The Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) province of Lam Dong is planning to cut tens of thousands of hectares of natural pine forests throughout the province and replace them with high-value cash crops, according to the deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Le Van Minh.

The use of energy in a more efficient and effective manner has emerged as an urgent matter for Vietnam as its non-renewable energy sources, including oil and gas, become increasingly exhausted, said a local official.

Four more Vietnamese animals have been added to the 4th IUCN’s Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature), which was announced on October 7 at the first meeting of the 10-day 4th World Conservation Congress.

Two publications by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) in Vietnam, “Guidelines for conserving agricultural biological diversification in Vietnam” and “Guidelines for cadres building biological preservation plans” were made public in Hanoi on September 26.

The European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) put into operation the world’s largest particle collider (LHC) on September 10. Dr. Vo Van Thuan from the Institute for Nuclear Sciences and Technology said Vietnamese scientists will participate in research activities with LHC.

Vietnamese and Japanese software companies FPT Software Co and Hitachi Joho Ltd launched a joint research and development centre in the city last Saturday.

Southern Dong Nai province has kicked start a project to build a centre for biotechnology application research, with a total investment of VND530 billion.

The southern province of Ca Mau has approved a VND144 billion or $9 million project to prevent forest fires and preserve natural landscapes and the ecological environment of the U Minh Ha (lower U Minh) national nature reserve.

The toothed clubmoss (Huperzia serrata or Lycopodium serratum), a rare species of medicinal plant, has been found deep in a forest on a 1,000m high mountain in the central province of Lam Dong. While scientists haven t arrived on the scene yet, some Chinese traders are hunting the trees to bring them to their home.

The PM has approved more than 30 projects to help save endangered ocean species The Prime Minister has approved more than 30 projects to protect and revitalise endangered marine life in Vietnam.