Management of Timber listed in National laws and CITES Appendixes

Country Report by Viet Nam

REGIONAL DIALOGUE ON PREVENTING ILLEGAL LOGGING AND TRADING OF SIAMESE ROSEWOOD

Bangkok, Thailand, 18 – 19 December 2014

- Total Forest area in 2013: 13.954.454 ha; forest cover: 40.1%; 10.398.160 ha nature forest

- There are about 12,000 species of vascular plants - Nearly 1.000 timber species, traditional used for

many purpose: build house, construction, fire wood, furniture, etc.

- 41 timber species listed in Group I – Precious timber/high value timber from early 1980s

- 13 timber species listed in Appendix IA – prohibit logging, trading and using for commerce purpose

- 40 timber species listed in Appendix IIA – restrain logging, trading and using for commerce purpose

Background

Regulations - Forest Protection and Development Law 2004: Strictly protect

nature forest, protected areas; control illegal logging and trade; encourage forest plantation and using timber products from forest plantation…

- Decree 82/2006/ND-CP: CITES implementation and enforcement

- Decree 32/2006/ND-CP: listed 13 timber species in Appendix IA and 40 timber species in Appendix IIA

- Decree 160/2013/ND-CP: 12 timber species listed as endangered, precious and rare species prioritized protection

- Circular 40/2013/TT-BNNPTNT: interpretation the list of all species included in CITES Appendixes

- October 2013 issued Circular on Temporary suspension import and re-exports, and transiting of timber from natural forest

- 11/12/2014 Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2242/QD-TTg on Strengthening management of natural forest: suspension logging in natural forest; strictly control and monitor trade, using, processing, transporting timber ….

Illegal logging and trading of timber

• Illegal logging happen in Protected Areas, Protection Forest and Nature forest by local communities and organize crime with 2,211 cases

• 14,322 cases of Illegal trading and trafficking timber in 2013

• 2013 confiscated 15,935 m3 logs and 18,273 m3 saw wood

• Top of violate timber are: Dalbergia spp. (D. cochinchinensis, D. oliveri, D. bariensis, D. tokinensis…); Pterocarpus spp. (P. pedatus, P. cambodianus, P. indicus, P. macrocarpus…); Fokienia hodginsii; Doispyros mun; Pterocarpus santalinus

• Illegal trafficking: by car, bus, truck, container, boat

Significant seizes

In 2013 seize 10 container of Pterocarpus santalinus/ Redsandal wood

Last departure ports are Hong Kong and Pakistan

Illegal trafficking of Timber from Cambodia

By Boat

By truck or motorbike

Illegal trafficking of timber through border with Laos and China

Dalbergia cochinchinensis management • There are about 34 species of Dalbergia in Viet Nam and the most

popular Vietnamese name of D. cochinchinensis is Trắc• Distribution in the Southern of Viet Nam at altitudes 600-700m,

several population up to 1,200m. • Conservation status: In Viet Nam deforestation is the main factor

impact to rosewood population. This species was included in Viet Nam Red data book at E level in 2007 and listed in protected species of Forest Law since 2006 at group IIA (limitation from harvesting, using…)

• The population size of rosewood in Viet Nam has been declining about 50-60% in the last 5-10 year recently. Currently existing only in Protected Areas

• CoP16: Viet Nam is a co-proponent on the the addition of Dalbergia cochinchinensis to Appendix II with the Kingdom of Thailand

• Only allow for import or export if the shipment attached with CITES permits

• Mainly import from Laos with CITES export permit issued by Laos MA. Before allow for import, always confirm the validity of CITES export permit with Laos MA.

Challenges in Controlling illegal trafficking of Rosewood

• Not easy for Identification, especially for the law enforcement official based in border

• Very difficult to distinguish between different Dalbergia species

• Synonym of D. Cochinchinensis is D. cambodiana not printed in CITES Appendix

• Hard to control the trafficking by boat, ship, motorbike and even by manpower

• Involvement of international organized crime• High demand for rosewood• Not clear definition on “log”

Recommendations

• Addition of all Dalbergia spp. to Appendix II, including similar (look alike) species such as Pterocarpus spp.

• Delete Annotation #5 for Dalbergia cochinchinensis

• Strengthening cooperation among range states to ensure the law enforcement, border control and verifying the CITES permits

• Any CITES permits for Dalbergia cochinchinensis should sent to Secretariat for review and verify.