[enviro-vlc] Weekly Bulletin E449

Thu Dec 29 22:21:27 EST 2011

E449 December 29, 2011

Top News

A full version of each news story can be obtained by accessing links
provided on our website:
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_449/E_449.html

Tay Ninh: Miwon dumped 2,000 m3 of waste-water a day into the environment

On December 21, the Environmental Crime Prevention Police Department
discovered that the Cassava manufacturing factory of Miwon Vietnam Ltd. in
Tay Ninh had discharged untreated wastewater into the environment. The
wastewater was released directly into surrounding lakes and the Saigon
River. The manager of the factory admitted the violation and said that the
wastewater treatment system of the factory has not been functional since
2005. The police department has requested that the factory stops discharging
wastewater into the environment.

Vietnamese version, republished from Tuoi Tre newspaper, December 22, 2011:

 <http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView&id=843>
http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView&id=843

Quang Nam: Environmental pollution from industrial areas

According to the Binh Thuan Natural Resources and Environment, there are
five industrial parks and 26 industrial clusters in Quang Nam. The amount of
solid waste that they produce is up to one thousand tonnes a day, but only
70% of this is collected. About 700 tonnes of solid waste remains untreated,
most of it being poured directly into waterways, causing the pollution of
many rivers such as the Truong Giang, Ky Ha, Vinh Dien and Cua Dai. The
floating solid content of these rivers is up to four times the limit which
makes it unsuitable for drinking water. Companies often avoid treating waste
or invest minimal amounts in waste treatment systems due to the costs
involved. The local authorities are using a range of methods to change the
situation, such as improving public awareness of the importance of
environmental protection, considering investment projects carefully for
negative impacts on the environment, and investigating violation cases
thoroughly.

Vietnamese version, republished from Nhan Dan newspaper December 25, 2011:

http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView
<http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView&id=864> &id=864

Dong Nai: Last elephant in Tan Phu Protective Forest killed

On December 23, authorities in Tan Phu Protective Forest discovered an
elephant which had been killed several days prior. It is believed to have
been left behind when the rest of its herd moved to Don Village, Dak Lak in
2011. The four tonne elephant bull was found with one tusk missing; the
evidence suggesting that it was killed for its tusk and tail hair. On
December 28, the Investigation Police in Dong Nai province made prosecution
to investigate the death of the elephant.  

Vietnamese version, republished from Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper, December
28, 2011:

 <http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView&id=862>
http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView&id=862

Ha Tinh: Authorities auction off two tonnes of confiscated wildlife

On December 26, the Smuggling Prevention Team of Ha Tinh Police, together
with Cau Ke Integrated Control Check-point, stopped a car that was illegally
carrying a large amount of wildlife from Laos to Vietnam. Under
investigation, they found that there were 141 kg of Bocourt's water snakes
(Enhydris bocourti), 913 kg of water monitors (Varanus salvator) and 821 kg
of giant Asian pond turtles (Heosemys grandis). The subject claimed that he
was paid a large amount of money to transport the shipment from Huong Son
district to Ho Chi Minh Road. Unfortunately, on December 26, all live
wildlife was auctioned off by Ha Tinh Forest Protection Department.

(Case Ref. 3898/ENV)

Further information about this case is at:
http://dantri.com.vn/c20/s255-551199/bat-xe-van-chuyen-trai-phep-gan-2-tan-r
an-ky-da-va-rua.htm

Dak Lak: Save biological diversity of Yok Don National Park

Yok Don is not only the biggest national park but also the only dipterocarp
forest ecosystem preserved in Vietnam, providing an ideal habitat for many
native species.  According to recent research, Yok Don has 67 mammal
species, 196 bird species, 46 reptile species, 15 amphibian species and
about 100 species of insects. Yok Don is home to some globally endangered
species such as kouprey (Bos sauveli), giant muntjac (Megamuntiacus
vuquangensis), Eld's deer (Cervus eldi), banteng (Bos banteng), dhole (Cuon
alpinus), tiger (Panthera tigris), Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and
black-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nigripes). The flora is also rich in
diversity with 464 species, of which there are many rare species including
23 kinds of orchid with beautiful colors. The biological diversity of Yok
Don is an invaluable asset of Vietnam; protecting this area is an important
responsibility of the government, the authorities and the Vietnamese people.

Vietnamese version, republished from Dat Viet newspaper December 25, 2011:

http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView
<http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView&id=856> &id=856

Ho Chi Minh City: Imprisonment for trading wildlife

On December 23, the People's Supreme Court in Ho Chi Minh City sentenced a
subject living in Binh Tan district to one year's probation, and a subject
living in Nghe An province to 5 months 2 days' imprisonment for trading rare
wildlife. According to court documents, in May 2011 the two subjects bought
a dead Asian golden cat (Catopuma temminckii) in Nghe An province and dyed
its fur to sell it as a 'tiger'. On May 25, the two subjects were caught
when preparing to deliver the cat. 

According to Decree 32/2006/ND-CP, the Asian golden cat belongs to group IB
- the group of rare animals prohibited from being exploited, used or traded.

Vietnamese version, republished from Thanh Nien newspaper December 24, 2011:

http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView
<http://thiennhien.org/index.php?page=newsView&id=851> &id=851

New publication

Wildlife Crime Bulletin December 2011

ENV has just released the December issue of its Wildlife Crime Bulletin.
This issue includes articles on continuing bear bile tourism operations in
Ha Long City, despite the ban from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and
Tourism; critically endangered Vietnamese turtles observed in Chinese
markets; feedback from the public and some remarkable wildlife crime cases
from December 2011.

The publication can be downloaded at the link below:

<http://envietnam.org/library/Wildlife%20Trade%20Bulletin/ENV_Wildlife_Crime
_Bulletin_December_2011.pdf>
http://envietnam.org/library/Wildlife%20Trade%20Bulletin/ENV_Wildlife_Crime_
Bulletin_December_2011.pdf 

Committing not to use bear bile and bear products

Demands of using bear bile and bear products are pushing bears in Vietnam to
the edge of extinction. Moreover, bear bile is not a magic medicine and
could even be a harmful product. Save yourselves and help protect bears in
Vietnam from the threat of extinction, by joining the ENV online bear pledge
campaign 'Not to use bear bile and bear products'.

For further details please click: http://thiennhien.org
<http://thiennhien.org/> 

Stay up to date with ENV on Facebook

Join ENV's Facebook Page

The ENV team regularly updates our Facebook page with wildlife crime news,
interesting cases and information about our other work. Click on this link
to join us and help save Vietnam's wildlife:
http://www.facebook.com/EducationforNatureVietnam

Please note:  Past bulletins can be found on ENV's website www.envietnam.org
<http://www.envietnam.org/> 

Communication and Public Awareness Unit

Education for Nature - Vietnam 

No. 5, Lane 192 Thai Thinh, Dong Da District

Hanoi, Vietnam 

Phone/fax: +84 4 35148850 - ext: 402

E-mail:  communication.env at gmail.com

               communication.env at fpt.vn

Website: www.envietnam.org <http://www.envietnam.org/>  (English) 

  www.thiennhien.org <http://www.thiennhien.org/>   (Vietnamese) 

  www.savingvietnamswildlife.org <http://www.savingvietnamswildlife.org/>
(English wildlife trade website)

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