US Science Envoy Dr Margaret Leinen has raised concerns about plastic waste as Vietnam is among top five countries that generate most plastic waste in the ocean. The problem was discussed at a conference about ocean and pollution held recently by the US Embassy in Hanoi. Leinen emphasised the importance of the ocean for humanity and raised concerns about rising water levels and temperature. US Science Envoy Dr Margaret Leinen speaks at the conference Vietnam has a 3,260km coast, and 28 provinces and 15 economic zones are located in the coastal areas. But the coastal environment is very vulnerable. Statistics from the United Nations show that as of 2017, marine protected areas only accounted for 6% of the ocean. It is hoped that protected areas will be expanded to 10% of the ocean in 2020 and 30% in 2030. Meanwhile, a study conducted by Georgia University in 2015 shows that Vietnam was among the five worst countries in the world for generating plastic waste in the ocean. … [Read more...] about Vietnam challenged over polluting ocean plastic waste
World wildlife fund vietnam
Greater Mekong, including Vietnam, losing forests at alarming rate
This frightening statistic is contained in the “Pulse of the Forest” report released recently by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). While the report attempts to strike a hopeful note by highlighting a few attempts by individuals and communities to stem the rot, the figures it cites are sobering in the extreme. The report says that the region, once one of the world’s most densely forested areas, has lost a third of its forests already and could lose another third in the next ten years. It also says the region, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, is one of the top 11 deforestation hotspots in the world. In the next few decades, 80 percent of the world's forests will be lost mostly in these 11 hotspots. “These five countries could account for 17 percent - or 30 million hectares – of global deforestation by 2030 unless serious action is taken,” a WWF press release on the report warned. It notes that forest degradation is being caused by … [Read more...] about Greater Mekong, including Vietnam, losing forests at alarming rate
Short-film making contest on illegal wildlife trade launched
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The UK Government, in conjunction with the Luang Prabang Film Festival, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), has launched a short-film making contest on illegal wildlife trade, said the UK Embassy in Vietnam on June 12. The contest aims to raise awareness of the public and policy makers of the importance of protecting endangered species, thus increasing specific actions to protect wild animals as well as of devising relevant sustainable and long-term measures for countries along the Mekong River. It is available for all filmmakers in the region, with each entry will not be over 6 minutes. The best filmmaker will be awarded a prize worth 5,000 USD, and be invited to attend the International Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade in London in October and the Luang Prabang Film Festival in December. Apart from professional filmmakers, students are also encouraged to participate … [Read more...] about Short-film making contest on illegal wildlife trade launched
Five dead tiger cubs found trafficked by car in central Vietnam
Five dead tiger cubs found in a car's trunk in Nghe An Province on Tuesday. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Hai The cubs' dried bodies were planned to be sold to wine brewers for $3,080. Vietnamese police discovered the corpses of five tiger cubs upon inspecting the trunk of a car in the central province of Nghe An on Tuesday afternoon. The four-seater car's occupants Bui Van Hieu, 26, and Hoang Van Thien, 27, said they were transporting the tiger corpses to a local buyer who would have used them to brew wine. The dried cubs weighed a total of over 10 kilograms (22 pounds) and would've been sold for about VND70 million ($3,080), the men said. Police have detained Hieu and Thien, along with Nguyen Van Chinh, 33, who had been escorting the haul along National Highway 7A in a different car. Investigation is continuing. Tigers are facing extinction in Vietnam, where the animals are trafficked for their meat, decorative skin and claws. Their bones are also illegally traded to make a … [Read more...] about Five dead tiger cubs found trafficked by car in central Vietnam
Global Policy Journal: Vietnam may become model of anti-IUU fishing
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) New York (VNA) – The US’s Global Policy Journal website has said Vietnam may become a model for ASEAN countries in fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. An article published by the website on May 9 said the threat of a bad report card from the European Union (EU) has alarmed more than 30,000 Vietnamese commercial trawlers. It quoted Tony Long, former Director of the World Wildlife Fund’s European Policy Office and senior fellow of the Global Government Institute, as saying that the EU carding system to drive out illegal fishing is showing it has teeth, adding that countries are terrified that the ultimate sanction, the red card, imposes potentially enormous financial sanctions and significant risks. The article said, citing source as the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP), that fishing is a cornerstone of Vietnam’s economy and since 2006, the nation has been globally … [Read more...] about Global Policy Journal: Vietnam may become model of anti-IUU fishing