Posted on November, 08 2019

On the 7th November,WWF-Viet Nam and The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to officially recognise the cooperation between the two entities on the preservation of Viet Nam’s rich biodiversity and tackling the most challenging environmental issues of the country. The MoU was signed by the H.E. Minister Tran Hong Ha and Mr. Prasanna De Silva, Interim Global Director of Country Operations, WWF International.
 
The MoU will provide a framework of cooperation, within which MONRE and WWF-Viet Nam will collaborate in the fields of environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of natural resources, climate change adaptation and mitigation, circular economy, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as water resource management, to make significant contributions toward the improvement of the natural environment and sustainable development in Viet Nam. 
 
WWF and MONRE have been working together for more than a decade on a number of issues, most notably on biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, water resources and sustainable use of natural resources. The long-term partnership has been extremely impactful for both sides and the signing of this MoU will not only strengthen the cooperation between WWF and MONRE, but also elevate the partnership to the next level. 
 
Our planet is in the emergency state. Never before have humans exerted such huge pressure on the planet. In just over 40 years from 1970 – 2014, wildlife populations have declined 60%. Now nature conservation not only means securing the future of tigers, rhinos, elephants or whales and the ecosystems they depend on, but taking drastic action to secure our day-to-day life, health and livelihoods which are dependent on a healthy planet. There is an urgent need to have a New Deal for Nature and People to reverse the loss of nature for the benefit of people and planet. Next year, 2020 is a unique opportunity where some crucial international treaties and agreements will be revised, and it is imperative for all countries to stand together, united in  support of the New Deal for Nature and People - proposing no more loss of natural spaces or species extinction, as well as halving the negative ecological impacts of production and consumption. 
 
Global leaders have a momentous opportunity to drive societies firmly towards a sustainable and equitable development path – unlocking the huge global benefits that the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda offers. Securing the commitment from ministries at the highest level is key to ensuring that this opportunity is driven by policy and leadership, championing those efforts from the top down. Following the statement from Viet Nam's H.E. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, public declaration of a strong commitment from the Vietnamese Government for the New Deal, this MOU signing is an essential next step to realise the commitment of solidarity from Viet Nam for the New Deal for Nature and People. 
 
The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Deputy Minister of MONRE, Mr. Le Cong Thanh and representatives of other Departments of MONRE; Ms. Kavita Prakash-Mani – Global Conservation Director of WWF International and programme leads of WWF International and WWF-Viet Nam.