VUSTA approved the project on raising public awareness and strengthening law enforcement aim to reduce the demand for products from endangered animals in Vietnam

The project on raising public awareness and strengthening law enforcement aim to reduce the demand for products from endangered animals in Vietnam owned by Center for Hands-on Actions and Networking for Growth and Environment (CHANGE) and funded by Wild Aid.

Photo: internet

CHANGE will implement campaigns to raise public awareness of endangered animals namely rhino, pangolin, tiger, bush meat… poaching crisis and address the
demand for endangered animals products in Vietnam as well as strengthen law enforcement to help these species escape the danger of extinction.

The project aims to achieve specific objectives such as raising public awareness on endangered animals poaching and bush meat trading; increasing understanding of ineffectiveness of wildlife products as a therapy for health treatment, but on the contrary, it has a potential to link to public health by transmit fatal diseases; changing people’s behavior on wildlife product consumption through the communication campaigns; support law enforcement agencies in preventing and combating violations of wildlife management and protection; communication, mobilization resources and supports from enterprises, media, scientists, intellectual and social organizations to ensure sustainability and localization of the above activities.

The expected outcomes including: 10 public awareness raising campaigns of the importance of wildlife animals protection, of which each will reach at least from 2.000.000 to 3.000.000 accesses, 200.000 to 300.000 interactions; mobilizing at least 9 travel agencies, enterprises in partnership with CHANGE to train their employees and communicate the message of the campaign to their tourists and advertising the sustainable tourism; mobilizing at least 10 enterprises to develop their action plan on nature protection; implementing 3 campaigns with media agencies, at least 500.000 accesses/views, 100.000 interactions each; VIEWS Award will be annually organized with at least 100 entries each year, as well as supporting for at least 10 media provincial agencies to enhance the communication on wildlife protection; advocating at least one illegal wildlife trade and traffic hotspot province to build the model of “the province says no to wildlife”. These specific objectives aim toward law enforcement and behavior change of illegal wildlife products consumption in order to protect biodiversity and prevent zoonotic diseases at target provinces.

The project sites are Ho Chi Minh city; Mong Cai district and Ha Long city in Quang Ninh province; Phu Loc district and Hue City in Thua Thien Hue province; Ba Be district, Bac Kan province from October 2021 to March 2024.