Con Cuong, April 2, 2021 – Pu Mat National Park, in collaboration with Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (Save Vietnam’s Wildlife) and the Con Cuong District Department of Education and Training and the Con Cuong District Youth Union, successfully hosted the opening workshop for the "Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Awareness Education Program." Attended by nearly 40 delegates, the workshop marked a positive start to an initiative aimed at raising awareness among primary and secondary school students in the buffer zone about the dangers of illegal wildlife consumption and the importance of working together to protect the forests of Pu Mat.

Mr. Luu Trung Kien, Deputy Director of Pu Mat National Park, stated at the workshop: “Pu Mat National Park is honored to be one of the leading units in developing and implementing the Prime Minister’s Directive 29/CT-TTg dated July 23, 2020, regarding urgent solutions for wildlife management. To effectively carry out this mandate, Pu Mat National Park has recently intensified law enforcement patrols, worked to minimize illegal hunting and wildlife consumption, supported livelihood development, and promoted educational outreach to raise community awareness. The 'Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Awareness Education Program' for schools in the buffer zone is one of the key initiatives that Pu Mat National Park will implement in the coming time in partnership with the Con Cuong District Department of Education and Training and Save Vietnam’s Wildlife.”

Mr. Nguyen Van Thai, Director of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW), noted: “Educating the community, especially children in the Pu Mat National Park buffer zone, is a long-term strategy for our center to build a future generation with positive attitudes and behaviors toward wildlife, while simultaneously reducing the pressure on the natural resources of the Pu Mat forest.”. Ms. Le Thi Kim Ngan, the Center’s Education and Awareness Program Coordinator, added: “This workshop is the starting point for our educational and awareness-raising activities for children in the Pu Mat buffer zone. We hope to spark a sense of pride and love for nature in these students, encouraging them and their families to take practical actions that contribute to the protection of wildlife and the Pu Mat forest..”

The workshop was a success, drawing interest and support from nearly 40 delegates representing Pu Mat National Park, Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, the Con Cuong District Department of Education and Training, the Con Cuong District Youth Union, as well as school administrators and lead teachers from 13 primary and secondary schools across the four communes of Yen Khe, Chau Khe, Mon Son, and Con Cuong Town. The implementation plan for the awareness program was unanimously agreed upon, featuring five components to be carried out from March 2021 to May 2022: social research on students' awareness, attitudes, and behaviors regarding nature and wildlife conservation; nature conservation events and extracurricular activities; the "Protecting Pu Mat Forest with Me" club; nature-based experiential learning; and a "Young Communicators" segment. Delegates provided constructive feedback to refine the coordination plan for effective program delivery in schools. In the afternoon, participants visited the Open Nature and Culture Museum, the Wildlife Rescue Center, and the peripheral botanical garden to gain a deeper understanding of the conservation efforts led by Pu Mat National Park and Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, as well as to see the sites proposed for the program's experiential components.

Mr. Le Thanh An, Head of the Con Cuong District Department of Education and Training, concluded the workshop by stating: “The Con Cuong District Department of Education and Training and our schools fully support and agree to the plan to collaborate with Pu Mat National Park and Save Vietnam’s Wildlife in implementing the 'Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Awareness Education Program.' This is a meaningful and practical initiative that aligns with the environmental education programs promoted by the Ministry of Education and Training, as well as the government’s broader policies on nature conservation and wildlife management. The program promises to be a rewarding experience for over 4,500 students in the buffer zone, helping them enhance their knowledge, develop soft skills, and take pride in contributing to the protection of Pu Mat’s natural environment..”