The announcement was made at a ceremony to launch a “national week for safe water and environment sanitation” in Hanoi on April 18.

According to the National Steering Committee for Safe Water and Environment Sanitation, Vietnam ranks tenth among the world’s biological diversification countries and is one of countries with the fastest rate of diversified diminution.

The committee said many natural ecological systems have been violated and forest areas have been reduced. Natural and mangrove forests are being destroyed and water resources are in danger of drying up due to uncontrolled exploitation. In addition, high urbanization growth and population boom are also bringing pressure to bear upon on natural resources and environment, especially in big cities and industrial and processing zones. Meanwhile, local people and businesses’ awareness of environment protection is not high, the steering committee said.