The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will help Vietnam control illegal wildlife trafficking through a 15 million USD project launched in Hanoi on June 13.
Hanoi (VNA) – The US Agency forInternational Development (USAID) will help Vietnam control illegal wildlife traffickingthrough a 15 million USD project launched in Hanoi on June 13.
The launch of the five-year project on savingthreatened wildlife was held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (MARD) and USAID.
The project aims to improve Vietnam’s leadershipcapacity in handling wildlife crime by enhancing commitments from leaders at nationaland provincial levels, improving the efficiency of law enforcement and reducingthe demand and consumption of wildlife products.
“Through this new project, USAID will work with MARDto reduce demand for and consumption of illegal wildlife products, and save ourthreatened species,” said Ann Marie Yastishock, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director.
“The effective implementation of the SavingThreatened Wildlife project will help address the issue of illegal wildlifetrafficking, and therefore reflect the highest commitments of the Government ofVietnam in this effort, contributing to biodiversity conservation andenvironment protection in Vietnam,” said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Quoc Doanh.
The new project focuses on protecting species thatare at risk of international trafficking into Vietnam such as African rhinos,African and Asian elephants, and pangolins, as well as animals that areregularly poached and traded domestically or internationally, such as primates,muntjacs, and big cats.
It is implemented by the World Wide Fund for Nature, incooperation with the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC) and theEducation for Nature Vietnam (ENV).
The Saving Threatened Wildlife project builds andexpands on the progress achieved by USAID’s previous five-year (2016-2021)project, Saving Species. The Saving Species project supported the Vietnamese Governmentto improve and harmonise the legal system related to wildlife protection,strengthen law enforcement and prosecution of wildlife crimes, and reducedemand and illegal consumption of wildlife.
Vietnam has already taken action to deal withillegal wildlife trade, including improving legal regulations.
Notably, the Prime Minister on May 17 issuedDirective No. 4/CT-TTg on a number of tasks and solutions to protect migratoryand wild birds in Vietnam.
The country has also been participating ininternational treaties, institutions and cooperation in biodiversityconservation and combating illegal wildlife trade./.
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At the launch of the project. (Photo: VNA) 
