Education for Nature Vietnam
News Brief (E167, 26th May - 1st June, 2006)
Red-shanked douc langur transferred to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center
On May 31, 2006, a five-month-old red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus nemaeus) was handed over tothe Endangered Primate Rescue Center of Cuc Phuong National Park (NP) by Phong Nha – Ke Bang NP. The animal was confiscated from a local hunter.
Red-shanked douc langur is protected under Group 1B of Decree 32.
(Endangered PrimateRescueCenter - Cuc Phuong NP)
Da Nang closes a polluting steel mill
On the 16th of May, the largest steel mill in central Vietnam, located in Lien Chieu industrial park in Da Nang city, was temporarily shut down. The shut-down resulted from the recent survey carried out by the Natural Resource and Environment Department of Da Nang city after receiving reports from hundreds of surrounding households about pollution from the factory. Iron dust emissions from the factory reportedly exceeded 7.6 times of the standard rate. The closing order states that the plant is only allowed to re-open after its sewage treatment system is improved and the Natural Resource and Environment Department of Da Nang City authorizes resumption of operations.
(Website www.thanhniennews.com dated May 24, 2006, Natural Resource and Environment Department of Da Nang City)
Dying rivers
A report in late 2005 by the Center for Urban and Industrial Park Environmental Technology showed that there are over 3.1 million cubic meters of household and industrial sewage released everyday directly into the nation’s rivers. Nearly a third of this wastewater has not undergone any form of primary treatment.
According the National Environment Protection Agency, only 16 out of nearly 100 industrial parks across the country operate wastewater treatment plants with a capacity of 41,800m3 per day. Kim Nguu River, the most polluted river of Hanoi, has a biological oxygen demand (BOD5) index exceeding three times the acceptable level. Water testing at the Mai Dong Bridge on the Red River in Hanoi indicated ammonia and coliform bacteria levels that exceeded accepted standards by 35 and 57 times respectively.
The water quality of the nation’s rivers will not be improved unless wastewater is treated before being discharged into rivers, says the report. The report also urges better planning and calls on government planners to prioritize and include drainage and concentrated wastewater treatment systems as part of regional development planning.
(Vietnam Economic Times issue 108 dated May 31, 2005)
Information on Activities
Winners for environmental protection competition announced
On May 23, 2006, the National Environment Protection Agency and the Department of Economics, Science and Technology of The Voice of Vietnam released the list of winners for the competition “New initiatives on environmental protection”. The competition was launched nationwide on March 2, 2005 and received more than 2,100 entries.
Mr. Pham Hong Diep, director of the Shinec Company, was awarded first prize for “Participation in afforestation based on traditional culture”. The awards ceremony will be held on June 5 at 9:30 a.m.
(The Natural Resources and Environment Department, Voice of Vietnam, Tel: 04.9363729)
Student writing competition on the environment
The Vietnam General Department of Tourism have recently awarded two first prizes to students participating in the competition “Writing on tourism and the environment”. Tran Hoang Hung of Nguyen Sieu Primary School in Hanoi and Nguyen Thi Bao Tran of Tieu La High School in Quang Nam province were first-prize winners with the articles “I love Ho Guom” and “Dong Duong Tower is crying for help”.
The Organizing Board had reportedly received more than 300,000 papers during six months of launching in 2005. Through their writings, children showed their love and pride for their country as well as their awareness and responsibility in protecting Vietnam’s beauty.
(Website of the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment dated May 24, 2006)
New publication
Report on “Conservation of key coastal wetland sites in the Red river delta: An assessment of the important bird areas 10 years later”
On May 26, Birdlife International released a report entitled “Conservation of key coastal wetland sites in the Red River Delta: An assessment of Important Bird Areas2 (IBAs) ten years on” (English and Vietnamese).
The assessment was the result of a project funded by the Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund (Japan). It was the first time the conservation status of important bird areas in the Red River Delta has been comprehensively assessed since 1996. The study looked at the distribution of bird species, sites, threats and provided conservation recommendation. The assessment also concluded that Xuan Thuy National Park is the most important area for bird conservation in the Red River Delta, followed by Thai Thuy and Tien Hai in Thai Binh province, Tien Lang and An Hai in Hai Phong province and Nghia Hung in Nam Dinh province.
(Birdlife International Vietnam Program, Tel: 04.7223864)
Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)
Ca Mau: Shells, heads of shrimp destroy environment
http://www.tienphongonline.com.vn/Tianyon/Index.aspx?ArticleID=48615&ChannelID=2
Environment friendly car interior
http://www.nld.com.vn/tintuc/khoa-hoc/152566.asp
Bac Lieu: Coastal protecting forest is being destroyed http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=14435
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