Ministry gets tough on nature preservation violations

A corner of U Minh Thuong National Park in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang. The park has been preserving the significant bio-diversity values of a special wetland. (Photo: VNA)

This is part of an amended draft decree on biological conservation violations, which would replace the current Government’s Decree 155/2016/ND-CP issued on November 11, 2016.

The new guidelines mean those who were found to build construction works for illegal residence in the ecological conservation areas would be fined between 500,000 VND and 3 million VND (129 USD).

The same violation in the strictly protected sections of conservation areas would get heavier fines of up to 30-50 million VND (1,290-2,150 USD).

Violations on encroaching the protected areas of conservation to build houses or farms for cattle, poultry and aquaculture raising would be fined between 50-100 million VND (2,150-4,300 USD).

The heaviest fines of up to 400 million VND (17,240 USD) would be imposed for acts affecting or causing damages to the natural ecosystem areas such as mining, embanking water tanks, using fire or toxic substances during the natural resource exploitation.

The draft also stipulated severe sanctions for violations on wetland encroachment.

Acts that caused damages to the wetlands would face the fines of between 250-400 million VND (10,750-17,200 USD). In case the acts giving negative impacts on the migratory birds, violations would be given more 200-300 million VND (8,600-12,900 USD).

The amended draft decree aims to tighten control on environmental protection, biodiversity preservation and protection of natural ecosystems and migratory birds.

The ministry is collecting the public’s opinions for the draft decree before submitting it to the Government for approval.

VNA