Global Attention on Wildlife Protection in Chinese Medicine — Third Conference of the Coalition for Wildlife Protection in TCM Held in Vietnam
On May 18, 2025, TCM professionals from across the globe gathered in Hue, Vietnam for the Third Conference on Wildlife Protection in Traditional Medicine. This event was hosted by the Coalition for Wildlife Protection in TCM and Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, with the support of Choice Not-for-Profit and guidance from WildAid as an advisory partner. Fourteen speakers from mainland China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, United States, United Kingdom, and Netherlands presented their scientific research findings and demonstrated how to effectively treat patients without use of endangered wildlife products. A total of 155 participants attended the conference, including 118 local Vietnamese practitioners and 37 international participants coming from 13 countries. The conference marked a major step forward in the global movement to eliminate endangered species from traditional medicine and champion environmentally friendly alternatives.
Vietnam became the first country to establish a local chapter of the Coalition, uniting medical professionals, educators, and researchers committed to identifying and embracing effective plant-based substitutes for animal-derived ingredients. Throughout the day, speakers from around the world shared best practices for sustainable medicine and presented examples of successful treatment methods using non-wildlife alternatives, such as botanical replacement for pangolin scales, bear bile substitutes made with biotechnology, and acupuncture. Experts highlighted the strong link between traditional medicine and biodiversity conservation, encouraging the medical community to reimagine healing in harmony with nature.
According to a 2022 study by TRAFFIC, 59% of traditional medicine practitioners surveyed had recommended illegal wildlife products—including those derived from rhinos, tigers, and pangolins—within the previous two years. Research also showed that around 400 animal species are used in traditional remedies in Vietnam, 71 of which appear on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. But the tide is turning. In a 2023 survey of 131 practitioners in Hue Province conducted by the Coalition, 55% expressed a willingness to adopt medications made with alternatives to pangolin scales, citing wildlife endangerment as the top reason.
To publicly demonstrate their commitments, conference participants took part in a pledging ceremony during which they officially joined as new members of the Coalition for Wildlife Protection in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Many attendees expressed interest in future collaborations, including joint research, international partnerships, and the development of wildlife-free training curricula for future practitioners.
About the Coalition for Wildlife Protection in TCM
Headquartered in New York, the Coalition for Wildlife Protection in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is an organization composed of TCM practitioners, educators, researchers, manufacturers, and distributors who are dedicated to protecting endangered species and promoting sustainable practice within TCM.
Founded in 2024 by respected leaders in the field – including Prof. Lixing Lao (President, Virginia University of Integrative Medicine), Prof. Yemeng Chen (President, New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine), and Mrs. Lixin Huang (Former President, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine) . Currently, 40 members of the Coalition include professional associations, Chinese medicine and acupuncture schools, and herbal medicine suppliers around the world. The first and second Wildlife Protection in TCM Conferences were held in San Francisco and New York in October 2022 and April 2024 respectively. The Coalition continues to engage practitioners, educators, researches, and herbal manufacturers around the world in support of a more ethical, sustainable vision for traditional medicine.
全球關注中醫藥保護野生動物
－第三屆中醫藥保護野生動物聯盟大會在越南召開
2025年5月18日，來自世界各地的中醫藥專業人士齊聚越南順化，參加第三屆中醫藥保護野生動物大會。本次大會由中醫藥保護野生動物聯盟和順化醫藥大學主辦，并得到Choice Not-for-Profit支持，以及WildAid和諮詢合作夥伴指導。來自中國大陸與香港、越南、印尼、菲律賓、美國、英國和荷蘭的14位演講嘉賓分享了他們的研究成果，並示範如何在不使用瀕危野生動物製品的情況下有效治療患者。大會共有155名與會者，其中包括118名越南當地中醫藥從業者和來自13個國家的37名國際與會者。這次大會標誌著全球在從傳統醫藥中去除瀕危物種、倡導環境友善替代療法方面邁出了重要一步。
越南成為第一個成立中醫藥保護野生動物聯盟地方分會的國家，該聯盟匯集了各國醫療專業人士、教育工作者和研究人員，致力於尋找並推廣有效的植物替代動物源性成分。在一整天的會議中，來自世界各地的演講者分享了可持續醫學的最佳實踐，並介紹了使用非野生動物替代品的成功治療案例，例如用植物替代穿山甲鱗片、利用生物技術製造熊膽替代品以及臨床上使用非藥物的針灸療法。專家們強調了傳統醫學與生物多樣性保護之間的緊密聯繫，鼓勵醫學界重新構想與自然和諧共存的治療方式。
根據商業動植物貿易記録分析組職（TRAFFIC） 2022年的一項研究，59%的受訪傳統醫學從業者在過去兩年內曾推薦過非法野生動物製品，包括犀牛、老虎和穿山甲製品。研究也顯示，越南傳統藥物中使用了約400種動物，其中71種被列入世界自然保護聯盟（IUCN）瀕危物種紅色名錄。但形勢正在逆轉，該聯盟在2023年對順化省131名從業者進行的一項調查中，55%的人表示願意採用穿山甲鱗片替代品製成的藥物，並將野生動物瀕危列為首要考慮因素。
為了公開展現他們的承諾，許多與會者參加了簽字儀式，正式加入中醫藥保護野生動物聯盟成為新成員。他們表達了對未來合作的興趣，包括聯合研究、國際合作以及為未來從業人員開發非野生動物培訓課程。
關於中醫藥保護野生動物聯盟
總部位於紐約的中醫藥保護野生動物聯盟，由中醫藥從業者、教育工作者、研究人員、製造商和分銷商組成，致力於保護瀕危物種和促進中醫藥可持續發展。
該聯盟由該領域受人尊敬的領導者於 2024 年創立，其中包括勞力行教授（弗吉尼亞中西醫結合大學校長）、陳業孟教授（紐約中醫學院校長）和黃立新女士（美洲中醫學院前院長）。目前該聯盟40個會員包括全球専業學會、中醫針灸院校以及中藥供應商。第一、二屆中醫藥保護野生動物大會曾於2022年10月與2024年4月分别在美國舊金山、紐約舉行。該聯盟將繼續與世界各地的從業者、教育工作者、研究人員和草藥製造商合作，以支持更符合道德、更永續的傳統醫學願景。
