Author: warnew
Teenagers implemented environment communication at secondary schools
Ho Chi Minh City, from February to March, 2011- Sixteen members of “I love nature” Club, Khan Quang Do magazine has formed three groups to initiate and conduct four environment communication projects for more than 3500 students in four secondary schools of Ho Chi Minh City. This is the opportunity for the children aged 11 to 15 years old to practice communications skills they learnt during the training last year. Each group of children is supported by one or two volunteer students who came from Ho Chi Minh City Universities.
At Ngo Quyen Secondary School, Tan Binh District, the project is to organise a quiz show entitled “Discovering the Wildlife World”. This is an opportunity for students to learn about wildlife species and how to protect these species. Students who provide correct answer received a gift. The quiz show was conducted successfully and was attended by more than 1000 students in the school.
The projects in Lac Hong Secondary school last for a month in which students from different classes take photos of the city and in school to show the nice and ugly actions of the human being toward the nature. Nineteen photo collections was sent to this contest entitled “Human and Nature – Nice and Ugly behaviours”. The best collection was then awarded in the school.
At Phu My Secondary School, Binh Thanh Dist., the contest entitled “Bin design – clean and beautiful class” was carried out to to encourage students to throw garbage in right place instead of throwing it indiscriminately. The students also decorated the dust bin and use them in their class.
At the end of the program, best students who had great contribution in each project in the three secondary schools were selected to join a study tour to Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station.
This activity is operated under the cooperation between WAR and Khan Quang Do Magazine that aims to create the generation of secondary school students who care for the environment and be able to make right decision toward environment protection and wildlife conservation.
Discover 12 new species of fresh water fishes for Vietnam
Discover 12 new species of fresh water fishes for Vietnam
Wildlife At Risk (WAR) announces 12 new species of fresh water fish for Vietnam. These species were recorded during WAR’s surveys in Phu Quoc Island since the end of 2008. Some of these species are very common on the island.
Some species have been recorded in Vietnam previously but under different/invalid names such as Betta prima has been recorded as Betta pugnax (invalid name), Danio pulcher has been known as Brachydanio albolineatus (synonym). Some species were expected to exist in Vietnam by foreign ichthyologists, such as Trigonostigma espei and Lepidocephalichthys furcatus, now have been confirmed. A few species only have been known in Indonesia, Malaysia areas such as Barbuccacf. diabolica, now also have been recorded for Vietnam. For species with temporary identifications, there could be new species for science.
Identification work is still in the beginning phase. Modifications, additional records are anticipated.
“These findings have shown that there is a high potential for more species to be discovered in Vietnam,” said Mr. Manh Huu Bui, Senior Conservation Officer – WAR.
Quantity of many non-economic fish species are declining steadily due to habitat lost and water pollution. These species play an important role in balancing the ecosystems. The discovery of these species helps to monitor changes in the populations and based on that to implement appropriate conservation solutions. In the coming time, WAR will continue the fresh water fish programme including fish surveys, and breeding and releasing native fish to the wild.
1. Barbucca cf. diabolica
2. Pangio myersi
3. Lepidocephalichthys furcatus
4. Amblyceps cf. foratum
5. Betta prima
6. Rasbora pauciperforata – Redstripe rasbora
7. Trigonostigma espei – Lambchop rasbora
8. Belontia hasselti – Malay combtail
9. Nandus cf. nebulosus – Bornean leaffish
10. Danio pulcher – Pearl Danio
11. Kryptopterus macrocephalus – Striped glass catfish
12. Silurichthys schneideri
Green Talk finds winners
Ho Chi Minh City, 18 December 2010 – The final round of the Green Talk – the English Eloquence contest on environment protection was successfully conducted by WAR, UNESCO’s Center for Culture, Education and Training, Business World Magazine, Viet Light Media, and Phia Nam Media.
The Green Talk Contest aims to raise awareness of the public, especially youngsters, about the environment and also encourages young people to creatively and actively participate in environmental protection. This is also an avenue for youngsters to improve their English skills while contributing to environmental protection.
The contest included three rounds in which the contestants aged from 16 to 30 years old, proposed education and communication initiatives to protect the environment in a practical manner. After the first round, from 15 Nov to 5 Dec 2010, the 20 best initiatives were selected for the second round. The authors of the 20 best initiatives were awarded with a study tour to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station on 12 Dec 2010. In the second round, the contestants presented their initiatives to a judge board in English. The five best initiatives were selected for the third and final round.
In this final round, the authors of the five best initiatives presented their initiatives in the form of an action plan to a judge board that included business men who might be interested in the initiatives and provide support to implement them.
About 300 people participated in this final round including University leaders, business men, university students, and the media.
The first prized was award to Truong Thi Vy and Pham Thi Ngoc Tu from University of Sciences with the idea to communicate and persuade people to reuse coffee grounds as a short of fertilizer. Vy and Tu enjoy a trip to Singapore to learn about environment protection and 5,000,000 VND. The second prize belonged to Nguyen Kieu Linh from University of Sciences for the idea of creating an intelligent shop where old clothes and rags are turned into fashionable clothes and accessories. Linh enjoys a prize of 3,000,000 VND. The third prize was awarded to Nguyen Hoang Vu from University of Commercial with the idea of setting up a Green Library online and offline. Besides, two other candidates were awarded with honorable prizes and the University of Science was awarded for having the largest number of students participated in the contest.
The Green Talk Contest will also be conducted in 2011 in more cities and is expected to have the participation of a much larger number of youngsters.
Green Talk winners of round 1 visit Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station
Ho Chi Minh City, 12 December 2010 – Thirty five university students who are authors of the best 20 initiatives of the round 1 of the Green talk Contest join a study tour at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station. This study tour that is a reward for the winners helps the students to understand more about the wildlife of Vietnam, the situation of illegal wildlife trade and what a youngster can do to conserve the unique wildlife and the environment.
The students were so exciting to experience a day at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station where they discover moved stories of different animals. This is the first time for many students to see, feel and learn that the beautiful wildlife of Vietnam is suffering from so many threats. They was quite surprise when learning that buying a wildlife on the streets and then release them to the wild or handle it to some rescue station, such as Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station is not a good thing to do. The students also actively take part in preparing animal food and then feed the wildlife. Most of the students find a day at Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station is very useful and fun. Some of them even ask to be a volunteer of the Station.
Before the study tour, the students have completed round 2 of the Green Talk where they presented their initiatives in English for a judge board. At Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station, result of round 2 was also announced. Accordingly, the five best initiatives will continue to round 3 that will happen on the evening of 18 December 2010.
Green Talk 2010 is an English eloquence contest on environment protection for people aged from 16 to 30 of Ho Chi Minh City. Each candidate or group of candidates submit practical initiatives those calling for participation of the community in environment protection. This campaign is organised by the UNESCO, WAR, Business World Magazine, Viet Light Media, and Phia Nam Media.
Green Talk – Eloquence Contest in English About Initiatives Toward a Green Environment for students in Ho Chi Minh City
From 15 November to 18 December 2010, Wildlife At Risk will cooperate with UNESCO to organise an Eloquence Contest in English for students in Ho Chi Minh City. The Green Talk Contest aims to raise awareness of the public, especially youngsters, about the environment and also encourage young people to creatively and actively participate in environmental protection. This is also an avenue for youngsters to improve their English skills while contributing to environmental protection.
Contest regulations
Theme
Initiate a practical idea that involves participation of the public in environment protection toward a “green, clean and beautiful” environment”.
Participants
All students aged 16 to 30, in Ho Chi Minh City
Contest rounds and regulations
Round 1: Submit an application form
Send your application form, consisting of two parts:
Part 1: a short self introduction
Part 2: An English essay of 350 – 500 words that describes your initiatives that aims to solve problems in the environment.
The candidates can submit the application forms as individuals or a team.
Contest Time: 15 November to 5 December 2010
Candidates can send the application form by post or email to following address:
UNESCO-CEP Office
Address: 68 Vo Thi Sau Street, District 1 TP.HCM
Email: contest@greentalk.vn
Results of Round 1: the 20 best initiatives will be collected and announced on the website: www.greentalk.vn
Round 2: Deliver an eloquent speech in English to defend your ideas
Time: December 10th, 2010
Twenty students/groups with the best initiatives will present their ideas in English to a board of judges.
Results of round 2: the five best initiatives will be chosen to advance to the third round.
Round 3: The final round and the award ceremony
Time: December 18th, 2010
The five final candidates will present and defend their ideas in English to the judge board and potential sponsors. The most feasible ideas will be awarded and have the potential for sponsorship and implementation.
Prizes
Total value of prizes: 50,000,000 VND
The twenty candidates from round 2 will be awarded with a study tour to the Cu Chi Wildlife Rescue Station.
The most feasible initiatives have the potential to be sponsored and will be introduced widely among the Green Talk community in the country.
See more about the contest at: www.greentalk.vn
Phu Quoc Programme
DISCOVERING THE BOUNTIES OF A JEWELLED ISLE
Introduction
The Island of Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam and it still contains a valuable and relatively undisturbed wildlife habitat. . It is located in the Gulf of Thailand and is a part of the Kien Giang Province. It has a rainy season from May to late November and is rapidly becoming a target for foreign tourists, which means that conserving its wildlife is becoming an increasing challenge. WAR staff, led by the Phu Quoc Project Manager and WAR CEO, Nguyen Vu Khoi, has been working on the Island since 2006.
The aim of the WAR programme on Phu Quoc is to help to conserve the nature of the Island by providing information about its biodiversity and then to propose sustainable solutions for the development and conservation of any endangered species. As its project partner, WAR has the Phu Quoc National Park (PQNP).
The PQNP was established as early as 2001 by an upgrading of the Natural Conservation Area. It is located in the northern part of the Island and has a total area of 31,422ha. In general, the Park’s topography is characterized by a reduction in elevation from the north to the south and from the east to the west.
The fauna and flora of the PQNP and of the Island as a whole, is gradually being documented by the WAR experts in conjunction with the Park’s staff and supporting scientists from cooperating institutions. New items are constantly being released by WAR via its website and via the local media channels. Annual updates are conducted on checklists of fauna such as the Damselfly, Dragonfly and Butterflies.
WAR’s MAIN PROJECT ACTIVITES ON PHU QUOC ISLAND
WAR’s main project activities have been focused on the topic shown below.
The Conduct of Biological Surveys on the Fauna and Flora of Phu Quoc.
This is part of an embryonic conservation programme. WAR is supporting strategic surveys by wildlife specialists. Surveys include a wild orchid survey a herpetorological survey, and a bat survey, a primate assessment and fresh water fish, bird and butterfly surveys. In addition, WAR staff worked on the production of field guides that will help to train forest rangers, enabling them to incorporate basic ecotourism services into their normal patrol duties. The books will also serve as basic photographic guides for tourists with an interest in natural history.
The most recent butterfly survey conducted recorded well over 150 species. It reveals even greater species diversity on the Island than originally thought. Over 55 dragonfly and damselfly species have already been observed.
WAR is also working with the Island authorities in an effort to minimize the environmental impact of mass tourism on Phu Quoc National Park. It has supported the drafting of a list of recommendations in the form of an ecotourism strategy document. A pilot butterfly breeding program for common species has been launched at Mango Bay Resort as part of a programme to conserve marine stocks by developing alternative income streams for local fisherman. Other plans include production of an endangered plant ID guide and establishment of a seed bank. Preliminary surveys of Phu Quoc’s plant life have already produced some spectacular discoveries, including several endangered orchid species.
Introduction and Support of Several Participatory Sustainable Development Models
These involve mud and swimming crab cultivation models, a butterfly demonstration site, and a wild orchid garden.
Direct Training and Support to PQNP Staff
This includes ecotourism training to Park staff and relevant agencies, ‘on-the-job’ training on how to conduct wildlife surveys, and how to publish survey results.
Rehabilitation of the Locally Endangered Plant Species: Dipterocarpus intricatus
This has consisted of the implementation of a trial regrowth programme that involves collecting seeds, establishing a nursery, instituting trials on seedlings and then actually planting suitable seedlings in the field.
Public Awareness Campaign
This has involved training on how to conserve nature within a sustainable ecotourism environment.
‘Quick Click’ Easy Find
- Contact details of the Manager, Phu Quoc Project, click Contact Us.
- Pictures of the Phu Quoc Project, click Gallery PQ Project
- Books and publications from the Phu Quoc Project, click Library PQ
- Phu Quoc technical reports, click PQ Technical Reports
- How to assist with labour on the Phu Quoc Project, click Volunteers.
- How to sponsor or donate to the Phu Quoc Project, click How to Help
About the Rhino death
In early May, a Rhino carcass was found in Cat Tien National Park. A bullet was found in the left fore leg, and signs of horn removed were found on the skull. The Rhino must be dead for several months. No body knows why the Rhino died and a big investigation is being conducted to find out the reason. The scientists are analyzing the DNA samples to know more about the dead Rhino. Answer from the DNA analysis might also reveal if that is the last Rhino in Vietnam.
According to the scientists, the possibility that the Rhino was hunted is very high. Many people also doubt that the dead Rhino is the last Rhino in Vietnam. We are looking forward for the DNA analysis result from the scientists.
The subspecies of Javan Rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) is only found in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam. The other sub species with about 40 to 60 individuals are found in Indonesia. If the dead Rhino in Vietnam is the last one, the world will experience the extinction of one sub-species Javan Rhino.
Thousands of people speak up to save the forest and to break Vietnam record
WHAT: Thousands of local people, leaders and university students join together in a public event entitled “Speak up to save the forest”. In this event, they will sing a song comprised of only one word “KHONG”, in English it means “NO”, in order to call for people to “Say NO to illegal forest products”. This chorus will challenge the Vietnam Record for the “Biggest chorus in Vietnam”. Famous artists including singer Y-Moan, singer Siu-Black, singer Luu Thien Huong, rapper Kim JoJo, and MC Quyen Linh will take part in this event. Especially, the chorus will be led by British conduct Graham Sutcliffe MBE – who is a former conductor of the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet.
HCMC leaders and students take part in protecting Vietnam’s unique wildlife
HCMC, dated 02 April 2010 – Wildlife at Risk (WAR) and Ho Chi Minh City’s Forest Protection Department (FPD-HCMC) organised a contest ceremony entitled “Discovering the Vietnam’s Unique Wildlife” at Ben Thanh Theatre. This ceremony aims to raise awareness and call for commitment from the leaders and students of nature conservation, especially wildlife protection, Fig 4.
You can take a look at photos of the event here.
Drawing to protect the nature of Phu Quoc National Park
From November to December 2009, students aged from 12 to 15 from Duong Dong 1, Cua Can, Ghenh Dau and Bai Bon Secondary Schools of Phu Quoc Island have created more than 1000 paintings in a drawing contest called “Protecting the natural resources of Phu Quoc National Park”. The students were asked to express the beauty of Phu Quoc’s nature, threats to natural resources and actions that students can take to protect Phu Quoc’s habitats and ecosystems.
Sixteen of the best paintings were awarded. “I am very glad that my painting was awarded. Through the painting, I hope that the audience will see the bad behaviours of human beings and try their best to protect the nature”, said Lam Thi Cam Nhung, 1st prize, Duong Dong 1 Secondary School.
A ceremony was held to award the contest winners. In this ceremony, an exhibition of nature photos were also organized in order to draw attention of local leaders, people and students about nature conservation.
This activity is in cooperation between WAR, Phu Quoc National Park and Phu Quoc Department of Education and Training.
Fundraiser In Melbourne
The big news in this edition of our Quarterly Newsletter is about the huge success of the recent fundraising function in Melbourne on 8 Oct 09. Some $15,320 gross takings were raised. All funds netted from the night will go direct to developing the Cat Tien Wildlife Rescue Station. No money will be spent on travel or administration costs as this was covered by individual sponsors. Every dollar raised will go direct towards ‘the cause’ of preserving Vietnam’s endangered wildlife.
The Event was organized by the WAR Ambassador for Australia, the lovely Ms Jules Cronin-Guss. Jules was ably assisted by a team of willing, ready and able volunteers, including Michelle Christoffersen, Emma Connell, Rosalba Renzella, Jodie Holkner, Kate Hayes, Kristen and Bryana Christoffersen, Peter Raff, Anne Tindall and Tendy from Electric Ladyland.
MacCormack Associates Consultants was the major sponsor for the night. Celebrity Suzie Wilks hosted the Event with lots of charm.
Chris Jones from the WAR Board in Vietnam represented the Trustee, Dominic Scriven, OBE. On behalf of himself, Chris would like to extend his personal thanks to Margaret and Michael Miller for their very kind hospitality while he was in Melbourne for the Event. On behalf of Dominic Scriven, OBE, the WAR Trustee, and the WAR staff (some of whom come from Melbourne), Chris would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Jules and her team of volunteers, the various prize givers and the individuals who contributed so generously towards the cause of preserving the wildlife of our world. This Event shows that people do care and every person and every contribution, no matter how big or how small, counts.
Jules arranged for an excellent venue at the Electric Ladyland, Capel Street, Prahran. This was a very suitable choice. The night consisted of drinks and a silent action and then a live auction. WAR would like to extend its grateful thanks to Mr. Simon Derham from Marshall White Real Estate for his really excellent services as the Event auctioneer.
A highlight of the live auction included the ‘auctioning off’ of ‘a lucky lad’ to some poor unsuspecting young lady (it’s said his mother was glad to see the back of him). They are off to Vietnam together on a trip soon: good luck!
However, the biggest fundraiser of the night was the $3,000 paid for the privilege of naming a bear recently rescued from the perils of a crocodile farm by WAR’s Technical Advisor, Wildlife, Matt Wills and his field team, including Simon Faithfull, Manager for WAR’s Cu Cu Wildlife Rescue Station (CCWRS).
Well done to all concerned! Same again next year, but this time even bigger and even better!