Posted on July, 18 2022

Community contributes to diversity conservation

Within the framework of a project activity to encourage the community to join hands in preventing illegal consumption of wild animals, more than 150 food service businesses in 4 provinces including Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Lam Dong have signed the pledge to "SAY NO" to wildlife consumption for their business activities. For all of the participants, obeying the law, preventing illegal animal trade and consumption is a mandatory principle in doing business. 

Efforts to raise awareness, change behavior

Although Viet Nam is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, after decades of illegal logging, wildlife trade, and agricultural conversion have led to staggering losses of natural forest and wildlife, with some species on the edge of extinction. In order to promote the recovery of rare species and preserve biodiversity, it is crucial to change the behavior and awareness of the community.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang - Head of the Strategic Approach 4 to Reduce illegal wildlife consumption (under USAID Biodiversity Conservation project, WWF-Viet Nam) said that the survey conducted by WWF-Viet Nam in 2021 - 2022 shows that FnB businesses are the main link in the wildlife meat supply chain. About 50% of these products is illegally hunted, slaughtered and delivered to consumers in the surveyed areas through restaurants.

The local government representative of Thua Thien Hue province said: “One of the main reasons leading to this issue is from  the wrong perception and consumption habits of many people. They are still mistakenly thinking that wild animals can be used as a special health-promoting supplement.” Not only monkeys, langurs, deer, wild cats, etc. are hunted and killed, many rare birds and other wild animals are also hunted for their bones and beaks to produce sculptures and souvenirs.

He expressed the expectation that, through the activities of USAID Biodiversity Conservation, community and businesses will better understand the consequences of their illegal actions violating the Regulation on Protection of Endangered and Rare Wildlife. People working in restaurants and FnB services had the opportunity to share, exchange, and consolidate information and knowledge about terms and regulations related to this issue.

At the same time, representing the local authorities also pledged to closely work with and strengthen the coordination with WWF-Viet Nam and other related organizations in the effort to conserve biodiversity, especially to protect rare and endangered wildlife species.