ENV

News Brief (E178, 12th - 18th August, 2006)

Wildlife shipment seized
Ha Tinh province – On August 13, Thach Ha district police seized a truck transporting wildlife from Ha Tinh to Hanoi.  56 kg of civets and 23 kg of wild pig meat were found.  Ha Tinh FPD took over the case.

(People’s Police issue 458 dated August 17, 2006)

Rangers attacked
Da Nang province – On August 11, the Phu Tuc Ranger Station chief was injured by a smuggler’s escape attempt.  The rangers were inspecting a bus traveling from Dong Giang district to Da Nang province.  They discovered illegal timber aboard.  While the driver was with the rangers, the driver’s assistant drove the bus into a roadblock and ran over the chief, who was taken to the hospital.  Rangers impounded the bus and arrested the driver.

(Labor issue 233 dated August 14, 2006)

Lam Dong province – On July 25, rangers and police from Da Huoai district were attacked by a group of 20 men.  At the time police and rangers were checking a truck carrying 2 m3 of valuable timber in Dam Bri town.  The Deputy Chief of Da Huoai district Forest Protection Department (FPD) was injured.  On August 14, Ngo Tan Hung was arrested as one of the assault’s perpetrators.

(Website www.intellasia.com  dated August 14, 2006; Labor issue 224 dated August 15, 2006)

Two red-shanked douc langurs rescued
On August 15, workers of Lung Lo Construction Company discovered a red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus nemaeus) while working on the A Vuong Dam.  Its leg was injured. The company handed the langur to Quang Nam provincial FPD, which later gave it to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center (EPRC) at Cuc Phuong National Park.

On August 16, a resident from Hoa Vang district voluntarily turned in a red-shanked douc langur that had been purchased from a hunter.  Dang Nang FPD, who accepted the langur, also transferred it to the EPRC.

(Liberated Sai Gon issue 10470 dated August 16, 2006; Endangered Primate Rescue Center)

New legal documents

Decree No. 80/2006/ND-CP, dated August 9, guiding the enforcement of the Law on Environmental Protection
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed a decree regulating and guiding enforcement of existing legal codes related to environmental protection.  Specifically addressed were regulations on the following: environmental standards; environmental assessments; environmental protection commitments; manufacturing, business and service sectors; toxic waste management; and publicizing environmental information and data.

The decree regulates in detail the procedure for drafting, assessing, releasing and publicizing national environmental standards.  The decree also includes an index, which defines 102 types of projects that are required to conduct an environmental impact assessment.

Decree No. 81/2006/ND-CP, dated August 9, on administrative sanctions regarding environmental protection
The Prime Minister issued a decree on administrative sanctions regarding environmental protection, which stipulates the scope, principles and subjects of such sanctions in detail.  The decree regulates the level of administrative fines for violating environmental regulations, such as those on environmental protection commitments and environmental impact assessments.

The punishment for violating environmental laws can range from a caution to a VND 70 million fine.  For example, managing, transporting or dumping radioactive toxic waste in a way that threatens the life of people and the environment could be punished by the maximum penalty.  Dumping waste into Vietnam’s territorial waters carries a fine between VND 60 million and VND 70 million.

The statute of limitations for fines is two years, starting from the date of discovery of the violation.  After two years, no fine is issued but reparative damages may still be applied.

Updates from ENV’s Wildlife Crime Hotline 1800 1522

Restaurants remove wildlife advertisement signboards
Binh Dinh province  –  On July 7, a student called the hotline regarding a restaurant in Phu My district that served wildlife.  After being alerted, the Binh Dinh FPD inspected the restaurant and ordered the owner to remove a signboard and replace the menu.  The restaurant was also asked to sign a commitment statement not to serve wildlife.

(Education for Nature – Vietnam)

Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)

Change in behavior urgently needed to reduce wildlife product consumption in Hanoi
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=16535

Birdlife continues to support Kon Ka Kinh National Park http://vietnamnet.vn/khoahoc/moitruong/2006/08/600239/

National Plan in treating solid waste
http://vietnamnet.vn/khoahoc/moitruong/2006/08/601921/

Cuc Phuong National Park: one of the best bird-watching sites http://www.khoahoc.com.vn/view.asp?Cat_ID=7&Cat_Sub_ID=4&news_id=7815

Photograph of the Week

This picture conveys the message ‘DON’T USE THE BEAR BILE” to call upon people to protect bear species in Vietnam. It is going to be printed soon in Sport, Business Forum, and Vietnam Economic Times. This announcement is aimed at those who consume bear bile and bear-related products. It is the result of one of ENV’s activities to protect bears in Vietnam.

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