Regional Dialogue on Preventing Illegal Logging and Trading of Siamese Rosewood. Report by Viet Nam

1. 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

2. - 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

3. 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 ….

4. 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

5. Significant seizes
In 2013 seize 10 container of
Pterocarpus santalinus/ Red
sandal wood
Last departure ports are Hong
Kong and Pakistan

6. Illegal trafficking of Timber from
Cambodia
By Boat
By truck or motorbike

7. Illegal trafficking of timber through
border with Laos and China

8. 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.

9. 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”

10. 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.