Education for Nature Vietnam
News Brief (E186, 7th - 13th Oct, 2006)
Ivory and pangolins on the roads of Thanh Hoa
Thanh Hoa province – on October 7, police discovered a shipment of ivory and other illegal wildlife products following a highway chase. The chase began after the occupants of the vehicle refused to pull over for a traffic violation. The driver and the supposed owner of the shipment eventually abandoned the vehicle and escaped on foot. Police searched the vehicle and found 11 elephant tusks, 22 tiger teeth, six jars of bile (unidentified) and four animal skulls. They impounded the shipment and handed the case over to the Investigative Police Department.
The following day, 14 pangolins were discovered in a similar incident. The shipment driver managed to escape, but left behind the vehicle, which had been fitted with red, military license plates – later found to be counterfeit. Thanh Hoa provincial Forest Protection Department (FPD) sold the pangolins, noting that they had all died or were too weak to be released into nature.
(Website www.thanhnien.com.vn dated October 7, 2006; Website www.tuoitre.com.vn dated October 9, 2006; Thanh Hoa provincial Forest Protection Department)
FPD management summarizes internal reports on crime
In a recent release, management of the FPD cited land encroachment, indecisive local authorities, and weak handling of crimes as explanations for the rising severity of environmental crimes. Provincial FPDs and National Parks submitted reports on more than 24,000 violations of forest protection and development laws registered by rangers since the start of the year. That number has fallen since last year, but the reports also indicate that criminals are causing greater damage and confronting authorities with greater violence. The provinces of Lam Dong, Binh Thuan, Quang Nam, and Quang Ngai were noted as having especially severe problems. Other key statistics for the FPD were mentioned in the release, such as hundreds of appropriated vehicles and 75 million VND in revenues generated for the national treasury.
(Website www.monre.gov.vn dated October 10, 2006)
“Green Enterprise” awards planned
Ho Chi Minh City – At the request of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), a “Green Enterprise” award will be established, carrying prize money totaling VND 350 million. The award will be coordinated between the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Science and Technology, Finance, and Industry, as well as the Export Processing and Industrial Zone management teams and Liberated Sai Gon. The purpose of the prize is to reward manufacturers that care about the environment and doing business using environmentally-friendly methods.
The award committee will examine criteria such as waste treatment, innovative technology, environmentally friendly inputs/outputs, and levels of all types of pollution.
The first awards will all go to enterprises in HCMC, but manufacturers throughout Vietnam will be eligible in the future. Twenty grand prize winners will be announced this December, with many smaller awards as well.
(Website www.monre.gov.vn dated October 6, 2006)
Photograph of the Week
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A loris that was turned into ENV last week by a Hanoi resident was transferred to the Endangered Primate Rescue Center at Cuc Phuong National Park. |
Links to environmental articles (Vietnamese)
Waste emitted in Hanoi increases
http://www.nea.gov.vn/thongtinmt/noidung/antd_9_10_06.htm
Document released on policies to build Vietnam’s natural reserve system
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&idmid=&ItemID=17786
Bird-watching in Lu Con Ngan
http://www2.vietnamnet.vn/xahoi/doisong/2006/10/620090/
Yen Tien tries to create “environmentally friendly trade village”
http://www.monre.gov.vn/monreNet/default.aspx?tabid=209&ItemID=17868
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 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