Risky human-animal interaction can lead to serious disease outbreaks: WWF report
More than a year after the COVID-19 outbreak, a new report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and GlobeScan shows that there is a strong understanding that risky human-animal interaction, often connected to deforestation and high-risk wildlife trade, can lead to serious disease outbreaks.
Hanoi (VNA) – More than a year after the COVID-19 outbreak, a newreport by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and GlobeScan shows that thereis a strong understanding that risky human-animal interaction, often connectedto deforestation and high-risk wildlife trade, can lead to serious diseaseoutbreaks.
The report entitled “COVID-19 One Year Later: PublicPerceptions about Pandemics and their Links to Nature” builds on the study“Opinion Survey on COVID-19 and Wildlife Trade in 5 Asian Markets” conducted byWWF and GlobeScan in 2020 to understand public attitudes and behavioursregarding COVID-19 and future pandemics.
It said 46 percent of all surveyed participants listeddisease transmission from animals to humans as the root cause most likely totrigger future pandemics.
In addition, the majority of those surveyed believe thatpreventing future pandemics begins with addressing root causes, includinghigh-risk wildlife trade and deforestation.
People from all five surveyed countries, including Vietnam,China, Myanmar, Thailand and the US, strongly support government efforts toclose high-risk markets selling animals from the wild (85 percent) and stopdeforestation (88 percent). In Vietnam, the agreement rates to these mattersare 94 percent and 95 percent, respectively.
Marco Lambertini, WWF International Director General, saidthat the prevention of pandemics is estimated to cost 100 times less thanresponding to them. The pandemic has made it blatantly clear that investing inplanetary health and nature is the only way to avoid paying such a terriblesocial and economic price again in the future.
The report results serve as an important foundation forVietnam and other countries in the region to consider decisions on closingwildlife markets and closing forests to proactively prevent the pandemic.
WWF is calling on decision makers to include interventionsneeded to address key drivers of zoonotic disease outbreaks in their pandemicprevention plans. Closing forests and high-risk wildlife markets, for example,will help recover wildlife populations and maintain local and globalbiodiversity that naturally help regulate disease, as well as help ensure thesustainable use of natural resources.
To support the fight against COVID-19, citizens are highlyrecommended not to buy, sell or consume wildlife products to prevent pandemicsand ensure the safety of themselves and the community./.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is launching two new projects to facilitate Vietnam to contribute climate-positive actions to helping address the global climate crisis, according to a recent announcement from the US Embassy in Vietnam.
At least 86 percent of advertisements for illegal wildlife products in hotels, restaurants, bars, pet shops and herbal medicine shops in Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang and Quang Nam were removed by local authorities in 2019 and 2020.
Vietnam has launched long-term and consistent efforts to strengthen law enforcement to protect wildlife and biodiversity and improve the livelihoods of people affected by declining biodiversity.
Choreographer Quang Dang is known for his “Washing hands” dance, which reminded people during the first wave of COVID-19 last year about the health ministry’s hygiene recommendations on washing hands. He has now once again attracted public attention with a dance calling for the protection of the pangolin, an endangered wild animal.
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Conservation efforts to restore habitat and boost the population of red-crowned cranes in Tram Chim National Park are finally showing progress, with the cranes and many other rare wild birds coming back to the park.
Torrential rains from the night of July 31 to early August 1 triggered flash floods and landslides across several communes in Dien Bien province, leaving at least two people dead and eight others missing.
Transitioning to a circular economy not only offers a sustainable development path for Ho Chi Minh City but also serves as a pivotal step toward establishing a fully green economy.
An exhibition featuring 100 green, recycled, and circular economy models and products from 50 businesses and educational establishments took place in Ho Chi Minh City on July 31, as part of the local green transition forum and recycle day 2025.
Regional solidarity and cooperation are the key factor for the effective implementation of wildlife protection regulations. Only through sustainable cooperation, innovative approaches, and collective action can biodiversity be safeguarded for the present and future generations, an Vietnamese official has said.
Hanoi has approved a comprehensive plan to restore the environmental quality and develop four major urban rivers – the To Lich, Kim Nguu, Lu, and Set reverine environments.
The Javan pangolin is listed in Vietnam’s Red Book as critically endangered and is protected under Group IB – a category reserved for forest species facing an extremely high risk of extinction and requiring strict conservation measures.
As a key member of the core group of 18 countries, initiated by Vanuatu, Vietnam engaged in advocating for the UN General Assembly’s Resolution N.77/276, requesting for the ICJ’s advisory opinion. Following the resolution's adoption, Vietnam fully participated in all procedural steps for the first time, from submitting written proposals to presenting directly at the court’s hearings.
The wild elephant population in Da Nang includes a full developed herb of mature males, females, and calves. To date, the herd has grown to nine individuals.
Conservation efforts here have become a model, helping to save millions of turtle hatchlings and promoting Con Dao as a member of the Indian Ocean-Southeast Asia Turtle Site Network.
As part of its drive to fulfil its net zero emissions commitment by 2050, Vietnam is fast-tracking the development of a legal corridor to launch a pilot carbon market by the end of 2025, according to the Department of Climate Change.
Under the plan, from 2025 to 2026, the city will complete mechanisms and policies to support businesses in switching to green vehicles, expand the electric and green-energy bus network, and build charging stations. The targeted proportion of green buses is set at 10% in 2025 and 20–23% in 2026.
Storm Comay, the fourth in the East Sea this year, was at around 16.7 degrees North and 118.3 degrees East, in the east of the East Sea's northern waters as of 4am on July 24.
The disaster risk warning level for flash floods, landslides, and ground subsidence due to heavy rains and flows is rated at level 1, except in Nghe An, where it is raised to level 2.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
