The World Wide Fund for Nature has been helping in the search for solutions that protect these parks without interfering with economic development. Because of a recent decree closing all of Vietnam's primary forests to commercial logging, production at sawmills throughout the country may grind to a halt in the coming months. With an eye on the rapidly deteriorating state of Vietnam's forests, Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet has stressed the importance of preserving what still remains. Yet the complex task of protecting Vietnam's rich natural environment involves more than simply revoking logging rights. Conservation of Vietnam's biodiversity is complicated by several factors.
Large populations live both on the borders of and deep within important forests.
No option exists for creating vast protected areas that are absent of humans. The forest and the abundant resources it provides will always be linked to the people's livelihood. Fuel wood collection and agricultural encroachment threaten both the quality and size of Vietnam's forests. Aside from extensive fuel wood collection, extremely intensive hunting and poaching is leading to a serious depletion of key species. There have been some dramatic confiscations of smuggled wildlife by police and customs officials since the enactment last year of the Prime Minister's decree banning the sale and trade of endangered animals, but many other undetected loads of illegally caught pangolins, turtles, snakes and primates continue to make their way to Vietnam's border with China.