Since the Government’s decision on action plan for the protection of the primate species in Vietnam was issued in 2017, a total of 684 endangered douc langurs, including 86 grey-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrix cinerea), one of the world’s 25 Critically Endangered primates, have been captured by rangers and authorities in 80 illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking cases.
An individual grey-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix cinerea), one of the world’s 25 Critically Endangered primates, is found living in a forest of Quang Nam Province. (Photo courtesy of Ai Tam)
Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Since the Government’s decision on action plan for theprotection of the primate species in Vietnam was issued in 2017,🗹 a total of 684 endangered douc langurs,including 86 grey-shanked douc langurs (Pygathrixcinerea), one of the world🌠’s 25 Critically Endangered primates, havebeen captured by rangers and authorities in 80 illegal hunting andwildlife trafficking cases.
However, a report by theENV, an NGO focused on wildlife protection, showed that only 30 per centof total poaching violations in Vietnam were discovered, while 70 per cent wereunknown, meaning that the number of the langurs hunted in the forest wasunclear. Biologists,conservationists and experts shared the report at a conference on theconservation activities on endangered primates in the central provinces QuangNam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Gia Lai and Kon Tum,and discussed further actions from 2025 to 2030. They agreed that illegalwildlife hunting, the expansion of coffee and log farms, poor management andplanning on the protection of the primates species in the six provinceshad been raising threats to the conservation of endangered primates. Expert Ha Thang Long, head of therepresentative office of the Frankfurt Zoological Society in Vietnam, saidurgent action was needed for more effective protection of the langurs frombecoming extinct in the six provinces where from 2,200 to2,500 individuals are living in the primary forest or strictly protectednature reserves. Areport from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development unveiled that thecentral region lost 34,000ha of forest due to illegal logging and landclearance for coffee, rubber and acacia plantations. The forested area haddropped by 180,000ha, of which 112,000ha had been destroyed or occupied by theexpansion of other crop plantations, and 37,000ha for building hydropowerplants and roads between 2010-15, the report detailed./.
The newly-spotted groups of rare animals include the grey-shanked douc langur, northern yellow-cheeked gibbon, Owston's palm civet, Asian black bear, pygmy slow loris, otter, wildcat and many others.
Efforts are being made toward a goal of expanding the habitat of the grey-shanked douc langur in central Quang Nam province’s Nui Thanh district to 150ha by 2030.
A Delacour’s langur baby has been born after its parents were released into the wild on Ngoc Island in Ninh Binh’s Trang An Landscape Complex last year.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
An individual grey-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix cinerea), one of the world’s 25 Critically Endangered primates, is found living in a forest of Quang Nam Province. (Photo courtesy of Ai Tam) 
