HANOI – Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV) and its supporting partners, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Freeland, hosted the second annual “Outstanding Achievement Awards for Wildlife Protection” ceremony to honor five law enforcement officers and two journalists for their contributions to the protection of wildlife in Vietnam.
Launched in November 2014, the national awards nomination process attracted applications from across Vietnam. Candidates included journalists, police officers, forest rangers, customs officers, border police, fisheries officers, and other members of the law enforcement community with a proven track record in protecting wildlife. The seven winners were selected by a panel of representatives from Freeland, IUCN Vietnam, People and Nature Reconciliation (Pan Nature), TRAFFIC Southeast Asia– Greater Mekong Program and Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV).
Outstanding Enforcement Officer Award:
- Huynh Quoc Thang – Customs Officer, Tan Son Nhat International Airport Customs
- Nguyen Duy Toai – Team Leader, Environmental Police Department, Bac Kan
- Nguyen Huu Hoa – Forest Ranger, Saola Nature Reserves, Hue
- Nguyen Trong Khoi – Team Leader, Environmental Police Department, Tay Ninh
- Tran Huu Hong – Head of Environmental Police Department, Nghe An
Excellence in Journalism Award:
- Do Doan Hoang – Journalist, Lao Dong newspaper
- Le Thi Hong Van – Journalist, Nhan Dan newspaper
Check out these short videos of the winners.
“We are honored to host the second national award ceremony to recognize individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to protecting wildlife,” said Vu Thi Quyen, ENV Executive Director.
“ENV believes that the hard work of law enforcement authorities, the media, our corporate partners, and the public should be recognized and celebrated.”
“We hope the award winners today will inspire others in Vietnam and throughout the region to make a difference in the fight against wildlife crime,” said the U.S Embassy Environment, Science, Technology and Health Unit Chief, Douglas O’Neill.
“We firmly believe it is everyone’s responsibility to help stop the illegal wildlife trade and protect our natural heritage.”
The ceremony also acknowledged official corporate and media partners, as well as notable contributions from civil society and the public. These groups all play a critical role in assisting in the protection of Vietnam’s endangered wildlife.
The event was part of the USAID-funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) Program, an alliance of non-governmental organizations and other agencies, including ENV and Freeland, working together across Southeast Asia and China to stop wildlife trafficking.
Vietnam is home to a large number of rare and endangered species, many of which are under serious threat as a result of poaching and illegal trade. Considered a key player in the global wildlife trade, Vietnam is also home to sophisticated and far-reaching organized criminal networks that traffic tons of wildlife every year to meet the increasing domestic and international demand for exotic food, medicine, and products made from wildlife.
From 2014 to the end of August 2015, ENV recorded 12 major rhino horn and 34 elephant ivory crime cases. Over 10 tons of rhino horn and elephant ivory were confiscated in August 2015 alone. Rhinos went extinct in Vietnam in 2010 and many other of the country’s most endangered species, including tigers, bears, pangolins, elephants, endemic primates and saolas are all at risk of extinction.
ENV would like to thank the Sofitel Plaza Hanoi for generously supporting this event and for their partnership with ENV to protect Vietnam’s wildlife.
Rhishja Cota
I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.