Forest conservation and wildlife protection

Vietnam harbours an astonishing range of habitats, from rainforests and dry forests to mangroves and coral reefs. It is home to an unusually rich array of plants and animals.

However, like many developing countries, Vietnam is experiencing rapid biodiversity loss due to population growth, overexploitation of natural resources, illegal logging, and the intensification of agriculture. It is also a hotspot for illegal poaching and wildlife trade and acts as a destination, transit point, and source for threatened species including pangolins.

The partnership will support CIAP's local partner, Save Vietnam's Wildlife's (SVW) – in its conservation efforts within the Pu Mat National Park and Cuc Phuong National Park. SVW will combat the threat to wildlife populations caused by habitat loss, unsustainable poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade.

The tropical rainforest ecosystem of Pu Mat National Park is also home to many endemic species such as the critically endangered Saola and Sunda pangolin, Indochinese tiger, Asian black bear, and Owston's civet.

MSIG's contribution will help SVW's efforts to secure a stronghold for wildlife conservation in Vietnam through strengthening wildlife law enforcement, patrolling and monitoring to combat local illegal poaching, concentrating around Khe Choang watershed, a pangolin conservation priority area in Pu Mat National Park.

The partnership's support towards wildlife ranger capacity building, providing patrol and monitoring tools and equipment and veterinary care for rescued animals is especially critical in a time when SVW is facing financial shortage due to loss of income from its volunteer programme.

Read more about how Save Vietnam's Wildlife has helped to combat habitat loss, unsustainable poaching, and illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam.