Save Vietnam Wildlife launches sustainable wildlife conservation project

The project operates in Dong Nai Province and Hanoi City. Its primary goals include "Establishing sustainable and safe habitats for natural forests and endangered wildlife in Dong Nai" and "Raising awareness about nature conservation to reduce demand for wildlife products in Hanoi through the Mobile Nature Center aiming to end illegal wildlife usage."

Key expected outcomes include establishing and effectively implementing a model of community forest guard in Cat Tien National Park and Dong Nai Nature-Culture Conservation Area, and successfully applying the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) in forest patrols for special-use forests and protection forests. The project also aims to organize effective conferences and workshops to enhance inter-agency coordination for "enhancing biodiversity crime prevention" in Dong Nai. Additionally, it focuses on researching and recording wildlife population changes over time in Cat Tien National Park and Dong Nai Nature - Culture Conservation Area using camera traps, and successfully building and ultilizing the "Mobile Nature Center" in Hanoi to raise public awareness about wildlife conservation.

Direct beneficiaries include wildlife populations, residents around the buffer zones of the Cat Tien National Park and Dong Nai Nature - Culture Conservation Area, forest rangers, protection forces for natural forests in Dong Nai, law enforcement agencies in Dong Nai Province, and students and communities where the Mobile Nature Center operates in Hanoi.

The project aims to contribute to the economic and social development and invironmental conservation in Dong Nai and Hanoi. It involves implementing local specialized forest protection forces and SMART technology in key areas like the Cat Tien National Park and Dong Nai Nature - Culture Conservation Area to reduce illegal hunting and trade of wildlife, and to protect forests, natural environments and wildlife habitats. By applying technology in forest patrols and biodiversity crime prevention, SMART improves data collection, analysis and reporting on natural resource and biodiversity management, which aid in the formulation of regulations and effective conservation decisions.

By creating job opportunities and inspiring community involvement, the project provides employment in local specialized forest protection forces, improves social welfare, and inspires community participation in forest and wildlife protection.

Raising awareness through the Mobile Nature Center in Hanoi reduces wildlife product demand through interactive exhibits, VR and AR technology, and promotes the "three no's" approach—no eating, using, or supporting illegal wildlife trade.

The Mobile Nature Center provides information on the value of nature, the critical status of wildlife, the causes of illegal hunting and trade, legal penalties. It also explains the consequences of using wildlife products on human health, society and nature. Through the operation of Mobile Nature Center in crowded public places and universities, touching stories of figures to wildlife conservation spreaded, good actions insprires to more people in order to joint hand to save wildlife.

The project contributes to the protection and conservation of endangered and rare wildlife species in Vietnam, maintaining biodiversity and aligning with national and provincial strategies on biodiversity, green growth, and wildlife law enforcement, addressing the challenges and threats faced by wildlife from illegal hunting, trade and habitat degradation.