ENV

News Brief (E174, 15th - 21st July, 2006)

110 kg of wildlife seized
Quang Ninh province – On July 11, 2006, the market control team of Mong Cai town discovered and confiscated 110 kg of pangolins (including 23 individuals) being transported by motor bike. The wildlife was transferred to the Quang Ninh provincial Forest Protection Department (FPD). On July 12, the FPD incinerated five dead ones and auctioned the remaining animals off.

(Website of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment dated July 12, 2006; the Quang Ninh provincial FPD)

Illegal timber traders injure rangers, go to court
Phu Yen province – On June 22, 2006, in a public court session of the People’s Court of Phu Hoa district, Phu Yen province, five men were sentenced to a total of 23 months imprisonment and three months probation. In addition, they were fined VND 717,000 in restorative damages. These violators were caught red-handed by a ranger team of the local FPD. They were illegally transporting timber on January 15. However, they resisted and drove a motorbike into the rangers, injuring two.

(Law issue 170 dated July 17, 2006; People’s Court of Phu Hoa district)

Forest Protection and Development Law violations
Dak Lak province – During the first half of 2006, the local FPD discovered and handled over 620 forest protection and development violations. In June alone, rangers confiscated more than 600 kg of wildlife and handled 113 cases of illegal timber exploitation and transportation.

Dak Nong province – During the first half of 2006, rangers discovered and handled more than 400 violations, including 112 cases of timber smuggling and 70 wildlife trade cases.

(Website www.thanhnien.com.vn dated July 15, 2006)

Birdlife introduces new bird-watching website in Vietnam
Birdlife has just introduced a new website on bird-watching in Vietnam at
http://www.birdlifeindochina.org/birdwatch, for the purpose of enhancing nature conservation with ecological tourism. Comprehensive information on bird species, walking trails, transportation and accommodation is available for 15 good bird-watching sites in Vietnam. Among those sites are Sa Pa – Hoang Lien National Park (NP), Cat Tien NP, Bach Ma NP and Can Gio Biosphere Reserve. 

(Press Release launched by Birdlife dated July 18, 2006; http://www.birdlifeindochina.org/birdwatch)

Updates from ENV’s Wildlife Trade Hotline 1800 1522

Winejar with preserved monitor lizard at a "specialty" restaurant in Luong Son district. Source: ENV, June 2006

Illegal wildlife shipment on train
On July 11, through ENV’s wildlife crime hotline, a staff from the FPD of Da Nang City contacted Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV) regarding an illegal wildlife shipment they confiscated. The shipment contained 220 Japanese white-eye birds (Zosterops japonicus) and 40 Oriental magpie robins (Copsychus saularis). A railway security team discovered the wildlife on the Thong Nhat train, July 1, while it was stopping on its way north at Da Nang Station. All the birds were released into Son Tra Nature Reserve in Da Nang province by the FPD. There was no further information about the shipment owner.

Survey at restaurants along highway in Luong Son district
At the end of June 2006, the ENV’s Wildlife Crimes Monitoring Unit conducted a survey of restaurants and other business establishments along Highway No. 6 in Luong Son district of Hoa Binh province. The survey results indicated that nine restaurants along Highway 6 were engaged in illegal activity - in direct violation of existing wildlife protection laws. The survey occurred less than two months after Hoa Binh authorities reportedly carried out enforcement measures and disciplined a number of restaurants, obtaining signed pledges not to sell wildlife.  Assuming that these restaurants were the same establishments that only recently signed commitments, it could be concluded that the use of commitment statements to discourage illegal activities has had little impact in reducing illegal activity in Hoa Binh.

Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)

Ha Noi: From July 20, dust-polluting vehicles to be impounded 30 to 60 days http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=15522

Coral reef in Vietnam – critically endangered
http://www.khoahoc.com.vn/view.asp?Cat_ID=7&Cat_Sub_ID=1&news_id=6977

Environment still impacted by dioxin
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=15614

U Minh Ha forest in Ca Mau province: Unsafe “home” to rare animals
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=15606

Scientists successfully multiply two rare orchid species
http://www.nld.com.vn/tintuc/khoa-hoc/157502.asp

Binh Dương province: Deer farm causes pollution, moves
http://www.cand.com.vn/vi-vn/thoisuxahoi/tintucsukien/2006/7/81053.cand

Photograph of the Week

Chestnut-eared laughing thrush (Garrulax konkakinhensis), one of seven bird species endemic to Vietnam. Source: Birdlife

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