ENV

News Brief (E184, 23rd - 29th Sep, 2006)

Hawksbill sea turtles released into the sea

Rangers make a report on confiscated wildlife. Source: www.thanhnien.com.vn

Ho Chi Minh City – On September 22, Ho Chi Minh FPD rangers discovered a huge stockpile of wildlife meat.  The discovery was made at a house in Linh Trung ward during an inspection in co-operation with local police.  About 180.5 kg of frozen wildlife was uncovered including 13.5 kg of porcupine, 99 kg of wild pig, 20 kg of java deer and 48 kg of muntjac.  In the back yard of the house, rangers and police also found one wild pig, two civets and one soft-shell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea) living in cages.

Police handed over the case to the Crime Investigation Department to investigate.  Since the discovery, FPD has auctioned off the wildlife meat and released the live animals at the Safari Sai Gon Park in Cu Chi district.

(People’s Police issue 490 dated September 23, 2006; website www.thanhnien.com.vn dated September 23, 2006; Ho Chi Minh City FPD)

Marine animals rescued and released
Ninh Thuan province - In mid-September, the Fisheries Resource Protection Department (FRPD) of Ninh Thuan province released two olive Ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) into the ocean.   The two turtles weighed more than 100 kg each and were discovered when the woman keeping the turtles tried to sell them to a restaurant.  The woman was given a warning as a result of her sincere co-operation with the authorities.

Also in Ninh Thuan province, a fisherman in Thanh Hai commune of Phuoc Hai district reportedly discovered a beached dolphin.  The man took immediate action to keep it alive and informed Ninh Thuan FRPD, who released the dolphin back into the ocean.

(UNDP Environmental Discussion Group dated September 22, 2006; Ninh Thuan provincial FRPD)

International wildlife shipment found on random inspection
Ha Tinh province - On September 23rd, Ha Tinh province authorities discovered a 400 kg shipment of wildlife and wildlife products during a random truck inspection in the Huong Khe area.  Inspectors found hard-shell turtles (187 kg), soft-shell turtles (4 kg), monitor lizards (59 kg), 5 pythons (50 kg), a bundle of python skin (1.5 kg), 10 kg of turtle shells, and 183 kg of Hue timber.  The truck was on its way from Lao to Hanoi.

Six men were arrested for the crime and the shipment was auctioned off.

(Pioneer issue 213 dated September 25, 2006; Ha Tinh provincial FPD)

Dolphin school seen in Bai Tu Long National Park
Quang Ninh province -  Recently, rangers and local residents have had repeated encounters with a school of four or five black dolphins (Lipotesvexinnifer) around Ba Mun island, Hon Di island and La Vong Cong, Van Don district.

This is the first time in decades that dolphins have appeared in the area.  Some scientists believe that this could be an indication that the environment in the region is improving.

(Website www.tienphongonline.com.vn dated September 22, 2006; Bai Tu Long National Park)

Program to combat desertification in four regions
In early September, the Prime Minister ratified Decision 204/2006/QDD-TTg on National Action in Desertification Program 2006-2010 and guidelines for 2010-2020.  The Decision clearly stated that until 2010, the top priority of the program is to prevent desertification in four areas: the northwest, central coast, highlands, and Long Xuyen.  The program will attempt to raise public awareness and train human resources in addition to its regulatory and policy role.

The United Nations has chosen 2006 to be the international year of deserts and desertification and this program is one of Vietnam’s efforts as a signatory of the 1998 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

(Website  www.sggp.org.vn dated September 21, 2006; Website  www.nea.gov.vn  dated September 2, 2006)

Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)

Hue is polluted
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=17501

Phu Quoc Island: millions of illegally deforested land squares not yet restored
http://www.tienphongonline.com.vn/Tianyon/Index.aspx?ArticleID=60952&ChannelID=2

Nine rhino horns in Quang Tri case sent to…..Hanoi Treasury
http://www.nld.com.vn/tintuc/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/164027.asp

Natural radioactivity does affect people’s health
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&idmid=&ItemID=17465

For more information, please contact:

Nguyen Thi Phuong Ngan
Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV)
No.2/C5 tap the Dai hoc Ngoai Thuong, pho Chua Lang, Ha Noi.
Tel/Fax: 04-775 3685
Email: env@fpt.vn or communication.env@fpt.vn