Delegates attend a high-level policy dialogue taking place in Hanoi on March 24. (Photo: VNS/VNA) The event, under the framework of the USAID-funded Saving Threatened Wildlifeproject, was jointly organised by the Management Board for Forestry Projects -MARD, WWF and TRAFFIC in collaboration with the Training Centre for ElectedRepresentatives under the Board of Deputy Affairs-Standing Committee of theNational Assembly.
“The Saving Threatened Wildlife project thrives for comprehensive, systematicand impactful efforts to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products. Webelieve the National Assembly to be the most powerful instrument for massattention and generating high-level communications strategies," saidMichelle Owen, Chief of Party - Saving Threatened Wildlife, WWF.
The dialogue saw the participation of fifty high-level leaders and officialsfrom relevant ministries, agencies and National Assembly deputies, discussingefforts on wildlife demand reduction across the Party and Government network.
"With one of the strongest legal frameworks on wildlife protection andmanagement in the region, Vietnam is in a favourable position to take strongeractions in the fight against illegal wildlife trade. The dialogue was a greatopportunity to bring relevant ministries and agencies together to redouble ourefforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade and re-emphasise the importance ofpromoting sustainability at the same time," said Nguyen Tuan Anh, DeputyHead of the Board of Deputy Affairs, the National Assembly.
At the event, discussions brought a better understanding of the existingnational wildlife protection efforts and associated legal frameworks.
Representatives from the Party and ministries' agencies also presented theirroles and communication strategies to reduce wildlife demand and how tointegrate social behaviour change interventions to help the Government complywith the demand reduction resolution of CITES, of which Vietnam is a memberState.
Experts were invited to propose ideas and solutions to strengthen wildlifeconservation and Social Behavior Change Communication in the country. Actionsthe Government should take, such as increasing the penalty for consumption ofillegal wildlife products in the current law, were discussed with deputies,focusing on applying demand reduction effort tools within government networksand society.
Do Quang Tung, Acting Chief of Management Broad for Forestry Projects, Ministryof Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), said: "To ensure success inimplementing impactful wildlife protection strategies and action plans, thererequire efforts for collaboration and coordination with authorities and socialorganisations. Only by working together can we develop effective solutions tocombat wildlife trafficking and protect our natural resources for futuregenerations."
The event highlighted the leadership of the National Assembly in tacklingwildlife trafficking as a serious and organised crime and the desire for aresponsible and legal social norm in Vietnamese society. The dialogue's outcomeon implementing wildlife conservation, especially demand reduction initiatives,will be documented and disseminated within the Government network to feedfurther action.
"Increasing anti-trafficking enforcement efforts will have only limitedeffect unless we work simultaneously to address the persistent market demandthat drives this trade. We have worked with various partners nationwide,including the Government, the transportation industry, the tourism sector,companies operating internet marketplaces, and the general public to stop thedemand. In all our endeavours, the partnership with the National Assembly iskey to securing political will, determination, and direction for more demandreduction efforts," said Nguyen Tuyet Trinh, TRAFFIC Vietnam OfficeDirector.
In Vietnam, the unsustainable consumer demand for wildlife products like rhinohorn, pangolin scales, or elephant ivory is considerable and a leading cause ofthe threats faced by the species worldwide. To reduce the demand forconsumption, TRAFFIC has gathered National Assembly members, representatives ofrelevant ministries, and international experts to bring more attention towildlife protection and management efforts and the delivery of demand reductioninterventions./.
VNA
