GIZ Vietnam fences out wildlife safety zone

It has joined the campaign of nature conservation organisation “Education for Nature Vietnam” (ENV) and on behalf of the German government, GIZ has been actively working in the field of biodiversity conservation in the country and now takes the further step of encouraging its staff members to take a personal stance against the consumption of wildlife.

Within the first week after the call of action, 159 staff members have stated on pledge cards that they will say ‘NO’ to the consumption of wildlife.

This represents half of all GIZ employees in Vietnam.

In the future, more cards are hoped to be  received and GIZ staff are expected to set an example for their friends and families to protect Vietnam’s biodiversity by refusing wildlife products and reporting wildlife crimes.

The Wildlife Safety Zone in Vietnam is part of GIZ’s contribution to the “German Action Week for Sustainability”, which takes place from June 15-21, 2013.

The Action Week is a project by the German Council for Sustainable Development who aims to make sustainability an important public issue, including environmental, social and economic aspects.

GIZ joins a number of government offices, businesses, and other organisations throughout Vietnam in ENV’s Wildlife Safety Zone programme to raise awareness of threats to Vietnam’s wildlife.

Already part of EVN’s programme are among others the US embassy, the Vietnamese investment group Dragon Capital and the Standard Chartered Bank.

EVN maintains a toll-free national hotline (1800 1522) to enable anyone to anonymously report wildlife crimes, such as wildlife or wildlife products being sold in restaurants, markets, or hotels.

Vietnam is home to over 11,000 different animal species, making Vietnam one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world.

Today’s demand for wildlife and wildlife products is putting the survival of entire species at risk, as many of the species traded are endangered.