Hanoi, August 6, 2024 – Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW) successfully organized a celebration for 10th anniversary. The event took place in a warm atmosphere with the participation of representatives from the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Forestry Department, the Forest Protection Department, National Parks, and Nature Reserve, along with other organizations and donors.
10 Years – A Journey of Continuous Effort for Wildlife in Vietnam
In 2014, SVW was established with a mission to stop the extinction and champion the recovery of threatened species in Vietnam. Beginning as a small organization with about 10 staff members, SVW has continuously developed over the years, becoming one of the leading organizations in wildlife conservation in Vietnam and a strategic partner of 6 national parks and nature reserves, including Cuc Phuong, Pu Mat, Cat Tien, U Minh Thuong, U Minh Ha National Parks, and Dong Nai Cultural and Nature Reserve.
Over the past 10 years, with the support and collaboration of local authorities, national parks, nature reserve areas, and partners, SVW has achieved remarkable accomplishments: (1) Rescued 4,280 wild animals from over 60 native species; (2) Reintroduced 1,274 animals back into the wild, contributing to ecosystem enrichment and the restoration of natural populations; (3) Removed over 24,000 traps, helping to reduce the number of wildlife caught by snare traps; (4) Destroyed over 1,000 illegal shacks and assisted in the arrest of over 1,300 violators; (5) Connected over 40,000 people with conservation efforts.
Regarding SVW’s achievements over the past 10 years, Mr. Nguyen Van Thai – Founder/Director of SVW proudly shared: “We are fortunate that all our staff share a common vision and passion. The achievements of the past 10 years will serve as a foundation and great motivation for us to continue contributing more to wildlife conservation in Vietnam. With the goal of “Walk the Talk” and using resources effectively, we always strive to bring value to wildlife, also to people and the society. We truly appreciate and are grateful for the trust of our partners, donors, and everyone who loves SVW. In the future, we hope to achieve even greater successes.”
(Mr. Nguyen Van Thai – Founder and Director of SVW)
Challenging Journey Constitutes a Strong and Trustworthy Organization
Ten years is a long enough journey for SVW to build its brand as a professional conservation organization through long-term conservation activities and projects that provide sustainable value. The positive impacts that SVW has made on wildlife, forests, and ecosystems in Vietnam have been recognized by partners, donors, and all animal lovers both domestically and internationally. This is a key factor that has helped SVW build trust and a positive image to the community.
Sharing about the journey of building trust that SVW pursues, Dr. Phan Xuan Dung – President of VUSTA, stated: “SVW has become a reliable partner for many agencies and organizations, attracting numerous international experts and volunteers to Vietnam to contribute to conservation efforts in our country. In just a decade, SVW has achieved many successes thanks to a united team, being responsible for nature and animals, and having an immense love for their work. SVW has clearly defined its mission, contributing to creating value for the nation. All of this has created a beautiful image and brand for SVW.”
(Dr. Phan Xuan Dung – President of VUSTA)
As a long-time companion of SVW, Dr. Ha Cong Tuan – Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, stated: “Looking back at the period of 10 years ago, when our country faced many difficulties as a developing country, SVW was established with high political determination, clearly recognizing the risks, and working together with the support of international organizations to build a more stable and sustainable country to adapt to climate change. The establishment of SVW was very appropriate for that context. I hope that SVW will continue to develop key activities and conservation work, with people at the center of activities.”
(Dr. Ha Cong Tuan – Former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development)
In our 10 years journey, we have connected and had the opportunity to cooperate, as well as received support from many international organizations. A representative from one of SVW’s important international partners, Ms. Aler Grubbs – Director of USAID Vietnam, said: “The role of local organizations is becoming increasingly important in biodiversity conservation. SVW has effectively applied modern technological initiatives and methods in conservation work. These successes have been recognized internationally through awards given to SVW.”
(Ms. Aler Grubbs – Director of USAID Vietnam)
Our 10-year could not have been achieved without the support from national parks and nature reserve across Vietnam, with Cuc Phuong National Park being the place SVW chose to start our journey. Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh – Director of Cuc Phuong National Park, shared: “Cuc Phuong is the starting point and foundation for the development of SVW. We have made many significant marks in conservation work, such as being the organization that rescues and releases the most pangolins in the world or being the first organization in the world to use drones to monitor post-released pangolins. With the collaboration with SVW, Cuc Phuong has become a place for visiting, learning, and training for many staff, conservation partners, and students both domestically and internationally. We affirm that we will always create the most favorable conditions and are ready to cooperate with SVW in the future. We also hope that donors, partners both domestically and internationally will always support us on the journey of biodiversity conservation in Vietnam.”
(Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh – Director of Cuc Phuong National Park )
Announcement of SVW’s Action Plan for the period 2024 – 2030
SVW has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Forestry Department, the Forest Protection Department, and Cuc Phuong National Park. With our achievements in the first 10 years, SVW hopes to continue to expand the scope of implementation and conservation projects, focusing not only on species conservation but also on protecting ecosystems and restoring what has been lost in nature. SVW will continue to coordinate with partners to rewild many rare wildlife species and strive to restore the native ecosystems. At the same time, we will continue to expand long-term campaigns aimed at changing public awareness and habits regarding the illegal use of wildlife. On the challenging journey ahead, we hope to continue receiving support and companionship so that SVW can develop even stronger.
(SVW signed the MOU with Forestry Department, Forest Protection Department and Cuc Phuong National Park)
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