[wildtrade] PR: Promoting wildlife protection on International Biodiversity Day 2014

Thu May 22 11:22:46 BST 2014

*Promoting wildlife protection on International Biodiversity Day*
Unsustainable consumption of endangered species is the focus this year.

*Hanoi, May 22, 2014 –*The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
(MONRE) hosted a special ceremony to celebrate International Biodiversity
Day today, in recognition of the value of biodiversity for all people in
Vietnam. The ceremony marked the culmination of a series of awareness
events and activities held this week to celebrate the day.

 *“Unsustainable consumption of endangered wildlife species is one of the
most critical issues facing biodiversity in Vietnam today, and that is why
it is the focus of this year’s International Biodiversity Day
celebrations”*says Associate Professor Dr. Bui Cach Tuyen,
Vice-Minister of MONRE. *“Raising
public awareness of the importance of wildlife protection for all of
society is a very important part of government efforts to address this
issue. We hope this event today will help enable the public to recognize
their responsibilities in protecting wildlife and our unique and precious
biodiversity.”*

The ceremony and awareness activities for International Biodiversity Day
were carried out under the scope of the project "Wildlife Consumption in
Vietnam: Reforming Policies and Practices to Strengthen Biodiversity
Conservation" (WLC Project), funded by the Global Environment Facility
(GEF) via the World Bank.

Around 400 guests attended today’s event in Hanoi, including
representatives from Central Youth Union, relevant government agencies and
institutions, embassies, NGO, experts, clubs, students and media agencies.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of prizes to 17 winners of the
“Youth for Wildlife Protection” competition.

The competition was a joint initiative of the Vietnam Environment
Administration under MONRE and the Central Youth Union, and involved
students and young people creating and recording original performances of
songs, plays and dances, with the theme of wildlife protection. A judging
panel including professional artists selected the winners based on the most
imaginative performances and the best messages.

*“We were very impressed by the quality and creativity of the entries in
the competition,”* says Mr. Nguyen Phi Long, Member of the Standing
Committee, Head of the Youth Solidarity Committee, and Standing
Vice-Chairman of the Youth Union of Vietnam. *“The winning competition
entries will now play an important role in Youth Union campaigns to
continue to raise awareness of the need to protect our endangered wildlife
species. They are messages created by young people, for young people, with
the aim of building a more sustainable future for our country.”*

  Amongst the 17 prize winners were the organization ‘Action for
Wildlife’, which was presented with a special award for its video clip “Is
it true that wildlife has magical medicine properties?” and Nguyen Duy
Khoai from Da Nang, who was awarded first place for his song “For the
Survival of Wildlife”.

*“The alarming decline in wildlife populations due to demand for
consumption and the illegal trade is an issue of growing international
concern,”* says Ms. Anjali Acharya, Environment Cluster Leader at the World
Bank. *“However, it is very encouraging to see such a strong response from
young Vietnamese to wildlife protection efforts, and we believe that young
people can make a valuable contribution in motivating behavior change for
biodiversity conservation.”*

In addition, a third component of the ceremony was the presentation and
discussion of findings from the “Biodiversity Barometer” survey, which was
conducted by the Union for Ethical Biotrade, in partnership with Helvetas
Vietnam and Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BCA) under MONRE. The survey
helps to measure progress in biodiversity awareness of the world’s
citizens, in contribution to one of the United Nation’s 2020 targets. This
is the first year that Vietnam has taken part in the survey, as one of 13
participating countries.

The survey conducted online interviews of 1000 Vietnamese consumers aged
between 18-50 years old, and overall findings showed that although
Vietnamese consumers have a high level of biodiversity awareness, there is
a gap between awareness and understanding of the issues. In particular,
some of the key results included that 92% of Vietnamese respondents expect
companies to respect biodiversity through their sourcing policies, but only
61% believe that companies pay enough attention to ethical sourcing of
biodiversity, and 55% believe it is essential to personally contribute to
biodiversity. The survey findings will be of strategic importance for
companies investing in Vietnamese markets, and also to help implement
Vietnam’s Green Growth Strategy.

Other activities that were carried out this week in recognition of
International Biodiversity Day included:

·          A joint workshop on May 20 with the Ministry of Health and MONRE
on reducing the use of endangered wildlife in traditional medicine;

·          The release of a public service
announcement<http://youtu.be/hPtHWePAl1Q>(PSA) to raise awareness of
wildlife protection law and penalties for
wildlife crimes, which will be aired on VTV channels for one month;

·         The airing of a documentary on endangered species and
biodiversity conservation on VTV1 and VTV2 television channels, and Voice
of Vietnam radio;

·        The widespread distribution of communication materials on wildlife
protection and reducing illegal wildlife consumption, including an
information leaflet, posters, banners, and helmets. The materials were sent
to all relevant ministries and government agencies, provincial and
municipal People’s Committees, and provincial Departments of Natural
Resources and Environment, with instructions to strengthen local
communication activities on this issue and promote International
Biodiversity Day;

·         Hanging a series of wildlife protection awareness banners in the
streets of Hanoi;

·         Distributing helmets with wildlife protection messages to members
of the public and government officials.

*For more information, please contact:*
Biodiversity Conservation Agency, Vietnam Environment Administration,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Address: 10, Ton That Thuyet, Cau Giay, Hanoi
Contact person: Ms. Nguyen Thi Van Anh
Phone: +84 4 3795 6868 (Ext:3116); Email: nguyenvananh.bca at gmail.com

*About International Day for Biological Diversity*

Since 2000, the UN General Assembly has adopted 22 May as the International
Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness of
biodiversity issues around the world. In 2014, the theme of the day is
island biodiversity, and the national theme of the day in Vietnam is
reducing illegal consumption of endangered wildlife to protect biodiversity.

*About Wildlife Consumption*

Vietnam is recognized globally for its unique biodiversity. It is home to
many rare and endangered species, including some that are found nowhere
else in the world.

However, illegal wildlife trade and consumption have become major problems
in Vietnam. Despite efforts to manage the trade and conserve wildlife, rapid
economic growth over the past two decades has contributed to an
unsustainable increase in wildlife consumption. Illegal consumption and the
associated trade have led to the alarming decline of wild populations of
many mammal, bird, and reptile species.

Illegal and unsustainable wildlife consumption not only devastates species
populations and destroys ecosystems, but it also has negative consequences
for the whole of society, our economy, human health, and even national
security. The WLC Project is part of a range of new initiatives from the
Vietnam Government aiming to address these issues.

Best regards,
-- 
WLC project Office, Biodiversity Conservation Agency
3rd Floor, Detech Tower, 8C Ton That Thuyet, Tu Liem, Hanoi
Tel: +844 37955 471; Fax: +844 37955 464
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