Directive 04/CT-TTg 2022 urgent tasks and solutions to conserve wild and migratory birds

DIRECTIVE

On a number of urgent tasks and solutions to conserve wild and migratory birds in Vietnam^[1]

Vietnam is regarded as one of the most important areas along migration routes of migratory and endemic bird species, with 63 globally important bird areas and 7 endemic bird areas; wild and migratory bird areas have created important natural values, contributing to nature conservation, biodiversity conservation, tourism development and building the image of Vietnam. At present, the country is home to over 900 bird species, of which 99 require conservation attention, 10 are categorized as critically endangered, 17 as endangered, 24 as near-endangered and 48 as near-threatened species.

Recent years have witnessed great efforts of the Party, State and all sectors and authorities in protecting biodiversity, including wild and migratory birds as well as important bird areas. Many wild and migratory bird species have been included in the list of species for management and protection in accordance with law, such as grus antigone, platalea regia, eurynorhynchus pygmeus, etc. However, the hunting and consumption of wild birds, particularly migratory birds, are still occurring seriously in many localities, negatively affecting biodiversity and the environment, posing risks of diseases to the people and natural organisms; affecting the implementation of international commitments on biodiversity conservation and the East Asian-Australian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) to which Vietnam is a contracting party. The hunting, catching and destruction of natural habitats of wildlife lead to changes in natural habitats and ecosystems and critically reduce the number and composition of wild and migratory birds. Some migratory birds can no longer be seen in Vietnam in bird migration seasons.

To conserve wild and migratory birds; to prevent and stop the hunting and catching and destruction of habitats of wild and migratory birds, the Prime Minister requests:

1. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment:

a/ To review, propose revisions to, submit for promulgation, and promulgate  according to its competence, regulations on conservation of wild and migratory birds in Vietnam; to guide the management and protection of wild and migratory birds; to guide and organize the management and protection of wild and migratory birds, including the protection of their habitats, trans-border migratory routes and stopovers.

b/ To coordinate with related countries and international organizations in enhancing the protection of wild and migratory birds and their trans-border flyways, important migratory bird areas and their stopovers in Vietnam; to coordinate with international organizations in building a system for monitoring and supervising important flyways of migratory birds.

c/ To assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related ministries and sectors in, directing, propagandizing, guiding and inspecting the implementation of this Directive in an effective manner.

2. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development:

a/ To direct forest protection forces to coordinate with local authorities and related agencies in intensifying the patrol, control, prevention, arrest and strict handling of acts of illegally hunting, catching, killing, raising, confining, transporting, trading in, processing, storing and consuming wild and migratory birds, especially in the migration season (from September to April).

b/ To coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, provincial-level People’s Committees and related agencies in managing important wild and migratory bird areas in Vietnam.

c/ To review and coordinate with related agencies in proposing amendments and supplementations to regulations on sanctioning of acts of illegally hunting, shooting and trapping of wild and migratory birds.

d/ To enhance the monitoring for promptly detecting diseases and epidemics borne by wild and migratory birds that are likely to spread and affect the health of people, livestock and poultry.

3. The Ministry of Public Security:

To direct the environmental police force to intensify the application of measures to fight, prevent and strictly handle acts of illegally hunting, killing, raising, confining, transporting, trading in, processing, storing and consuming wild and migratory birds; to direct functional forces to intensify investigation for detecting and promptly handling violations, with a view to cracking down on crime rings engaged in illegal trading, storing and transportation of wild and trans-border migratory birds.

4. The Ministry of Industry and Trade:

a/ To direct the market surveillance force to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with related specialized agencies in, enhancing the management of and promptly handling acts of illegally trading in, transporting, storing and consuming wild and migratory birds.

b/ To direct and apply measures to inspect and handle forms of illegal advertising for and online trading of wild and migratory birds and trapping and catching tools (nets, traps, spare parts of self-assembled hunting rifles and shotguns, etc.).

5. The Ministry of Information and Communications:

a/ To direct media agencies in intensifying reporting and broadcasting messages, reports and bulletins to propagandize the law on protection of wildlife, especially wild and migratory birds; to make propaganda for the people to refrain from being engaged in illegal hunting, catching, killing, raising, confining, transportation, trading, processing, storing and consumption of wild and migratory birds and their products.

b/ To direct and strictly control the advertising of products and tools for hunting, catching and trapping wild and migratory birds (nets, hunting rifles, self-assembled rifles, etc.).

6. The Ministry of Science and Technology:

To intensify scientific research and technology transfer in order to monitor migratory birds, conserve and restore important wild and migratory bird areas of Vietnam.

7. The Ministry of Finance:

To direct the customs force, particularly border-gate customs offices to proactively coordinate with quarantine units in intensifying inspection and control of illegal trading and transportation of wild and trans-border migratory birds.

8. The Ministry of National Defense:

To direct functional forces in increasing patrol and strictly controlling activities at border gates and border crossings in order to promptly detect, arrest and handle under regulations acts of illegally purchasing, selling, transporting, importing and exporting wild and migratory birds.

9. The Vietnam Television, the Radio Voice of Vietnam and other mass media agencies shall intensify the propagation and dissemination of regulations on management and prevention of acts of illegally hunting, killing, raising, confining, transporting, trading in, processing, storing and consuming wild and migratory birds.

10. Provincial-level People’s Committees:

a/ To enhance the direction of the implementation of relevant regulations, particularly the Government’s Decree No. 160/2013/ND-CP of November 12, 2013, on criteria for identification and management of species on the list of endangered, precious and rare species prioritized for protection; the Government’s Decree No. 64/2019/ND-CP of July 16, 2019, amending Article 7 of Decree No. 160/2013/ND-CP; the Government’s Decree No. 06/2019/ND-CP of January 22, 2019, on the management of endangered, precious and rare wild fauna and flora, and the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Government’s Decree No. 84/2021/ND-CP of September 22, 2021, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 06/2019/ND-CP; the Party Central Committee’s Popularization and Education Commission’s Guidance No. 13-HD/BTGTW of July 19, 2021, on intensification of public communication about prevention of hunting, killing, transportation, slaughter, consumption, stockpiling, advertising and abuse of endangered, precious and rare wild animals and plants.

b/ To organize the management, protection and sustainable development of nature reserves, wetlands, bird parks, bird sanctuaries and important bird areas in localities; help local business establishments sign written commitments on refraining from purchasing, selling, using, consuming, displaying and advertising wild fauna specimens of unlawful origins and strictly handling individuals and businesses that commit violations.

c/ To direct local authorities at all levels and law enforcement agencies in enhancing the control, prevention and strict handling of acts of illegally hunting, catching, trapping, slaughtering, transporting, trading in, processing or stockpiling wild and migratory birds; eradicate marketplaces for illegal trading in wild and migratory birds in their localities.

d/ To intensify public communication among and mobilize the people to refrain from illegally hunting, catching, trapping and shooting wild and migratory birds; to refrain from illegally purchasing, selling, transporting, trading in, storing and consuming wild and migratory birds; to strictly observe regulations on biodiversity conservation, protection of endangered, precious and rare species prioritized for protection; to actively fight and denounce violations of the law on management and protection of wild and migratory birds.

11. The Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations and social organizations to disseminate this Directive among and mobilize their members to actively participate in and monitor the implementation of the Directive.

Ministries, sectors, related agencies, and provincial-level People’s Committees shall organize and implement this Directive; regularly send their reports to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment before June 30 every year so that the latter shall summarize and report the situation to the Prime Minister for consideration and direction.-

For the Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
LE VAN THANH