Conservation education in Pu Mat National Park's buffer zone

On September 22, the Center for Wildlife Conservation in Vietnam (Save Vietnam's Wildlife - SVW) coordinated with Pu Mat National Park and the Department of Education and Training of 3 districts: Con Cuong, Anh Son, Tuong Duong to successfully organise the workshop “Launching the Education program for nature and wildlife conservation in Pu Mat National Park, period 2023 - 2025”. This is expanded content, continuing the success of the 2021-2022 period.

Ms Nguyen Ngoc Lan, Deputy Director of the Wildlife Conservation Center in Vietnam shared: In its comprehensive strategy and action plan, SVW is honoured to have the trust of national parks. We have been accompanying Pu Mat since 2018, the coordination process of both parties is very tight, and smooth and has achieved many positive signals. It is expected that in the coming time, the two units will create more achievements together, at the same time, forming the companionship of related parties to jointly support and widely spread nature conservation work".

Mr. Nguyen Dien Quang, Deputy Head of Pu Mat National Park affirmed: "SVW is a strategic cooperation unit and has implemented many practical programs along with the park, including educational activities, raising awareness of the buffer zone community. The emphasis is placed on the students' participation, the future generation of successors. From the results of the 2021 - 2022 period, the program continues to be deployed and expanded to all three buffer zone districts of Anh Son, Con Cuong, and Tuong Duong, this is a very optimistic signal".

The education program to raise awareness of nature and wildlife conservation at Pu Mat National Park has been implemented with 5 components. The program received the participation of more than 100 teachers under the Department of Education and Training of the Con Cuong district. As a consequence, promoting, raising awareness and giving experience opportunities to about 6,200 students of 20 primary and secondary schools in the area of Con Cuong district and the park's buffer zone.

The program helped children soon realize the role and importance of forests and wild animals in the life of the community.

Research shows that the Center for Wildlife Conservation in Vietnam (English name is Save Vietnam's Wildlife, abbreviated as SVW) is a non-profit organization. It was established to prevent extinction and restore rare wildlife populations in Vietnam.

In recent years, the Center has cooperated with Cuc Phuong, Pu Mat, U Minh Thuong, U Minh Ha, and Cat Tien national parks conducting rescue activities for wild animals from illegal trade, and then releasing them into suitable habitats.

As for Pu Mat National Park, this unit was transferred from Pu Mat Nature Reserve according to Decision No. 174/2001/QD-TTg dated November 8, 2001 of the Prime Minister. Pu Mat is known as one of the three core zones of the Western Nghe An World Biosphere Reserve with a total area of special-use forests of 94,715 ha, not including the buffer zone of 86,000 ha.

Pu Mat National Park is of great biodiversity importance, home to many endangered and rare wildlife species facing the risk of extinction.

On July 28, within the framework of the program Nature Conservation and Livelihood Development in the Buffer Zone, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan and his delegation had a field survey in Western Nghe An. This delegation discussed about the potentials, advantages, problems and problems surrounding the forestry sector, from which to build more fundamental and sustainable solutions.

The destination of the trip is Pu Mat National Park, the heart of the Western Nghe An. This is a place rich in forest reserves, with a rich and diverse ecosystem, and is an opportunity for people to build a livelihood under the huge forest canopy.

Regarding the regime of forest keepers, Minister Le Minh Hoan shared that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is currently researching and amending a Decree in an upgraded direction.“The most important thing is still the perspective and approach. In addition to the task of protecting the forest, there must be a plan to create many jobs and create long-term livelihoods under the forest canopy. This is to gradually improve people's income for sustainable development".