Education for Nature Vietnam
News Brief (E164, 6th - 11st May, 2006)
Wildlife seized
QuangNinhProvince – On May 8th, the Quang Ninh Forest Protection Department (FPD) discovered a truck illegally transporting 22 impressed tortoises (Manouria impressa), 7 Asian box turtles (Cuoraamboinensis) and 2.5 kilograms of snakes. The owner admitted that the wildlife was purchased in Hai Duong Province and was being transported to the Mong Cai border gate on the Chinese border.
On May 10th, the Quang Ninh FPD auctioned off all the wildlife at auction following a provincial People’s Committee’s instruction.
(Website of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment dated May 9th 2006; Quang Ninh FPD)
Nghe An Province – On May 10th, local police discovered 18 kilograms of pangolins, 15 kilograms of monitor lizards and three turtles being illegally transported in a bus.The rest of the wildlife was transferred to the Nghe An FPD.
(Website of Thanhnien.com.vn dated May 10th 2006; Vinh City Police Department)
Two policemen prosecuted
DongNaiProvince – Further information on last week’s hunting accident in Dong Nai Province: On May 5th, the Dong Nai People’s Court on Investigation prosecuted two policemen from Ho Chi Minh for accidentally killing a senior Lieutenant Colonel; violating the rare and endangered wildlife protection laws and illegally using weapons. The Ho Chi Minh Police Department reportedly decided to suspend the police officers pending outcome of the trial.
(Pioneer issue 90 dated May 5th 2006; Labor issue 123 dated May 6th 2006; Youth issue 107 dated May 6th 2006)
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Sources: www.dolphinswrld.netfirms.com |
Irrawaddy dolphins almost disappeared from the Mekong river
A recent study by James Cook University in Australia and Can Tho University showed that Irrawaddy dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris) have almost entirely disappeared from the Mekong river in Vietnam.
Irrawaddy dolphins are special creatures, having a similar appearance to marine dolphins. According to scientists, there are only 150 dolphins left in the wild. About 18 dolphins are reportedly killed each year.
(Website of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment dated May 7th 2006; Website of Vietnamnet.vn dated May 7th 2006)
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Houbaropsis bengalensis Source: www.birdlife.org |
Record number of birds now face extinction
Birdlife International’s annual review of bird species has shown that the total number of birds considered threatened with extinction is now 1,210. If the number of “Near Threatened” species are included, the total number is 2,005 species or more than one fifth of the planet’s 9,799 bird species.
The Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis), a globally Endangered species of bustard (IUCN Redlist 2006) is already believed to be extinct in Vietnam as a result of grassland conversion in the Mekong Delta.
(Website of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment dated May 9th 2006)
Large fossil tree discovered
KonTumProvince – Local scientists have discovered a fossil tree, thought to be the largest fossil tree discovered in Kon Tum Province. The tree is 14 meters in height with a diameter of 80 – 90 centimeters. The fossil is thought to be more than 200 million years old.
(Website of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment dated May 9th 2006)
A marine turtle display room launched
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| A marine turtle display room Source: Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography |
KhanhHoaProvince – In order to support the International Year of Turtle 2006, on May 3rd, the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography launched a room that displays Vietnam’s five marine turtle species. People can find documents on the ecologic, biological characteristics and living status of the five marine turtle species, which helps to raise awareness of the need for protection and the danger of extinction of Vietnam’s marine turtles. The Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography also produced a leaflet on marine turtle protection.
(Labor Newspaper Issue 121 dated May 4, 2006; Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography)
Schedule
“Bayer Environmental Ambassador 2006” contest launched
Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), Bayer Corporation, and the Vietnam Environment Protection Agency (VEPA) launched the “Bayer Environmental Ambassador 2006” writing contest for Vietnamese students. The contest invites students to show their interest and understanding about “Household garbage – a part of life”. The best 20 students will become Bayer Environmental Ambassadors and receive a MoET scholarship. The two top students will participate in a study trip to Leverkunsen (Germany).
The deadline for submissions is June 30th 2006. Further information about the contest can be found at www.bayeryoungenvoy.com
(Vietnamese Students dated 10 – 17 May 06)
Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)
Government’s Instruction on guiding the implementation of Law of Environmental Protection will be issued in July
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=13774
The second Stockholm Conventions conference
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=13785
Greater priority for cleaner production technology
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=13760
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