Over the past few decades, the number of rhinos and elephants have steadily declined due to illegal hunting for rhino horns and ivory. In Vietnam, rhinos became extinct after the last rhino was found dead in Cat Tien National Park in 2010, and there are only about 100 wild elephants left in the country, mainly distributed in the central, central highlands, and southern regions. Hence, implementation of the National Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn Action Plan (NIRAP), which aims to tackle the illegal trade of ivory and rhino horn to and from Vietnam, is very important in fulfilling Vietnam’s commitment to fighting wildlife crime under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
From May 25-29, USAID Saving Species project supported the Vietnam CITES Management Agency (Vietnam CITES MA) to organize workshops in hotspot provinces for ivory and rhino trafficking to get feedback on the implementation of the NIRAP during 2018-19 so that Vietnam can fulfill its reporting obligation to CITES and adjust its action plan for more effective implementation in the next phases. These workshops were attended by Vietnam-Wildlife Enforcement Network (WEN) members, including the Supreme People's Procuracy, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Forest Protection Department. The consultation report will be used as important input to revise the NIRAP and improve international cooperation to more effectively combat wildlife trafficking.
So What? USAID’s assistance towards the effective implementation of the NIRAP is key to combating illegal trade of ivory and rhino horn, helps Vietnam fulfill its CITES obligations, and supports the Indo-Pacific Vision of reducing transnational environmental crimes.