New species discovered in Mekong during 2014 studies

A bat with nightmarish fangs (Hypsugo dolichodon), the world's second longest insect (Phryganistria heusii yentuensis) and a colour-changing thorny frog (Graciaxal lumarius) were among the 70 new species found in Vietnam in 2014, according to a report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
A bat with nightmarish fangs (Hypsugo dolichodon), the world'ssecond longest insect (Phryganistria heusii yentuensis) and acolour-changing thorny frog (Graciaxal lumarius) were among the 70 newspecies found in Vietnam in 2014, according to a report from the WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The 70 species represent more than half of the 139 species found in the Greater Mekong region.

Intotal, 90 plants, 23 reptiles, 16 amphibians, nine fish, and one mammalwere discovered in the Greater Mekong and detailed in the annualreport, Magical Mekong, issued by WWF-Vietnam on June 4 to celebrate its20 anniversary in Vietnam.

They include a crocodile newt(Tylototriton shanorum) in Myanmar whose breeding habitat is underthreat, a "soul-sucking" dementor wasp (Sirindhornia chaipattana) fromThailand, a stealthy wolf snake (Lycodon zoosvictoriae) from Cambodiaand the world's 10,000th reptile (Cyrtodactylus vilaphong) discovered inLaos.

This brings the total new species discovered in theGreater Mekong, which includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand andVietnam, to 2,216 between 1997 and 2014 – an average of three newspecies a week.

"We are excited to be able to say that Vietnamis rich in biodiversity and home to a diverse array of species, some ofwhich are unique to Vietnam – with many still to be discovered," saidDr. Van Ngoc Thinh, Country Director for WWF-Vietnam.

"Vietnam'srich and globally important ecosystems are truly the gift that keeps ongiving. We should, therefore, protect them together for the nextgenerations," he said.

The world's second-largest insect, a stickinsect that measures 54 cm, was found less than one kilometre away froma village in northern Vietnam.

"We've only skimmed the surfaceof new discoveries in the Greater Mekong," said Carlos Drews, WWFDirector Global Species Programme. "However, while species are beingdiscovered, intense pressures are taking a terrible toll on the region'sspecies. One wonders how many species have disappeared before they wereeven discovered."

Such pressures include a proposed new bordercrossing and road in Cambodia's Mondulkiri Protected Forest, twounsustainable dams in Laos, rising deforestation rates, and continuedillegal poaching.

A commitment to protecting key wildlife habitatis also crucial, with countries cooperating across borders to makesustainable decisions on issues such as where to construct largeinfrastructure, like roads and dams.

"In our next five-yearstrategy, WWF-Vietnam will work to ensure effective conservation,sustainable management and climate change resilience in the country. Wewill aim to expand our work to provide key environmental strategies andcontribute to conservation and sustainable development," Thinh said.-VNA

See more

The event draws crowds of participants. (Photo: NDO)

Cycling inspires greener Ho Chi Minh City

Hosted by the Dutch Consulate General in coordination with the Vietnam-Netherlands Friendship Association and the Dutch Business Association in Vietnam, the February 16 event welcomed two Dutch cyclists who traveled nearly 20,000 kilometers across 24 countries to Vietnam.

The northern region of Vietnam is expected to experience cold weather and drizzle during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. (Illustrative Photo: baochinhphu.vn)

Cold, wet weather expected during Tet holiday

The northern region of Vietnam is expected to experience cold weather and drizzle during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, according to the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam urged to embrace alternatives to plastics for sustainable future

A research group from the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) is sounding the alarm on Vietnam's plastic waste crisis and advocating for a transformative shift towards sustainable alternatives.

A coastal area under the nature-based mangrove restoration project in Soc Trang. (Photo: VNA)

Project helps restore mangrove forests through nature-based solutions in Soc Trang

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang province, in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Coca-Cola Foundation, organised a conference on January 16 to launch a project on increasing the coastal resilience of the Mekong Delta through mangrove restoration and nature-based solutions in the province.