Environmental IMPACT of Socio-Economic development in sumary
Industrialisation
Urbanisation
Agriculture and rural
development
Environmental impacts of mineral
resources exploitation
Energy development
Transport
development
Tourism Development and
Environment
Environmental IMPACTS OF socio - economic
development
Since the "Renovation" policy of 1986, the Vietnamese
economy has significantly developed, registering an annual growth rate in
GDP of 8.5% in the early 1990s and 8.15-9.54% between 1995 and 1997. In
the period 1998-1999 the growth rate decreased to between 5-5.8% (of which
industry was 8-10% and agriculture 3.4%)
1.1 . Industrialisation
According to data from the General of
Statistics, there were 592,948 industrial enterprises in Vietnam in 1998,
comprising 881 enterprises with foreign investment, 575 central
state-owned enterprises, 1,246 local state-owned enterprises and 590,246
private enterprises. While in June 1996 there were only 16 industrial
zones their number increased to 66 by June 1999.
Old
industries
The old industries installed before 1975 are mainly medium
and small-scale industries that are equipped with backward technologies
and scattered throughout the country. Around 90% of the old enterprises do
not have wastewater treatment systems and the older industrial zones also
do not have any common effluent treatment plants.
New industries
Since the
National Plan on Environment and Sustainable Development (1991-2000) was
adopted in 1991 and the Law on Environmental Protection became effective
in 1993, majority of the new industries had EIA reports and applied
pollution control systems. These were often concentrated in industrial
zones that do not have any significant environmental
problems.
The process of urbanisation in Vietnam
has grown very rapidly. In 1990, there were only 500 large and small urban
centres that have grown to 623 at present. The urban population has
increased from 19% of total population in 1986, to 20% in 1990 and 23.5%
in 1999. As forecasted, it will be 30 - 33% in 2010 and increasing to
almost 40 - 45% by 2020.
[Top]
1.3. Agriculture and
rural development
Use of chemical fertilisers
In general, the rate of use of chemical
fertilisers per hectare of cultivated land in Vietnam is still very low,
averaging around 126 kg (N+P20+K20)/ha in the plains and lower in midlands
and mountainous areas.
Use
of pesticides
Over the years, the damage caused by pests has been
increasing. Therefore, the use of pesticides in agriculture increases with
each passing day.
Sanitation in rural
environment
Although many programs
have been launched to improve rural environmental sanitation, the existing
conditions of environmental sanitation of rural areas in Vietnam are still
critical, especially in the poverty stricken rural areas. It is estimated
that only 30-40% of rural population has access to safe potable water.
1.4.
Environmental impacts of mineral resources exploitation
At present there are more
than 1,000 mines operating to exploit over 50 different kinds of mineral
products whereas, places of illegal and manual exploitation are scattered
all over Vietnam. The two biggest mineral industries in Vietnam are the
coal exploitation in Quang Ninh and the petroleum and gas exploitation in
the offshore areas of the East Sea. Such large-scale exploitation of
minerals has destroyed the land, forests and caused heavy pollution to the
water and air environments.
[Top]
1.5. Energy
development
[Top]
1.6. Transport
development
In recent years, the transportation
systems including roads, railways, waterways and airways have developed
very rapidly. The total number of transport vehicles has also increased
very rapidly, in particular, cars and motorcycles. For example, in Ho Chi
Minh City there were only 494,000 motorcycles and 49,000 cars in 1990 that
grew to 1,298,000 motorcycles and 195,000 cars by 1997. It is estimated
that on average there is 1 motorcycle for every 2 persons living in Ha Noi
and Ho Chi Minh cities. The total volume of fuel for transportation
increased from only half a million tons in 1990 to around 1.2-1.4 million
tons at present. Majority of the petrol used is leaded petrol, which is
however, being completely phased out from July 2001.