E 246

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News Brief (E246, 4 January, 2008)

Top News

Wildlife confiscated from the illegal trade
Quang Tri police working in cooperation with other local authorities confiscated more than 1 tons of wild animals including cobras, Indochinese rat snakes, common rat snakes, turtles and water monitors on the 25th of December. (Vietnamese version)

On the 26th of December, Quang Nam Forest Protection Department uncovered two cases involving the illegal possession of wildlife. In total approximately 500kg of wild animals including civets, monitor lizards, and snakes were confiscated. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_246/Bat_giu_3_vu_buon_ban_DVHD.pdf

Rangers arrested in Gia Lai province illegal logging case
On the 25th of December Gia Lai police arrested two rangers who were working for Gia Lai province Forest Protection Department, they are believed to have aided in illegal logging in the province in which more than 200m3 of wood was cut. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_246/Kiem_lam_tiep_tay_lam_tac_pha_rung.pdf

The Sai Gon river is dying
According to the Institute for Water and Environmental Technology, pollution in the Sai Gon river has increased to five times the level recorded in 2005. Scientists warn that if drastic measures are not taken soon the Sai Gon river, the main source of water for Ho Chi Minh city, may become a dead river in the near future.
(English version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_246/SaiGon_river_is_dying.html
(Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_246/Tam_quan_trong_cua_song_Sai_Gon.html

Development threatens habitat and traditions in Vietnam’s wersten highland region
According to the Dak Lak province Culture and Information Department the population of tamed elephants has reduced by 100 individuals in a decade, from 1994 to 2004. Remaining elephants are being exploited for use in festival to attract tourists. The Serepok river area is also suffering from the construction of 6 hydroelectric dams which will seriously alter the environment. For the last 15 years, red hemibargus fish, an endemic species in Serepok river, has been significantly reduced in number. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_246/Goc_khuat_buon_Don.pdf http://www.envietnam.org/E_News/E_246/Theo_bong_ca_lang_do.pdf

New law document

Recently, the Government has issued a new decree 159/2007/ND-CP, replacing decree 139/2004/ND-CP. The decree relates to imposing financial fines associated with forest management and protection and forest product management. A newly added article on fining for violations involving keeping wild animals protected in Group 1B is intended to be a useful tool in the fight against the wildlife trade. In addition administrative fines have also been increased. (Vietnamese version)
http://www.kiemlam.org.vn/Desktop.aspx/News/Van-ban-moi/Nghi_dinh_1592007ND-CP_ngay_30102007_Ve_xu_phat_vi_pham_hanh_chinh_trong_linh_vuc_quan_ly_rungbao_ve_rung_va_quan_ly_lam_san/

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