In collaboration with Cat Tien National Park, Save Vietnam's Wildlife (SVW) organized a workshop to discuss enhancing the effectiveness of forest patrol and wildlife conservation at Cat Tien National Park. The event was attended by 140 delegates, including leadership, civil servants, public employees, forest rangers, contract staff, and forest protection officers from Cat Tien.

Held over two days, April 18 and April 20, 2023, the workshop served as a valuable opportunity for all parties to share their aspirations and experiences in forest patrol work. It also provided a platform to discuss solutions and cooperation strategies between the two organizations to boost the effectiveness of forest and wildlife protection, law enforcement, and community awareness at Cat Tien National Park.

Nguyen Van Thai, Executive Director of SVW, stated that the consumption of wildlife sourced directly from the wild poses a significant threat, leading to the decline and extinction of many endangered species in Vietnam. Cat Tien National Park is one of the most biodiverse forests in Vietnam, possessing irreplaceable wildlife values. It is a place where visitors can observe wild animals in their natural habitat, such as crocodiles, gaurs, deer, and gibbons. However, the situation regarding illegal hunting, trading, and trafficking of wildlife in the area has become increasingly complex, with several incidents where forest rangers and protection officers have been attacked and seriously injured by poachers while on duty.

On this occasion, SVW shared the difficulties and challenges faced in forest and wildlife protection while honoring the efforts of the rangers and all forest protection forces at Cat Tien. Nguyen Van Thai personally presented gifts to express gratitude and support to the rangers who were injured during a patrol in March 2023 when they encountered individuals resisting law enforcement and causing intentional injury. These gestures boosted morale and provided further motivation for the officers present at the workshop to continue their commitment to forest protection and wildlife conservation.

During the workshop, Nguyen Van Minh, Deputy Director of the park, presented an assessment of the forest and wildlife protection situation at Cat Tien National Park over the past five years. He also outlined the current difficulties and challenges facing the park and emphasized the importance of leading with sound policies and strategic direction to strengthen forest protection in the coming time.

Sharing lessons learned from the collaboration between SVW and Pu Mat National Park to improve patrol efficiency and strengthen law enforcement, Nguyen Huu Trung, SVW's SMART Coordinator, stated: The greatest success in the nearly five years of cooperation between the two units is the reduction of threats and the recovery of wildlife populations. This is the result of implementing a comprehensive set of programs over a long period, including the synchronized application of SMART and the optimization of patrol tools, combined with the use of modern technology to detect violations. These programs include community outreach, behavior change campaigns to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products, and initiatives to promote the participation of law enforcement agencies in combating the trafficking, transport, and hunting of wildlife. Additionally, SVW is researching sustainable alternative livelihood solutions for buffer zone communities to reduce pressure on forest resources.

Over the two days of the workshop, delegates also held a general discussion on solutions and recommendations for amending Decree 01/2019/NĐ-CP to enhance the roles and responsibilities of forest rangers and specialized forest protection forces, as well as to improve their salaries, income, and benefits.

Forest rangers also worked in groups to discuss and share patrol measures currently being implemented at Cat Tien National Park. They proposed solutions, recommendations, and technologies they wish to see deployed to improve patrol efficiency and strengthen law enforcement to prevent illegal hunting, transport, and trade of wildlife in the area. Activities to boost awareness among buffer zone residents regarding laws related to hunting, possession, and trade of wildlife, as well as communication campaigns to reduce demand and change the behavior of key targets such as professional hunters and traders, were also topics of interest to the delegates.

The workshop concluded successfully with agreed-upon conclusions and future cooperation plans between SVW and Cat Tien National Park to promote forest and wildlife protection in the time ahead.

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