Vietnam Administration, WB Launch $3M Wildlife Conservation Project

The Vietnam Environment Administration, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), and the World Bank (WB) on September 10 launched a project on strengthening the partnership in the conservation of endangered species in Vietnam, state media reported. The $3-million project is part of a global partnership program on wildlife conservation and crime prevention for sustainable development, which is funded by the Global Environment Fund through the WB. The project in Vietnam will be carried out by the MoNRE from 2019 to 2020 to protect endangered species by reducing threats posed by illegal exploitation, trade and consumption through multilateral cooperation. It will involve join efforts by domestic and foreign agencies and organizations. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s list updated in July, the number of species classified as “near threatened” and above in Vietnam is 700. Surveys in 2016 also proposed adding 1,211 species, including 600 plant and fungus species and 611 animal species, in the Red Data Book, much higher than the 2007 assessment. (Vietnam Plus, Vietnam Plus, baotainguyenmoitruong, thiennhien, Dang Cong San, baovemoitruong)