Vietnam is WWF’s global priority in wildlife preservation and biodiversity

World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) - Vietnam is a development partner of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. WWF is collaborating with the Ministry to implement several programs and projects to support sectoral priorities and strategies through forestry projects, fisheries, food security, and tasks of the One Health Partnership Framework for preventing zoonotic diseases, led by three ministries including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, through wildlife conservation activities.

Ms. Ginette Hemley, Senior Vice President of Wildlife Conservation at WWF affirmed that for WWF, internationally, Vietnam is a global priority not only because of its unique biodiversity but also because of the commitments including relevant parties and by the government of Vietnam that have created important opportunities for many international collaborations and partnerships.

“Wildlife conservation has always been the foundation of WWF's work globally and our experience from work in more than 100 countries is being applied and adopted here in Vietnam and we are learning from the work in Vietnam to support efforts everywhere else to both reduce wildlife trafficking and demand for wildlife and wildlife consumption as well as nature conservation”, said Ms. Hemley.

WWF highly appreciated the progress and efficiency of the cooperation programs between the two sides, especially the Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation (VFBC) project and Saving Threatened Wildlife Project (STW).

WWF values that these projects receive the close and active attention of the ministry's leadership, creating favorable conditions for collaboration in the implementation of the projects.

The WWF leader elaborated that WWF sought a long-term commitment and is itself committed to supporting the conservation of the Trong Son region of the Central Anamites by continuing collaboration with MARD in the efforts to preserve nature and biodiversity in the Trong Son region.

Therefore, the organization hopes for and appreciates the Deputy Minister's attention to considering resigning the Biodiversity Conservation Initiative for the Truong Son region for the next 10 years phase of 2025-2035 and in particular, update the previous strategy that the two sides led the preparation of for conservation, long-term conservation in the Trong Son landscape.

WWF will continue to mobilize resources, including from the United States, to focus on initiatives related to conservation. This includes emphasizing programs and projects related to community livelihoods, conservation and biodiversity activities, sustainable forest management, restoration, and development through nature-based solutions, which will contribute to the important goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as conserving biodiversity.

In reply to the WWF’s ideas, Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri shared that biodiversity conservation and wildlife trafficking are not only domestic responsibilities but also international obligations. Therefore, Vietnam has collaborated with Cambodia, Laos, some Southeast Asian countries, and international organizations in this field.

Vietnam also has various specific regulations from the Forestry Law, Biodiversity Law, Criminal Law. Recently, law enforcement has achieved many results such as elephant conservation, protection of some rare animal species, etc. Additionally, strict handling of many cases of violations such as usage, trading, commercial activities. Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri affirmed that Vietnam does not tolerate law violations in this field.

Regarding the proposal from WWF, the Deputy Minister stated that MARD is committed to close coordination and welcomes organizations and initiatives contributing to wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection.

MARD is implementing the "Project on developing the multiple values of forest ecosystems until 2030, with a vision to 2050", which sets the goal of "developing the multiple values of forest ecosystems based on conserving natural resources, biodiversity, traditional cultural values; enhancing the sustainable use efficiency of ecosystem services, contributing to job creation, income increase, and improving spiritual life for ethnic minorities and forest workers," shared the Deputy Minister.

MARD also hopes that WWF and partners in the conservation field will enhance the protection of conservation areas; monitor species, ensure corridor connections, through law enforcement; policy revisions; community engagement in conservation, etc; supporting the development of conservation initiatives. WWF is urged to foster mobilizing resources from governments, international organizations, financial mechanisms, and the international community to implement conservation initiatives.

Currently, MARD is collaborating with WWF on implementing several prominent projects such as the Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation (VFBC) project funded by USAID.

Furthermore, the two parties also cooperate on the Saving Threatened Wildlife Project (STW), which aims to develop communities and protect priority species in the Truong Son region to conserve, protect, and manage endemic and endangered species, as well as special-use and protective forests. The initiative also intends to provide livelihoods for forest-dependent people, strengthen leadership and enforcement ability, diminish Vietnam's demand for wild animals, and combat the illicit wildlife trafficking. It focuses the protection of globally endangered species in the Truong Son range by improving rescue capabilities, reducing main threats, and preserving and restoring them into the wild.