Conservation organisations urge more penalties for wildlife crime
Sixteen Vietnamese and foreign conservation organisations have called for more administrative punishments for wildlife crime, given their concern about biodiversity loss as a result of unchecked poaching.
Rhino horns (Illustrative image. Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Sixteen Vietnamese and foreign conservation organisations have called for more administrative punishments for wildlife crime, given their concern about biodiversity loss as a result of unchecked poaching.
Director of the Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) Nguyen Van Thai said on November 27 that the SVW and 15 other conservation organisations operating in Vietnam have proposed some regulations be issued to protect wild animals in the country. The organisations are concerned about the biodiversity loss mainly caused by illegal trapping, catching, and hunting in Vietnamese forests.
He said surveillance and surveys in national parks and protected areas over the last five years show that the population of wild animals has declined considerably. Many animals like tigers, sao la, clouded leopards, binturong, and Chinese pangolins haven’t been recorded in the surveys, and they have possibly become extinct.
Patrols also show that illegal traps are still rampant in almost all national parks and protected areas. The exploitation of non-wood forestry products has also partially worsened the situation.
Thai said more administrative penalties for illegally setting up tents in special-use forests should be added to the draft decree revising the Government’s Decree No.157/2013/ND-CP on wildlife protection as this activity is almost always accompanied by logging and wildlife hunting.
Decree No.157/2013/ND-CP has already stipulated fines for the carrying of hunting tools, but wild animals are still disappearing, he said, noting that if trapping and poaching are not eradicated, Vietnam will face the extinction of an array of endangered and rare animals in the near future. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement fines for the carrying and use of hunting tools into forests with banned hunting.
He added that the organisations also urged stricter punishments for the use of dogs in hunting since dogs can infect natural species with many diseases. –VNA
You should also see
InfographicADB maintains 2024 economic growth forecast for Vietnam
In its April 2024 Asian Development Outlook (ADO) report, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has maintained its earlier forecast for Vietnam’s economic growth this year, despite ongoing uncertainties from the external environment. Vietnam’s economy is expected to achieve a growth rate of 6.0% in 2024 and 6.2% in 2025.
See more
Environment
Saigon Co.op ties up with Winrock International for waste circulation
Saigon Co.op signed an MoU with non-profit Winrock International in HCM City on April 12 to reduce environmental pollution by developing a waste circulation model, enhancing waste separation at source and raising the extended producer responsibility.
Environment
Solutions proposed to tackle growing challenge of electronic waste
Vietnam faces a growing problem with electronic waste (e-waste), according to a study by the Hanoi University of Science and Technology's Centre of Science-Technology and Environment.
Environment
Contest seeks innovative solutions to recycle plastic
The innovative solution contest 2024 was launched in Hanoi on April 12, aiming to seek solutions in the plastic circular value chain, especially new and creative solutions in improving the capacity to collect, process and recycle plastic packaging.
Environment
Co To calls for actions to prevent plastic pollution in tourism activities
Co To island district in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh has asked local accommodation facilities and travel firms to apply environmental protection measures in tourism business activities to build an island free of plastic bags and other single-use items.
Environment
Eight coastal localities get more support in forestry modernisation
The 4,040 hectares of forests planted and restored in the first phase of the World Bank (WB)-funded Forest Sector Modernisation and Coastal Resilience Enhancement Project will receive further care, as Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a decision on the adjustment of the project investment, an official has said.
