“Green capital” for sustainable development

Every year on May 22, the United Nations marks the International Day for Biological Diversity to remind the global community of nature’s invaluable role in human life and sustainable development. The occasion also serves to raise awareness and strengthen the responsibility of individuals and societies in protecting ecosystems, preserving natural resources, and safeguarding biodiversity.

This year, the International Day for Biological Diversity carries the theme “Acting locally for global impact,” emphasizing the critical role of individuals, communities, and grassroots authorities in turning conservation goals into reality. The theme highlights how even small-scale local initiatives and solutions, if implemented consistently and persistently, can have a positive impact on a global scale.

Today, the world is facing mounting challenges to ecosystems and human quality of life, including worsening environmental pollution, rapid urbanization, and increasingly extreme and unpredictable climate change. These are no longer issues confined to a single locality, nation, or region, but have become shared global responsibilities requiring collective action from individuals and the international community alike.

As a locality possessing vast forest areas, diverse ecosystems, and abundant natural resources, Dong Nai considers biodiversity conservation not only an environmental responsibility but also a foundation for its sustainable development strategy.

For the city, protected areas such as Cat Tien National Park, Bu Gia Map National Park, the Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve, along with Tri An Lake and the Dong Nai River, are not only habitats for thousands of plant and animal species but also serve as “green shields” helping to balance industrial development and urbanization.

Biodiversity is not merely about the richness of species in nature; it plays a decisive role in the quality of economic growth and the resilience of the economy against climate change. Protecting forests and biodiversity means preserving water resources for hydropower generation and production, maintaining carbon absorption spaces, creating natural barriers against disasters, and safeguarding the livelihoods of communities living in buffer zones.

Recognizing these immense values, Dong Nai has pursued, for many years, a development path that harmonizes economic growth with environmental protection. The city prioritizes forest conservation and maintaining forest coverage while sustainably utilizing its potential for ecotourism, forestry products, environmental education, and scientific research to generate additional resources for green economic development.

The International Day for Biological Diversity is an occasion to honor the value of nature and, once again, remind everyone of the responsibility to preserve it. Every forest that is encroached upon, every polluted river, and the disappearance of any wildlife species all bring consequences for the environment, human life, and the competitive advantages of localities.

For a locality ranked among the country’s leading industrial centers and now one of Vietnam’s seven cities, the presence of world biosphere reserves, national parks, and cultural and natural reserves home to numerous rare plant and animal species stands as evidence of Dong Nai’s strategic vision and persistent efforts in environmental protection. This invaluable “green capital” will serve as a solid foundation for the city to pursue green and sustainable development while strengthening its role as an important growth engine of the nation.

By Ban Mai – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho