 |
| The forum attracting the participation of nearly 120 delegates |
The event brought together 120 participants, including representatives from state management agencies and local authorities, as well as community members and social organizations directly involved in conservation activities in Hue City and the Central Region.
In Hue City, over recent years, the City Forest Protection Department has established numerous community-based conservation groups, mainly comprising village elders, community leaders, core youth members, women’s union representatives, and other respected individuals. These groups not only take part in patrols, monitoring, and trap removal, but also serve as key communication and “advocacy hubs”, engaging outreach with each household on issues related to the hunting, trade, and consumption of wildlife. As a result, local communities have become increasingly proactive and vocal in conservation efforts, marking a significant shift from the approach of “officials speak, people listen” to a model where “communities speak, communities change”.
In his opening remarks at the forum, Mr. Nguyen Dai Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of Hue City Department of Agriculture and Environment, emphasized that throughout the implementation of biodiversity conservation efforts, Hue has accumulated valuable experience in mobilizing communities and establishing participatory mechanisms based on genuine empowerment and shared responsibility. Instead of viewing communities merely as targets of communication and awareness-raising, Hue has identified residents as key stakeholders directly involved in management, monitoring, and working alongside authorities to protect natural resources.
 |
| Sharing experiences in mobilizing the community join the work of biodiversity conservation |
Specifically, local communities have collaborated to organize over 60 communication and training activities for over 3,000 local residents, with nearly 1,400 participants taking part in in-depth discussions on nature conservation and biodiversity. Additionally, nearly 200 service establishments have been mobilized to sign commitments to “Say No to Wildlife”.
In the framework of the forum, participants contributed and shared valuable experiences in mobilizing community participation in biodiversity conservation, while gradually establishing mechanisms that promote empowerment, strengthen responsibility, and ensure that local people serve as the central actors in community-based conservation models.
Ms. Hoang Xuan Huy, Director of External Affairs of WWF-Vietnam, affirmed that WWF-Vietnam will continue to accompany Hue City in promoting community-based conservation initiatives, thereby contributing to the effective implementation of the objectives of the National Biodiversity Strategy and the Global Biodiversity Framework.
On this occasion, the organizing committee honored 8 outstanding community groups and individuals for their remarkable achievements in communication and biodiversity conservation, contributing to the promotion of proactive community participation in Hue City and neighboring localities during the 2020-2025 period.