The use of robust ecological data to make evidence-based management decisions is frequently prevented by limited data quantity or quality, and local ecological knowledge (LEK) is increasingly seen as an important source of information for conservation. However, there has been little assessment of LEK's usefulness for informing prioritization and management of landscapes for threatened species, or assessing comparative species status across landscapes.A large-scale interview survey in the Annamite Mountains (Vietnam and Lao PDR) compiled the first systematic LEK data set for saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, one of the world's rarest mammals, and eight other ungulates. Saola conservation is hindered by uncertainty over continued presence across much of its proposed distribution. We analysed comparative LEK-based last-sighting data across three landscapes to determine whether regional sighting histories support previous suggestions of landscape importance for saola conservation (Hue-Quang Nam: top-priority Vietnamese landscape; Pu Mat: lower priority Vietnamese landscape; Viengthong: high-priority Lao landscape) and whether they constitute an effective spatial prioritization tool for cryptic species management.Wild pig and red muntjac may be the only Annamite ungulates with stable populations; the regional status of all other species appears to be worse. Saola have declined more severely and/or are significantly rarer than most other ungulates and have been seen by relatively few respondents. Saola were also frequently considered locally rarest or declining, and never as species that had not declined.In contrast to other species, there are no regional differences in saola sighting histories, with continued persistence in all landscapes challenging suggestions that regional status differs greatly. Remnant populations persist in Vietnam despite heavy hunting, but even remote landscapes in Lao may be under intense pressure.Synthesis and applications. Our local ecological knowledge data suggest that intact saola populations probably no longer exist, but individuals persist in all three landscapes, making management activities to reduce hunting pressure on ungulates in each landscape a conservation priority. Analysis of last-sighting histories can constitute an important conservation tool when robust data are otherwise unavailable, and collection of last-sighting records should be incorporated more widely into field studies and management of other highly threatened, cryptic species.Our local ecological knowledge data suggest that intact saola populations probably no longer exist, but individuals persist in all three landscapes, making management activities to reduce hunting pressure on ungulates in each landscape a conservation priority. Analysis of last-sighting histories can constitute an important conservation tool when robust data are otherwise unavailable, and collection of last-sighting records should be incorporated more widely into field studies and management of other highly threatened, cryptic species.

In Vietnam, developmental ideologies in general and market economic principles in particular have been changed drastically under the transitional system. To build a good platform for small and medium-sized enterprises, Vietnam had to amend some of its most important laws on business. This adjustment was conducted not only in order to improve the existing legislation, but also to facilitate Vietnamese laws to match with the world system, especially taking into consideration the fact that Vietnam is under the pressure of international integration and regionalisation. The role of the new Vietnamese government is appreciated through the adoption of the amendments. The Vietnamese business environment has become more supporting, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises which accounted for 97.5% of the total number of 700,000 enterprises of Vietnam in 2016. This paper presents the legal adjustment and evaluates how the latest legislative policies on small and medium-sized enterprises are impacting the Vietnamese economy. Keywords: SME; Vietnamese SMEs; SME Development Policies; Improvement of Business Environment; Vietnam JEL Classification: K20; K22; P21; P37; P41; O38 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21003/ea.V165-26Хоа Д. Т. Ф. кандидат економічних наук, старший науковий співробітник, В'єтнамський інститут економіки, Ханой, В'єтнам Хой Н. В. кандидат економічних наук, заступник декана, Університет економіки та бізнесу, В'єтнамський національний університет, Ханой, В'єтнам В'єтнамські малі та середні підприємства: правові та економічні проблеми розвитку на сучасному етапі Анотація У В'єтнамі ідеологія розвитку в цілому та принципи ринкової економіки зокрема були докорінно змінені в рамках перехідної системи. Для того щоб створити дієву платформу для розвитку малих і середніх підприємств, державі В'єтнам довелося внести зміни в деякі з найбільш важливих законів, що стосуються ведення бізнесу. Правки були внесені не тільки для того, щоб поліпшити чинне законодавство країни, але й для того, щоб в'єтнамські закони узгоджувалися зі світовою правовою системою, беручи до уваги той факт, що на розвиток держави В'єтнам впливають процеси міжнародної інтеграції та регіоналізації. Ухвалення відповідних змін у законодавстві країни допоможе дати оцінку діяльності нового уряду держави В'єтнам з урахуванням того, що в'єтнамське ділове середовище стало більш сприятливим для ведення бізнесу, що особливо актуально для малих і середніх підприємств. У даній статті розглядається правове регулювання ведення бізнесу у В'єтнамі, а також дається оцінка того, яким чином останні законодавчі практики, що стосуються малого і середнього бізнесу, впливають на в'єтнамську економіку. Ключові слова: МСП; в'єтнамські МСП; політика розвитку МСП; покращення бізнес-середовища.Хоа Д. Т. Ф. кандидат экономических наук, старший научный сотрудник, Вьетнамский институт экономики, Ханой, Вьетнам Хой Н. В. кандидат экономических наук, заместитель декана, Университет экономики и бизнеса, Вьетнамский национальный университет, Ханой, Вьетнам Вьетнамские мал...

For the first time, a list of tropical bee species found in Northern and North Central Vietnam is provided. This list includes 59 bee species in 21 genera belonging to 5 families. Bees were collected in protected areas, i.e. national parks and nature reserves in 2011-2012 during the spring-summer and summer-autumn seasons. At high elevations exceeding 300 m a.s.l., bee abundance was dominated by bumble bee species, such as Bombus magrettii and B. trifasciatus, and two honey bees Apis laboriosa and A. dorsata were occurred in forest and moutain areas. In abandoned orchards and fruit gardens close to forest fragments, bee abundance was dominated by Xylocopa species. In Northern and North Central Vietnam, deforested areas or cultivated lowlands were dominated by several bees having widespread distribution, namely native honey bee Apis cerana subspecies indica mainly of bred colonies, blue banded bees Amegilla albigena, A. zonata, leafcutter bee Megachile fulvovestila and carpenter bee Xylocopa tranquebararorum. In this paper notes on conservation status of bee, their behaviour and distribution are also discussed.

Two new species of the genus Austerocardiochiles Dangerfield, Austin & Whitfield, 1999 from Vietnam, viz. A. mellosus Long, sp. n. and A. simulatus Long, sp. n., are described and illustrated. Additionally, the genus Austerocardiochiles is newly recorded for the braconid fauna of Vietnam. The checklist and distribution of already known species of the genus Austerocardiochiles are given. A comprehensive key to Austerocardiochiles species from Oriental region is also provided.

A taxonomic study of the genus Euodynerus Dalla Torre from Northern Vietnam is reported. The following four forms included in three species were recorded: E. dantici violaceipennis Giordani Soika, E. nipanicus nipanicus (von Schulthess), E. nipanicus tonkinensis Giordani Soika and E. trilobus (Fabricius). Of these, E. dantici violaceipennis and E. nipanicus nipanicus were newly recorded for Vietnam. Keys to species and subspecies are presented and records of their distribution in Northern Vietnam are also provided. This is the first result on the taxonomy of the genus in Vietnam, and the distribution records is an important contribution to the study on the distribution pattern of the species in the genus in Asia.