Story | 14 Jul, 2016
Rising illegal wildlife trade threatens natural World Heritage sites, warns IUCN
The rise in demand for products derived from animals and plants, such as elephant tusks or precious wood, is causing an increase in illegal logging and poaching in natural World Heritage sites. The World Heritage Committee, which holds its annual meeting this week in Istanbul, today discussed…
Story | 13 Jul, 2016
Forest conservation in Quang Tri: what can be done?
In Quang Tri province, Viet Nam, not far from the Lao border, one side of the valley is a nature reserve, and on the other a 130-hectare community-managed forest. The community forest looks in reasonably good condition, with no clearing and not much bamboo re-growth. When asked, the village…
Story | 13 Jul, 2016
A collective voice: helping farmers become communicators
The expression “The squeaky wheel gets the grease” or the equivalent in Vietnamese “Con khóc mẹ mới cho bú” (the mother breast-feeds the baby only when it cries) reflect the belief that to get attention you have to raise your voice. Farmers in Vietnam often say they lack sufficient capital,…
Story | 12 Jul, 2016
DNA surveys offer hope to Viet Nam's Critically Endangered turtles
Advanced environmental DNA techniques are being used extensively in Viet Nam as researchers continue in their efforts to track down selected species of Critically Endangered reptiles. The methods have been successful in detecting the rare cave salamander (Proteus anguinus) in Montenegro, a…
Story | 12 Jul, 2016
Tackling Ha Long Bay’s polystyrene plague
From a distance, the scattered beaches of Vietnam’s iconic Ha Long Bay appear pristine. But as you get closer you realize that the picturesque World Heritage Site is engaged in a battle to prevent itself from drowning in trash.
Story | 07 Jul, 2016
CEPF launches new call for proposals in the Indo-Burma hotspot
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) has launched a call for proposals for small grant projects in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam and parts of Southern China. A separate call for proposals for large grant projects in Myanmar has also been issued…
Story | 30 Jun, 2016
Action for a green Ha Long: Volunteers unite to clean-up bay
As part of the USAID-funded Ha Long-Cat Ba Alliance (HLCBA), a clean-up day was organized by IUCN and Au Co Cruises on June 14 in Ha Long Bay with over 100 volunteers from across Viet Nam.
Story | 22 Jun, 2016
Empowering schools on nature: Training of teachers on highland ecosystems
Engaging schools and school teachers on the value and role of natural resources is one of the best investments towards conservation and sustainable management of natural resources.
Story | 22 Jun, 2016
Artificial reef building at Unawatuna with private sector support
International Union for Conservation of Nature and Holcim Lanka Ltd deployed fifteen artificial reef structures at Unawatuna, southern Sri Lanka in 2008 to increase reef area available for corals and associated reef organisms.
Story | 08 Jun, 2016
IUCN announces Ha Long cleanup day
IUCN Viet Nam and Au Co Cruise this week finished assembling a group of volunteers for an important cleanup event scheduled for Ha Long Bay on the 14th of June. IUCN called for volunteers on the union’s website and social media channels, resulting in almost 450 applicants from around the country…