04 April 94
VIETNAM: HANOI JOINS CONVENTION ON ENDANGERED FAUNA AND FLORA. Text of report
Vietnam has taken a decisive move to protect its varied fauna and flora by
joining the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora. The convention will cover Vietnam as of 20th April. 
 
Source: Voice of Vietnam external service, Hanoi, in English 1000 gmt 29 Mar 94
 
 
 04 April 94
VIETNAM: VIETNAM REINFORCES BAN ON TRADE IN WILD ANIMALS. HANOI, April 4
(Reuter) - Vietnam's forestry ministry has reinforced a ban on trading in the
country's threatened wildlife, reminding local authorities to clamp down on
hunters, government officials said on Monday. The new measure telling provicial
officials to implement the ban issued last year was necessary because Vietnam was
about to join the Convention for the International trade in Endangered Species
(CITES), they said. "Now that Vietnam is formally to become a CITES member on
April 20, we have to abide by its regulations... We plan to apply some stronger
measures (to protect wildlife) in the period to come," one official said. He
declined to give more details.

 The official said the forestry ministry had recently required local authorities
to ban production and sale of wildlife meats and products such as skins, stuffed
animals and ivory.

 The official said that despite a government ban last year on killing and dealing
in rare wild animals, illegal trade in wildlife remained widespread.
 Experts say a range of wild animals is threatened, including tigers, elephants,
leopards and sea turtles.

 Traders have long plundered the jungles for animals to sell as pets, for food or
as ingredients in traditional medicines. Trade has boomed since the border with
China was opened in 1989.

 Animal numbers were also depleted during virtually constant warfare in Vietnam
from the late 1930s to the mid-1970s.