Action plans

The Vietnam Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was developed by the Ministry of Forestry and the State Committee of Science, in collaboration with WWF and UNDP. I was published in 1994 and approved by the government in 1995. This workshop was a critical assessment of the BAP's three years of implementation. Following an overview of measures taken to date, working groups identified the main gaps in the Plan and put forward key recommendations, and the meeting agreed a number of tasks to be carried out in the nex period.

One threat to parrot arises from their attractiveness as "talking" companions to humans, leading to a high demand for trade that involves hundreds of thousands of birds annually on a global basis, and gives parrots a high monetary value. There is an urgent need to change the attitudes of both the many millions who keep parrots, and those who make billions of dollars in trading them. Neither group accepts responsibility for survival of parrots in the wild, and governments find it difficult to establish sustainable use regimes.

The family Cracidae is made up of 50 species of guans, curassows and chachalacas - large gregarious game birds, many of which have striking colours. They are important as seed dispersers, biological indicators of the environment, a major protein source for indigenous people, and for ecotourism. Nearly half the species in the family are threatened and several have been pushed to near extinction by wide-spread destruction of tropical forets and over-harvesting. This plan describes the natural history of cracids, outlining threats to the birds, and measures needed to alleviate these.

The black and the white rhinoceros have become flagship species for international conservation. They are significant not only for the continuation of a major evolutionary heritage, but also as symbols for the protection of African savannahs. The battle for the survival of these species has been marked by some notable successes and sadly, many failures, and the situation is still critical.

Conifers are one of the world's most important resources of timber. If managed wisely and used sustainably, these resources will provide wood for a multitude of purposes, virtually indefinitely. Additional products include resins and their derivatives, and even medicinal extracts, for example taxol now used in the treatment of cancer. Conifers occur on all continents except Antarctica. Of the 630 species, 355 are listed as of conservation concern, with 200, or 25 of species, threatened with extinction.

The South Asia Regional Action Plan was prepared through a collective effort by all countries in the region, and represents an agreed view of regional priorities, addressing such topics as training, transboundary protected areas and community involvements in protected areas management. The plan begins with an overview of protected areas in the region, including numbers, coverage, policies and legislation, administration and threats. This is followed by a section on proposals for action and a clear definition of the role to be played by WCPA South Asia.

The eight species of bear live in more than 65 countries or autonomous regions in four continents, in a variety of habitats from tropical rainforests to arctic ice. Numerous human cultures around the world symbolically or physically try to incorporate the power of bears into their people. But all species have declined in numbers due to the impacts of human activities, including: habitat alteration and destruction; unregulated killing of bears for sport; sale of parts for medicinal products; and protection of crops or livestock.

Deer are a unique group of mammals recognised for their grace and beauty. Some are also prime examples of flagship species, whose continued survival sustains the complex interplay of flora and fauna. Today many species are under threat of extinction.