Wildlife trade in the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot

<p>Conservation International/photo by Sterling Zumbrunn</p>
<p>Conservation International/photo by Sterling Zumbrunn</p>
Photo: The hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana) is one species found in Vietnam that is threatened by wildlife trade. © Conservation International/photo by Sterling Zumbrunn

Wildlife trade is recognized as the most serious threat to biodiversity in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.

With support from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) through our investment in the hotspot, Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV) helped strengthen public participation in tackling the wildlife trade in Vietnam.

The project supported and expanded the work of ENV's Wildlife Crime Unit, with more than 2,000 new volunteers – mainly students and young graduates – recruited and trained during the CEPF-funded project, doubling the size of ENV's volunteer network. These volunteers undertook more than 2,300 monitoring missions and reported more than 400 new wildlife crimes.

They were coordinated and motivated through a network of nine wildlife protection clubs established in major urban centers and other wildlife trade hotspots across Vietnam.

In addition to the volunteer network, members of the public were engaged in efforts to counter wildlife crime, with more than 1,000 new crimes being reported via an e-mail/telephone hotline. Furthermore, 50 celebrities joined ENV's wildlife protection efforts, including by appearing in public service announcements broadcast on national television and radio.