Education for Nature Vietnam
News Brief (E155, 3rd - 8th March, 2006)
Wildlife trade seized
ThuaThienHueProvince – On February 21st, the Phu Loc distric Forest Protection Department (FPD) discovered a bus illegally transporting 54 kilograms of Indochinese rat snakes (Ptyas korros). The rangers fined the driver 20 million VND for violating the Forest Protection and Development Law. On February 2nd, the wildlife was released in North Hai Van forest.
(Law issue 58 dated March 8th2006; The Phu Loc distric FPD)
QuangNinhProvince – On March 2nd, the Quang Ninh Police Department confiscated 147 crab – eating macaques (total weight of 291 kilograms) from a bus. According to an initial investigation, the wildlife was being transported to China. Eight macaques died and the rest were released in Bai Tu Long National Park.
(The Quang Ninh Provincial FPD)
95 kilogram freshwater fish caught
Tra Vinh Province – On March 5th, a fisherman in Phu An district caught a 95 kilogram freshwater fish (Catlocarpio siamemsis) on the Hau river. The local people said that this was the largest fish of its kind ever seen in the area. In the Red Data Book of Vietnam, Catlocarpio siamemsis is under threat of extinction.
(Pioneer issue 47 dated March 7th 2006; Labor issue 65 dated March 7th 2006; the Tra Vinh Television Station)
Rampant deforestation
GiaLaiProvince – In February 2006, 23 Jrai ethnic people in Mang Yang district were caught destroying approximately 10 ha of forest for agriculture use. (People’s Police issue 343 dated March 9th 2006)LamDongProvince – According to the Cat Tien Forest Protection Board, approximately 3 ha of forest was destroyed in the Park. Another 4.5 ha of forest were previously destroyed. The area of destruction was designated for road expansion. According to Cat Tien authorities, the deforestation may have been caused by the purpose of receiving compensation due to land loss.
(Labor issue 64 dated March 6th 2006)
BinhPhuocProvince – According to a report from a recent forest management meeting, in 2005, around 5,762 ha of forest was destroyed. There were 1521 cases of deforestation, however, only 23 cases were brought to court and 15,000m³ of illegal timber was confiscated. The Binh Phuoc People’s Committee assigned forest stewardship of 60,000ha of forest, however, the deforestation in the area has still been rampant.
(Sai Gon Liberated issue 10309 dated March 8th 2006)
Wild elephants caused destruction
Ha TinhProvince – At the beginning of March, five elephants appeared in Huong Dien commune and destroyed a number of facilities. The electricity and telephone poles and many traffic signal poles were broken along the main roads. Local authorities have not found a safe solution to cope with the problem except for using noise to drive the elephants away.
(Youth issue 47 dated March 3rd 2006; People’s Police issue 342 dated March 7th 2006)
News from ENV’s Environmental Education Network
From February 20th to March 5th, World Wid Fund for Nature (WWF) and WildAid in co-operation with Vietnam’s Forest Protection Department organized a training course for 40 rangers at Bach Ma National Park. During the course, the rangers learnt and practised forest and biodiversity protection skills, such as patrolling and navigating, first aid, operating in hostile environments, and surveillance patrol planning. Since 2000, WildAid has provided 31 such training events in Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
(Economics Times issue 45 dated March 3rd 2006; Press Release of WWF)
Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)
Hai Phong Province: Intensive control over toxic waste through the Hai Phong Port
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=11896
Ho Chi Minh City: Developing a market for waste in order to protect environment
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=11858
Ca Mau Province: Turtles facing extinction
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=11929
Expert opinion: Protecting wildlife through breeding techniques
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=11904
Updates from the ENV’s Wildlife Trade Hotline 18001522
On February 10th, the Binh Thuan FPD’s mobile team and the Tan Linh Distric FPD inspected the house which was reportedly trading wildlife. The authorities confiscated two bamboo rats. The owner was fined 150,000 VND and signed a commitment not to serve wildlife.
Another two cases were reported in Dac Lac Province and Ha Tinh Province. Local FPDs surveyed the restaurants but found no exhibit of wildlife. The rangers asked the owners of two restaurants to sign a commitment not to serve wildlife.
The information from each case were reported to the ENV’s wildlife trade hotline and passed on to the relevant authorities. ENV has tracked each case to its final solution.
(Education for Nature – Vietnam)
STOP THE WILDLIFE TRADE
If you observe wildlife being displayed, sold, transported, or kept illegally in captivity, notify your local Forest Protection Department or contact the ENV Wildlife Trade Hotline
1800-1522
YOU can make a difference!
For more information, please contact:
Nguyen Phuong Dung
Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV)
No.2/C5 tap the Dai hoc Ngoai Thuong, pho Chua Lang, Ha Noi.
Tel/Fax: 04-775 3685
env@fpt.vn or communication.env@fpt.vn