In March, the “Join me to protect Pu Mat forest” handbook was designed, produced and provided to students in elementary and secondary schools in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park. This is one of many activities of the “Join me to protect Pu Mat forest” club, which is in the “Education Program to Raise Awareness of Nature and Wildlife Conservation in Pu Mat National Park” program, implemented by Save Vietnam Wildlife, in collaboration with Con Cuong Education and Training Department and the Ranger Department of Pu Mat National Park.
The “Join me to protect Pu Mat forest” handbooks have 6 chapters about Pu Mat National Park. In the first, second and third chapter of the handbook, students will learn about the importance of Pu Mat National Park, along with beautiful sites, amazing biodiversity, and precious plant and animal species. In contrast with the first three chapters, the fourth and fifth chapters are about the threat facing Pu Mat National Park and the consequences of exploiting forests on people’s lives. The sixth chapter focuses on ways students can help to save Pu Mat National Park by committing to “3 Noes”, taking “5 Actions” and calling hotline reporting wildlife violations, to protect wild animals and Pu Mat forest.
Ms Dinh Thi Thu Huong – SVW’s Education Officer shared: “Through the handbook, students will be able to clearly understand the role of forest trees and wild animals in the ecosystem and the lives of people in the buffer zone. Across each pages, the handbook will take students on an adventure exploring the Vietnam heritage tree – “Sa mu dau” tree (Cunninghamia konishii Hayata) and seeing 5 precious and rare wild animals of Pu Mat national park such as Saola, the Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), the Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinereus), the Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica), the Indochinese tiger (Panthera tigris corbetti). With the easy-to-understand writing styles and beautiful images of Pu Mat forest, the handbook is expected to become one of the children’s favorite books and will be re-read many times as well as be passed on to other students to read. This will make the handbook an cost-effective awareness-raising tool”
Mr Pham Cong Duc – An forest ranger of Pu Mat National Park shared: “This is one of the rare books on the topic of nature and wildlife conservation for students in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park. The handbook provides many wonderful pictures of the famous eco – attractions of Pu Mat National Park along with amazing natural landscapes and beautiful primeval forests. In addition, the handbook also describes the beauty of the unique culture of the ethnic groups living in Pu Mat National Park. The image of ethnic minorities doing cultural practices in the magnificent natural setting of Pu Mat mountains and forests will inspire student’s pride in Pu Mat National Park.”
Ms Nguyen Kieu Anh – Education Intern provided the handbooks to each school. Photo @SVW
Ms Nguyen Kieu Anh – SVW’s Education Intern said: “The handbook is expected to help students not only better understand the nature of Pu Mat National Park and the threats that Pu Mat National Park is facing, but also encourage them to protect Pu Mat forest. The last chapter of the book also lists out specific things students can do to protect Pu Mat National Park. When a student close a handbook, he will know how to protect nature and wildlife of Pu Mat National Park in his daily lives”
The handbooks were provided to students of 20 schools in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park. Photo @SVW
Holding the “Join me to protect Pu Mat forest” handbook, Loc Linh Dan- a student of Chau Khe 1 primary school eagerly shared: “I have heard that there are many games and challenges in the handbook. So when I received the handbook, I could not wait to open it. The games in the book are interesting and some of them are quite challenging. For example, I could only score 7 out of 10 in the Finding Indochinese tiger’s marks challenge. After finishing the handbook and having a better understanding of Pu Mat National Park’s threats, I will commit to “3 Noes” and take “5 Actions” to protect Pu Mat forest. I will also give my parents the handbook to read as well as give it to my friends and younger brother to play together.”
Students are eager to wait for their turn to receive the handbooks. Photo @SVW.
The handbook is one of many educational tools of the “Join me to protect Pu Mat forest” club in order to provide knowledge of nature and wildlife of Pu Mat forest for the “Join me to protect Pu Mat forest” writing contest. The handbook which is strategically designed to bring rich content such as many interesting facts about Pu Mat National Park, in addition to beautiful and impressive images, and attractive games, will become a good book that is read many times and be passed down from generation to generation.
View the contents of the handbook here.
About the “Education Program to Raise Awareness of Nature and Wildlife Conservation in Pu Mat National Park”:
The Conservation Education Program taking place at schools for children in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park is implemented by Save Vietnam Wildlife (SVW) in collaboration with the Ranger Department of Pu Mat National Park, under the sponsorship of the organization Welttierschutzgesellschaft e.V. (WTG). The program includes 5 main activities: (1) Social research on awareness, attitude and behavior of students towards nature and wildlife conservation before and after the program to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation education methods; (2) Conservation Events as after-school activities; (3) Student Club “Join me to protect Pu Mat forest” at schools in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park; (4) Nature interpretation field trips to create opportunities for students to have close contact and understand more about nature; (5) “Kid Presenters” program with contents to call for wildlife protection, broadcasting in schools and villages in the buffer zones of Pu Mat National Park. The entire education program is implemented at Primary schools and Secondary schools in Yen Khe, Chau Khe, Mon Son communes and Con Cuong Town in Con Cuong District, Nghe An Province.
In addition to SVW’s official website and Facebook page, images and information about the program’s activities will be updated continuously on the Nature Conservation Education Fanpage. We invite you to follow and spread the program’s conservation education message to the community.
