A training conference to enhance the management of harmful invasiveforeign species in Vietnam was held by the Biodiversity ConservationAgency (BCA) at the Vietnam Environmental Administration (VEA) innorthernmost Ha Giang province on May 14.

Attendees included representatives from the Departments of NaturalResources and Environment, Departments of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment, nature reserves and several relevant bodies in northern HaGiang and Tuyen Quang provinces.

Invasivenon-native species have been a major cause of biodiversity loss acrossthe globe, BCA Deputy Head Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan said, adding that themanagement of such species was part of the Convention on BiologicalDiversity (CBD) and in the interest of many state governments.

During the conference, the BCA gave participants a brief introductionto invasive foreign species and possible measures to control themcoupled with policies, legal frameworks and responsibilities of eachagency and body in managing invasive foreign species.

The participants also shared their practical experience and recommended solutions to strengthen management.

According to Hoang Van Nhu, Director of the Ha Giang provincialDepartment of Natural Resources and Environment, the department willadvise the provincial People’s Committee to devise policies and legalframeworks on exotic species control and ensure sufficient capable locallevel personnel to address the matter.

Theprovince will work to raise public awareness of the issue, particularlyamong local ethnic minority groups, and open doors to internationalcooperation on biodiversity, he pledged.-VNA