Vu Quang National Park in the central province of Ha Tinh has discovered and removed approximately 1,500 illegal traps, as well as dealt with 50 incidents of wildlife infringement over the past year.

The park’s management hosted the "Taking Action for Wild Animals" event on Wednesday to share its strides in protecting local wildlife.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided support for the event by funding the biological diversity component of the Project on Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Vietnam (VFBC), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, which was carried out by the World Wildlife Fund Vietnam.

This year's International Day for Biodiversity 2024 was observed on May 22 and themed "Be Part of the Plan" with the hope of encouraging relevant partners to participate in and contribute to the resilience of the global biodiversity framework adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its 15th meeting.

An event commemorating the International Day for Biodiversity 2024 was held at the Vu Quang National Day in Ha Tinh Province, May 22, 2024. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre

The goal of the framework is to prevent and reverse biodiversity loss from the past decade. 

Phan Viet Nga, deputy head of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency, delivered a speech at the event, saying that, to commemorate the International Day for Biodiversity 2024, the ministry has called on all parties and agencies to improve communication, education, and raising awareness for biodiversity and its values in the country's sustainable development strategy.

She also advocated for the incorporation of biodiversity conservation information into curriculums, as well as the promotion of a nature-friendly lifestyle. 

"Vietnam's natural ecosystems and biological resources confront significant difficulties. Through this event, I call for joint contributions from agencies, organizations, and individuals to preserve and conserve Vietnam's 16th place in global biodiversity ranking," Nga stated.

A Mang Truong Son (muntiacus truongsonensis) is photographed by a camera trap for a presentation at the event commemorating International Day for Biodiversity 2024, which took place on May 22, 2024 at the Vu Quang National Day in Ha Tinh Province. Photo: Le Minh / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Danh Ky, director of Vu Quang National Park, stated that Vu Quang has been renowned as one of Vietnam's top biodiversity centers, serving as a home to numerous endangered and unique species.

The ecological zone where Vu Quang National Park sits is considered as essential to the preservation of biodiversity in both Vietnam and around the world.

The VFBC's component for biological diversity preservation has assisted Vu Quang National Park in establishing a patrol team tasked with identifying unique species and dismantling illegal traps. 

Over the last year, the five-member team has performed 33 patrols, dismantled roughly 1,500 traps, and recorded 50 cases of wildlife-related violations.

The USAID has provided financial support for the biodiversity preservation component of the project.

The Forestry Project Management Board under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is leading the project, which is scheduled to run from July 2021 to June 2026.

The goal of the project is to maintain and improve forest quality while also ensuring the stability of wild animal populations in areas of high conservation value.

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!