Education for Nature Vietnam
News Brief (E165, 12th - 18th May, 2006)
Giant flying fox facing extinction
SocTrangProvince – According to a recent survey by the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resource (IEBR) and the University of Columbia (US), the giant flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) is on the brink of extinction in Soc Trang province. Researchers say that there are only 20 giant flying foxes left living in the Bat pagoda (Chua Doi) in Soc Trang town. Giant flying foxes are threatened by illegal hunting and are listed in Group IIB of Decree 32/2006/ND-CP.
(Website of Ministry of Nature Resources and Environment dated May 10th 2006)
Pilot program to protect and develop protected forest
On May 9th, the Prime Minister issued Decision No.00/2006/QD-TTg to launch a pilot protected forest development program in LaiChauProvince. The program will be implemented in 21 communes in Lai Chau Province over a 10-year period with a total fund of 132.879 billion VND. Under the new program, the rate paid to residents who manage protected forest will be raised from the current level of 50,000 VND to 200,000 VND per hectare per year.
(Economic Times issue 94 dated May 11th 2006; Vietnamnet dated May 10th 2006)
Britain supports Quang Tri’s biodiversity conservation
On May 10th, Birdlife International reported that the British Government has allocated 36,000 pounds to carry out a project called “Strengthening community-based conservation groups and conservation of biodiversity in Dakrong and Huong Hoa districts in QuangTriProvince”.
Dakrong and Huong Hoa districts are famous for their biodiversity; however, the areas have been under serious threat from population growth and economic development.
(Sai Gon Liberated issue 10375 dated May 13th 2006)
ASEAN tightens control over cross-border smoke pollution
Ha Noi – A trans-national program on sustainable management of peat, a major cause of wildfires in Southeast Asia, was high on the agenda at a four-day ASEAN meeting on cross-border smoke control, which opened in Ha Noi on May 11th 2006.
The Secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said the meeting also focused on measures to raise public awareness of the ASEAN treaty on cross-border smoke pollution and encourage regional countries to share their experiences in effectively implementing the treaty. The event was also intended to boost regional cooperation in the surveillance and forecast of fire, and to coordinate action to control smoke pollution.
At the meeting, there was an exhibition on innovations and measures to fight forest fires and reduce cross-border smoke pollution
(Law issue 116 dated May 15th 2006. Website of Vietnamnet dated May 12th 2006, Website of Vnanet dated May 11th 2006)
French aid help protect wild bull
The French environment fund, le Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial (FFEM) has donated 580,000 euros to establish a project to protect endangered gaur (Bos gaurus) and wild bull (Bos javanicus) at Cat Tien National Park.
(Youth issue 111 dated May 10th 2006)
Endemic Vietnamese Pond turtles come home
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| The turtles were transferred to the Turtle Conservation Center (TCC) at Cuc Phuong National Park (Source: ATP) |
On May 10th, Cathay Pacific’s regular flight from Hong Kong delivered a special group of passengers to Vietnam’s Noi Bai International Airport. Arriving in the cargo hold of the plane were 34 critically endangered Vietnamese pond turtles (Mauremys annamensis) being returned to their native homeland.
The turtles, which included two adults rescued from Hong Kong markets and 32 offspring born in captivity, were returned by the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, a private Hong Kong-based foundation that cares for rescued wildlife and works in close cooperation with the Hong Kong Agriculture Fisheries Conservation Department (AFCD).
Vietnam is home to 25 native species of tortoises and freshwater turtles, earning the country recognition as one of the region’s most biologically diverse hotspots for chelonians. Amongst this impressive diversity of species is the Vietnamese pond turtle (Mauremys annamensis), an endemic species native to lowland ponds and marshes in central Vietnam, and found no where else in the world. Last recorded in the wild in 1939, the Vietnamese pond turtle has since become rare as a result of unsustainable hunting and trade to meet the demand of export markets, as well as loss of its lowland habitat, mostly to agricultural development.
The return was made coordinated and carried out by the Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden of Hong Kong and Cuc Phuong National Park with the support of the National Forest Protection Department of Vietnam. Logistics and technical support in Vietnam provided by the Asian Turtle Program (ATP) and the Humane Society International.
(Press Release of Asian Turtle Program (ATP)
Vietnamese wildlife trade campaigner wins recognition at prestigious UK conservation awards
(Media Release of Whitley Fund for Nature)
On May 10th, Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung, received recognition at the UK’s top conservation awards ceremony, The Whitley Awards. Dung was recognized for her commitment to protecting Vietnam’s rare and endangered wildlife from illegal trade.
Dung has developed unique campaigning methods to raise awareness of illegal trade. ENV’s launch last year of a wildlife trade programme on national radio was the first of its kind. Ninety-seven percent of Vietnamese people have access to national or provincial radio. ENV’s ‘Voice of Vietnam’ show has been a marked success, and is an effective and innovative way of distributing information to communities and promoting public involvement in wildlife protection.
Dung and her team also launched an innovative telephone hotline last year that now provides members of the general public with the opportunity to report illegal trade activities. The information is then passed on to the enforcement agencies.
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(Media Release of Whitley Fund for Nature)
Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)
Living in a gold-mine (Part 1): Life of a gold miner
http://www.hanoimoi.com.vn/vn/35/86278/
Living in a gold-mine (Part 2) The color of gold
http://www.hanoimoi.com.vn/vn/35/86382/
Living in a gold-mine (Part 3) Gold-miners, who are they?
http://www.hanoimoi.com.vn/vn/35/86504/
Living in a gold-mine (Part 4): Die in the forest
http://www.hanoimoi.com.vn/vn/35/86628/
Insect becomes a specialty in Ha Noi restaurants
http://www.hanoimoi.com.vn/vn/35/85494/
Seahorse breeding becoming increasingly popular in the South
http://www.thanhnien.com.vn/Xahoi/2006/5/3/147427.tno
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