USAID supports Vietnam to fight wildlife smuggling
Update: 14/03/2017
The United States Agency of International Development will provide non-refundable aid of 10 million USD for Vietnam to tackle wildlife smuggling from 2017 – 2021.
Dead pangolins are kept at the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Centre (Photo: VNA)
The project, just approved by the Prime Minister, has counterpart capital of 11.125 billion VND (nearly 500,000 USD) funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The project includes completing the legal framework related to wildlife, enforcing the implementation of legal documents, and promoting communication to raise public awareness of using and buying wild animals and related products.
Illegal trading of wild species is estimated to bring smugglers 10-15 billion USD each year. It depletes natural resources and increases the risk of spreading diseases.