam^[1].

15% of degraded critical ecosystems are restored

2020

According to Viet Nam’s 6th National report to the CBD, there is no data available yet^[1].

Afforestation and reforestation have contributed to increased forest cover. Concentrated afforestation averaged 227,500 ha/year between 2006 and 2020. In 2019, there was over 4.3 million ha of planted forest area, exceeding the strategic target of 1.5 million ha by 2020 in the Forest Development Strategy (2006-2020)^[4].

The number of internationally-recognized protected areas is increased to 10 Ramsar wetlands, 10 biosphere reserves, and 10 ASEAN heritage parks

2020

To improve the quality and populations of endangered, rare and precious species, ensuring that no species become newly extinct, and significantly improve the status of endangered, rare, and threatened species

2020

As of 2014, there were 362 species of animals, and 219 species of plants in Viet Nam listed as threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In the Viet Nam Red Book (2007), the total number of threatened species is listed as 882 species, consisting of 418 animal species and 464 plant species. Through a 2014-2017 project, the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources of the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology updated the Red Book to include 1,211 species with new classifications, an increase on 2007^[1].

By 2030, 25% of the area of natural ecosystems of international importance will be restored

2030

No data available yet

Viet Nam’s NBSAP includes the ‘’task’’: Implementation of forest regeneration program using methods and approaches such as biodiversity conservation, enhancing carbon stock, and adaptation and mitigation of climate change:

- Integrate biodiversity conservation targets into the implementation of the national REDD+ action program (NRAP);

- Map areas of high biodiversity value in the REDD + program; promote the use of native species for forest enrichment and restoration; and contribute to jointly targets on biodiversity conservation and adaptation to climate change;

- Reduce risks to biodiversity from implementation of REDD+ through the application of stringent social and environmental security mechanisms

2020

In Viet Nam, the Forestry Law (2017) requires forestry planning to be consistent with national strategy on biodiversity^[6].The principles, goal and specific objectives of the NRAP^[7] refer to the conservation and enhancement of natural forests, and REDD+ measures include a number that will contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, including ‘’models for natural forests enhancement, protection and conservation, including in natural production forests and special use forests, and forest rehabilitation and enrichment with native species’’.

A 2023 preliminary analysis conducted under the REDD-pac project of the potential of REDD+ to deliver biodiversity conservation benefits in Viet Nam including mapping spatial distribution of carbon stocks and parameters for biodiversity^[8]. In addition, the national guidelines for the development of Provincial REDD+ Action Plans also provide direction on environmental and social benefit and risk assessment, and require compilation of maps related to forests, such as the three forest management categories (including special use and protection forests)^[9].

Viet Nam’s safeguards approach, including national clarification of the safeguards, assessment of REDD+ benefits and risks, and parameters in its SIS, consider potential risks to biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as potential benefits. See Safeguard E [insert link].          

National voluntary Land Degradation Neutrality targets for the period 2017-2020 with vision to 2030 (2017)

Forest protection in 1,000,000 ha in the North West, Highlands, South Central with local resources and 2,000,000 ha with international support

2020

By 2010, Vietnam had planted 79,810 ha of SUF and by 2019 the planted SUF area was 86,570 ha. Planted PTF area in 2010 was 614,265 ha and in 2019 was 692,730 ha. Thus, the total planted area of SUF and PTF by 2010 was 779,300 ha and by 2019 was 694,075 ha. SUF and PTF  together cover about 48% of the forestland area ^[6].

Data per region not available yet

Natural forest restoration in 160,000 ha in the North West, Highlands, South Central with local resources and 250,000 ha with international support

2020

Data per region not available yet

Afforestation in 275,000 ha in the North West, Highland, South Central with local resources and 100,000 ha with international support

2020

Concentrated afforestation achieved an average of 227,500 ha/year between 2006 and 2020. In 2019, there was over 4.3 million ha of planted forest area in Vietnam^[10].

Data per region not available yet

Forest plantation with large timber species in 80,000 ha in the North West, South Central with local resources and 100,000 ha with international support

Updated NDC targets (2020)

Overall target: Viet Nam will have reduced its GHG emissions by 9% compared to the BAU scenario by 2030 with its own domestic resources, equivalent to 83.9 million tonnes CO2eq.
This contribution can be raised up to 27% with international support through bilateral as well as multilateral cooperation and the implementation of new mechanisms under the Paris Agreement

2030

No data on GHG emissions reductions since 2020 available yet.

Annual emission reductions (18.3 MtCO2/year) and removals 38.5 MtCO2/year) during 2010-2018 suggest progress in protection and reforestation in Viet Nam’s forests^[10].

The expected contribution of the LULUCF sector to GHG emissions reductions is 1% with domestic resources (9.3 MtCO2e) and 1.3% with international support (11.9 MtCO2e)^[1].