Smuggling of wild animals, plants must be strictly dealt with
Smuggling of wild animals, plants must be strictly dealt with: Deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has assigned the Ministries of Public Security, National Defence, Finance, and Industry and Trade to intensify preventive measures and strictly handle the illegal smuggling and transportation of wild animals and plants.
Rhino horns seized at Noi Bai International Airport (Source: antt.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has assigned theMinistries of Public Security, National Defence, Finance, and Industry andTrade to intensify preventive measures and strictly handle the illegalsmuggling and transportation of wild animals and plants.
According to assessments of severalinternational experts, Vietnam has become a hot spot for the smuggling and useof products of wild animals and plants in Southeast Asia.
The country has also been said to serve asa major centre for the illegal trading of wild animal products. Many large-volumecross-border smuggling cases have been detected, while the use of elephanttusks and rhino horns, as well as the slaughter of wild animals to serveparties, are still common occurrences amongst Vietnamese people.
Due to these actions, many species of wildanimals are at risk of going extinct, thus threatening biodiversity across theregion.
Statistics of the Supreme People’s Court ofVietnam showed that from 2015-2017, the court handled 231 cases violatingregulations on wild and endangered animals with 339 people involved – of whomeight were sentenced to 3-7 years in prison, and 96 received under-3-yearimprisonment sentences. –VNA
About 8 tonnes of ivory and pangolin scales were discovered in a container at Tien Sa port in the central city of Da Nang on October 4, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.
As wildlife-related crimes are able to generate profits almost equal to those from the trafficking of drugs, firearms, and human beings, they are quickly becoming increasingly more of a threat to Vietnam, according to an official from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Vietnam.
Leaders from 25 business associations in central provinces have pledged to combat illegal wildlife consumption by adopting new programmes to shed light on wildlife crime and the myths about consumption that are driving the trade in Vietnam.
Sixteen Vietnamese and foreign conservation organisations have called for more administrative punishments for wildlife crime, given their concern about biodiversity loss as a result of unchecked poaching.
Floodwater levels in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are high and will continue to rise this month, especially in upstream areas, according to the hydraulic works management and construction department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Conservation efforts to restore habitat and boost the population of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park are finally showing progress, with the cranes and many other rare wild birds coming back to the park.
Torrential rains from the night of July 31 to early August 1 triggered flash floods and landslides across several communes in Dien Bien province, leaving at least two people dead and eight others missing.
Transitioning to a circular economy not only offers a sustainable development path for Ho Chi Minh City but also serves as a pivotal step toward establishing a fully green economy.
An exhibition featuring 100 green, recycled, and circular economy models and products from 50 businesses and educational establishments took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31, as part of the local green transition forum and recycle day 2025.
Regional solidarity and cooperation are the key factor for the effective implementation of wildlife protection regulations. Only through sustainable cooperation, innovative approaches, and collective action can biodiversity be safeguarded for the present and future generations, an Vietnamese official has said.
Hanoi has approved a comprehensive plan to restore the environmental quality and develop four major urban rivers – the To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, and Set reverine environments.
The Javan pangolin is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book as critically endangered and is protected under Group IB – a category reserved for forest species facing an extremely high risk of extinction and requiring strict conservation measures.
As a key member of the core group of 18 countries, initiated by Vanuatu, Vietnam engaged in advocating for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution N.77/276, requesting for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Following the resolution's adoption, Vietnam fully participated in all procedural steps for the first time, from submitting written proposals to presenting directly at the court’s hearings.
The wild elephant population in Da Nang includes a full developed herb of mature males, females, and calves. To date, the herd has grown to nine individuals.
Conservation efforts here have become a model, helping to save millions of turtle hatchlings and promoting Con Dao as a member of the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asia Turtle Site Network.
As part of its drive to fulfil its net zero emissions commitment by 2050, Vietnam is fast-tracking the development of a legal corridor to launch a pilot carbon market by the end of 2025, according to the Department of Climate Change.
Under the plan, from 2025 to 2026, the city will complete mechanisms and policies to support businesses in switching to green vehicles, expand the electric and green-energy bus network, and build charging stations. The targeted proportion of green buses is set at 10% in 2025 and 20–23% in 2026.
Storm Comay, the fourth in the East Sea this year, was at around 16.7 degrees North and 118.3 degrees East, in the east of the East Sea's northern waters as of 4am on July 24.
The disaster risk warning level for flash floods, landslides, and ground subsidence due to heavy rains and flows is rated at level 1, except in Nghe An, where it is raised to level 2.
Rhino horns seized at Noi Bai International Airport (Source: antt.vn) 
