WildAid supports Quang Tri to become 'wildlife-safe province'

Quang Tri aims to become a model 'wildlife-safe province' with over VND 4 billion WildAid-funded project.

With the goal of turning Quang Tri into a model wildlife-safe province, the provincial People’s Committee has approved an action plan for the project “Strengthening law enforcement and changing wildlife consumption behaviors 2025-2027,” funded by WildAid INC USA through the nonprofit Choice Company, Quang Tri Newspaper reported.

A representative of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment said that in recent years, several foreign non-governmental organizations have implemented projects in Quang Tri, including saola conservation and forest landscape restoration; development of sustainable bamboo supply chains and enhancement of forest resource management capacity; development of sustainable forest management plans; ecotourism development; provision of smart monitoring equipment; and large-scale biodiversity surveys using camera traps in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Dong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong Nature Reserve. Other initiatives have focused on conserving the siki gibbon in western Quang Tri and carrying out law enforcement monitoring, awareness-raising and community training activities.

Against this backdrop, the “Strengthening Law Enforcement and Changing Wildlife Consumption Behaviors, 2025-2027” project will complement and directly support ongoing conservation efforts by promoting changes in consumer behavior, strengthening law enforcement advocacy and expanding community communications. The project is expected to contribute to biodiversity conservation goals in Quang Tri and the broader North Central region.

With its high level of biodiversity, Quang Tri is facing increasingly widespread and sophisticated wildlife hunting. According to a 2022 WWF survey, around 50% of wild meat consumed in Quang Tri is served at restaurants.

The action plan for the “Strengthening Law Enforcement and Changing Wildlife Consumption Behaviors, 2025–2027” project, approved by the Quang Tri Provincial People’s Committee, comprises 17 key activities.

The project will focus on addressing several core issues, including reducing pressure from wildlife hunting and cross-border trafficking, particularly in areas bordering Laos and buffer zones of protected areas such as Dakrong and Bac Huong Hoa; supporting law enforcement and strengthening controls at hotspots for wildlife-related violations; changing consumer behavior through communications and community education, while encouraging restaurants to commit to removing wild meat from their menus; and establishing social norms against the consumption of wildlife without a legal origin.

The project will be implemented in 10 communes and wards in Quang Tri Province, namely Ta Rut, Khe Sanh, Huong Phung, Cam Lo, Nam Dong Ha, Kim Ngan, Truong Son, Kim Dien, Dong Hoi and Minh Hoa.

The project has a total budget of nearly VND 4.2 billion, with no counterpart funding required. The project’s success will provide a foundation for Choice and Quang Tri Province to expand the model to other localities or seek additional funding to continue the initiative and achieve its long-term goals.

* 1$ = 26,400 VND (source: Vietcombank).

Kieu Chi