On April 13, 2023, the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Thérèse Coffey, visited Save Vietnam's Wildlife (SVW) at Cuc Phuong National Park.

The visit provided Secretary Thérèse Coffey with a deeper understanding of the conservation efforts of SVW in particular, and Vietnam in general, in combating wildlife trafficking and protecting wildlife, while also exploring the challenges and opportunities for addressing illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam.

During the visit, Secretary Coffey received a presentation from Mr. Nguyen Van Thai, Executive Director of SVW, on the organization's activities and key achievements in wildlife conservation in Vietnam. They discussed challenges and opportunities for tackling illegal wildlife trade, including law enforcement, demand reduction, and behavioral change. Additionally, the delegation toured the rescue program for pangolins and small carnivores and visited the world's only semi-wild enclosure for pangolins.

Following the tour, Secretary Thérèse Coffey remarked: "The Vietnamese government has made concrete efforts to combat wildlife trafficking and protect wildlife. Many changes are clearly visible, such as the increase in severe penalties for these illegal acts. At Cuc Phuong National Park, I can see the efforts to conserve and equip people with the knowledge to protect what belongs to the nature here."

SVW recently received funding from the UK Government for a project aimed at eliminating the illegal pangolin trade in Vietnam. Building on SVW's success at Pu Mat National Park, the project has been implemented in Cat Tien, U Minh Thuong, and U Minh Ha National Parks since July 2022.

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Project activities include strengthening law enforcement for forest and wildlife protection in Cat Tien, U Minh Thuong, and U Minh Ha National Parks, developing livelihood programs for buffer zone communities to create sustainable income and reduce pressure on forest resources, and, notably, implementing awareness-raising and demand-reduction programs for wildlife products.

Mr. Nguyen Van Thai shared: "As a national non-profit organization, SVW is honored and grateful for the UK Government's support for our wildlife conservation activities. This funding helps SVW carry out forest protection patrols in coordination with forest rangers in national parks. We also utilize new technologies based on expert advice. While SVW focuses on pangolins, our protection efforts extend beyond a single species. We are expanding our conservation activities to the South, specifically in three national parks with vital ecosystems—Cat Tien, U Minh Thuong, and U Minh Ha—thereby protecting nearly 60% of other wildlife species in Vietnam."

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