Illegal trading of wildlife species and cost of enforcement and monitoring in Vietnam

Results of the study revealed that the total estimated volume of live and wildlife meat is about 3,050 tons per year in and out of Vietnam, of which about 45-50 percent was used for domestic consumption. Trade of wildlife meat accounts for 80 percent of the total and these are concentrated in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh cities. The total revenue and profit from illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam are estimated at US $ 66.5 million and US $ 21 million per year, respectively. In the study site alone, the estimated total profit is eight times larger than the cost of monitoring and enforcement. For the entire country, the estimated total profit is 31 times larger than the cost of enforcement and monitoring (US $ 634,000 to US $ 700,000), 3.2 times larger than the total budget of FPD [Forest Protective Department] staff (about US $ 6.5), and four times larger than the total fine collection (US $ 5.5) per year. The estimated total revenue of illegal trade (US$66.5) is 12 times larger than the total revenue of legal wildlife trade (US $ 5.2 million) per year. The study estimated that the average value of official confiscated live wildlife and wildlife meat from 1997 to 2002 accounts for only 3.1 percent of the total value of illegal wildlife trade per year. The main domestic sources of wildlife species in Vietnam are from natural protected areas. The main international sources of wildlife species are from Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Both sources flow to and along Road 1A to Ha Noi, and Ho Chi Minh Markets. From Hanoi, wildlife species flow out to China through Mong Cai-Quang Ninh, and Lang Son exiting points. The main reasons for the continuous and intensified illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam are the following: high demand and profitability of illegal wildlife trade, lax implementation of wildlife protection policies of the government; and lack of manpower, funding, and equipment for implementing the policies. It is recommended that the government should strengthen the capacity of FPD staff for monitoring and enforcing existing laws to be complemented by increased level of fines. Given the information on centers of illegal wildlife operations, increased attention should be given to Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi wildlife markets, and Mong Cai-Quang Ninh and Lang Son exiting points. In terms of time of operation, the months to watch are September to March for trading of wildlife meat for domestic consumption and cross borderline