Bangkok--31 Aug--ASEAN-WEN
The Viet Nam Government, together with the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), today launched the Inter-agency Executive Committee for Viet Nam Wildlife Enforcement, which involves members of the Viet Nam Wildlife Enforcement Network (Viet Nam - WEN).
Viet Nam - WEN is a network that seeks to strengthen the support and cooperation between relevant national, regional and international authorities in response to wildlife crimes, such as poaching, trafficking, trade and captive breeding of endangered species. The launch ceremony was held in Ha Noi with the co-sponsorship of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Viet Nam - WEN is headed by the Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and a committee comprised of nine members representing the CITES Management Authority, the Forest Protection Department, the Biodiversity Conservation Department, the Market Management Department, the Anti-Smuggling Investigation Department of Customs, the Environmental Police Department, the Rural - Agricultural Security Department, and the Drug Criminal Control Department of Viet Nam’s Defense Force.
“The establishment of Viet Nam - WEN is an objective and essential requirement, which demonstrates the Viet Nam Government’s efforts in strengthening collaboration with other countries in the region and worldwide for more effective response to wildlife crimes,” said Hua Duc Nhi, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Manop Lauprasert, Senior Officer of ASEAN-WEN Program Coordination Unit, said, “This progress demonstrates ASEAN member countries' commitment and collaboration to mutually fight the illegal wildlife trade that is robbing our region of irreplaceable flora and fauna.”
USAID Mission Director Francis Donovan said, "As wildlife crime knows no national boundaries, we must all work together -- nationally, regionally, and globally - to disrupt criminal networks that are damaging the earth’s biodiversity."
Viet Nam is the sixth ASEAN country to form a national wildlife enforcement network under the regional ASEAN-WEN, after Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
For more information, contact:
Vietnam CITES Management Authorities
Block A3, No 2 Ngoc Ha, Ba Dinh - Ha Noi
Tel: +844 3733 5676
Fax: +844 3734 6742
Email:
[email protected];
[email protected]
or
ASEAN-WEN Program Coordination Unit
Ground Floor, Department of National Parks (DNP)
Piroj Suvanakorn Building
61 Phaholyothin Road, Lad Yao, Chatuchak,
Bangkok 10900, Thailand
Tel: +662 940 6286
Email:
[email protected]