Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan speaks at the launch of the USAID Saving Species project in Hanoi on May 11. (Photo: USAID) Hanoi(VNA) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry ofAgriculture and Rural Development (MARD) launched the USAID Saving Speciesproject in Hanoi on May 11.
The launched wasattended by diplomats from embassies of the US, the United Kingdom, SouthAfrica and more to Vietnam alongside international organisations andgovernmental stakeholders.
“USAID SavingSpecies is not just a commitment between the US and Vietnamese governments, itwill also link to the efforts of other organisations, within Vietnam andbeyond, who are committed to combating wildlife trafficking,” said US Ambassadorto Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink.
US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink speaks at the event. (Photo: USAID) Elephant and rhino populations across the globe fellsharply and the situation of rhinos in Asia is even worse. The last rhino inVietnam has died, he noted. “Only by workingtogether can we solve this global issue.”
Deputy Minister ofAgriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan said efforts to intensify theprotection of endangered species like rhinos, elephants, tigers and pangolinsdo not only aim to aid the direct conservation of these animals but also have asymbolic meaning, motivating the protection of all other wildlife species.These efforts are significant to the prevention of natural disasters and thesocio-economic development of a country and the world, he added.
To raise public awareness of the issue, the ministerstressed the need for coordination between media agencies, the Ministry ofEducation and Training and foreign partners.
With a budget ofapproximately 10 million USD, USAID Saving Species supports the Government ofVietnam to combat wildlife trafficking through three integrated and mutuallyreinforcing objectives: harmonizing and improving the legal framework forwildlife crime; strengthening and improving law enforcement and prosecution ofwildlife crime; and reducing consumer demand for illegal wildlife products.
The project’s focalspecies are rhinos, elephants, and pangolins. It also focuses geographically on major urban centers like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, where targetspecies are consumed, as well as areas where target species are trafficked,including airports, seaports, and specific land borders.
The USAID Saving Species is implemented by Tetra Tech inpartnership with Vietnam CITES Management Authority of the MARD. The WildlifeTrade Monitoring Network in Vietnam (TRAFFIC Vietnam) and the WildlifeConservation Society (WCS) are also project partners.-VNA
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