Policymaker perceptions of COVID-19 impacts, opportunities and challenges for sustainable wildlife farm management in Vietnam.
Thu Thuy Pham, Thi Kim Hong Tang, Hai Phuong Dang, Thi Kieu Nuong Nguyen, Tuan Long Hoang, Ngoc My Hoa Tran, Thi Thuy Anh Nguyen, Thi Van Anh Nguyen, Isabela Valencia
Author Information
Thu Thuy Pham: Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia.
Thi Kim Hong Tang: Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam.
Hai Phuong Dang: Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam.
Thi Kieu Nuong Nguyen: Nong Lam University, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam.
Tuan Long Hoang: Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia.
Ngoc My Hoa Tran: Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia.
Thi Thuy Anh Nguyen: DiplomaticAcademy of Vietnam, Hanoi 100000, Viet Nam.
Thi Van Anh Nguyen: University of Economics and Business, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 100000, Viet Nam.
Isabela Valencia: Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor 16115, Indonesia.
This paper uses Vietnam - where overexploitation of wildlife resources is a major threat to biodiversity conservation - as a case study to examine how government officials perceive the impacts of COVID-19 on wildlife farming, as well as the opportunities and challenges presented for sustainable wildlife management. Findings show Vietnamese government officials perceive COVID-19 to have had mixed impacts on wildlife conservation policies and practice. While the pandemic strengthened the legal framework on wildlife conservation, implementation and outcomes have been poor, as existing policies are unclear, contradictory, and poorly enforced. Our paper also shows policymakers in Vietnam are not in favor of banning wildlife trade. As our paper documents the immediate impacts of the pandemic on wildlife farming, more research is necessary to analyse longer-term impacts.
