Con Cuong, September 22, 2023 – Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW), in collaboration with Pu Mat National Park and the Departments of Education and Training of Con Cuong, Anh Son, and Tuong Duong districts, successfully held the kick-off workshop for the Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Education Program for the 2023–2025 period.

This is an expanded program that builds on the success of the Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Awareness Education Program held from 2021 to 2022. With nearly 50 delegates in attendance, the workshop marked the start of an exciting series of upcoming activities.

Nguyen Ngoc Lan, Deputy Director of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife, shared: “Throughout our strategy and action plans, SVW has been honored to earn the trust of and collaborate with national parks. We have been fortunate to partner with Pu Mat National Park since 2018. This collaboration is invaluable in contributing to the landscape and the protection of wildlife. We hope that in the coming time, both organizations will achieve even more together and gain the support of many other partners in our conservation efforts.”.

Nguyen Dien Quang, Deputy Head of the Pu Mat National Park Management Board, stated at the workshop: “To overcome challenges in conservation, the Park Management Board has worked closely with various units to create positive impacts on protecting nature and wildlife in Pu Mat National Park. SVW has been a strategic partner, working closely with the Park since 2018 on many practical activities. He added: Education and raising awareness among buffer zone communities, especially students—the future generation—is crucial for the sustainable protection of Pu Mat National Park. We are proud that during the difficult Covid-19 period in 2021–2022, we successfully collaborated with Pu Mat National Park and the Con Cuong Department of Education and Training to implement the Nature and Wildlife Conservation Awareness Education Program. We are even more delighted that this program is now being expanded to all three buffer zone districts: Anh Son, Con Cuong, and Tuong Duong.”.

The previous Nature and Wildlife Conservation Awareness Education Program for Pu Mat National Park was implemented through five components. It engaged over 100 teachers from the Con Cuong Department of Education and Training to promote conservation awareness and provide experiential learning opportunities for 6,194 students across 20 primary and secondary schools in Con Cuong district and the Pu Mat National Park buffer zone. As a result, the program helped students realize the importance of forests and wildlife to the community's survival.

According to post-program statistics, approximately 98% of the students surveyed affirmed that they would not choose careers that rely on exploiting the forest when they grow up.

Le Thanh An, Head of the Con Cuong Department of Education and Training, shared his thoughts on the collaboration: “In response to government directives and policies, the Con Cuong Department of Education and Training has collaborated with relevant units to encourage students and teachers to become a core force in protecting the natural resources of Pu Mat National Park, which sustains our own lives. The students have demonstrated their youthful energy by reaching out to over 5,000 households. We are extremely proud of the efforts and results achieved and are committed to working closely with Pu Mat National Park and Save Vietnam’s Wildlife to implement the next phases of our plans and activities..”

Building on this success, the Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Education Program will consist of seven components implemented over the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 school years. The program is expected to be deployed across 16 schools in the Pu Mat National Park buffer zone, spanning the districts of Anh Son, Con Cuong, and Tuong Duong. Key activities include: surveying school facilities; establishing "Pu Mat Forest Protection Core Groups" consisting of forest rangers, SVW forest protection officers, and teachers; the "Proud of Pu Mat" conservation event; the "Protecting Pu Mat Forest with Me" club; implementing student and community awareness projects led by the Core Groups; developing nature-based experiential education curricula; and nature immersion experiences.

Nguyen Minh Duc, Deputy Head of the Anh Son Department of Education and Training, shared: “The Anh Son Department of Education and Training expresses its full support and joy in being one of the five units collaborating on the Pu Mat National Park Nature and Wildlife Conservation Education Program. As an educator, I am honored to be part of this meaningful program. The school board and teachers at Phuc Son Secondary School will enthusiastically contribute to the program's success and bring value to creating a happy educational environment for our students in particular and the future generation of Vietnam in general.”.

Photos from the event:

Please contact

‍Education and Awareness Officer

Ms. Ngo Thi Thuong

‍Email: [email protected]

Mobile: (+84) 967 702 824