Vietnam: Experts Warn of Coral Reef Damage by Tourists, Highlighting Ecosystem Recovery Challenges

A case where two tourists broke off approximately 10kg of coral has been exposed in Vietnam's coastal areas, raising concerns among experts about the impact on marine ecosystems and the difficulty of recovery. Associate Professor Nguyễn Tác An, former Director of the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography, stated that coral grows only about 1cm per year, making it impossible for the 10kg of coral broken off in this incident to recover in a short period. Coral reefs are vital habitats supporting marine biodiversity, and their destruction has severe consequences for the entire coastal ecosystem. Vietnam, with its long coastline and rich marine resources, faces increasing degradation of its coral reefs due to tourism development and pollution in recent years. This incident highlights the urgent need to raise environmental protection awareness in Vietnam and to educate tourists. The Vietnamese government may need to consider strengthening regulations in national parks and marine protected areas, as well as increasing penalties for illegal harvesting. Implementing educational programs to encourage tourists to respect the local ecosystem is also crucial. Under Vietnam's one-party system, environmental policy decisions and implementation are led by the central government, but cooperation with local authorities and communities is also essential. For Vietnam, which continues its economic growth, sustainable tourism development and the conservation of natural environments are pressing issues for long-term prosperity. Source: The Saigon Times