WildAct

WildAct is focused on conserving threatened species and ecosystems in Vietnam by inspiring, motivating, and empowering individuals and society to engage in science-based conservation practices. Vietnam’s biodiversity has fallen victim to the wildlife trade with species such as pangolins, birds, fish, and reptiles like the Chinese three-striped box turtles being trafficked.

WildAct’s approach works across four programmes – Capacity and Governance, Species and Habitat, School and Community, and Partnership and Development – to create a new generation of Vietnamese wildlife conservationists partaking in the science-based conservation of threatened species and ecosystems in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Setting up a camera trap. Image: WildAct

Its education work involves engaging with local Vietnamese universities to develop a Master’s course in wildlife conservation. This aims to increase the local and national capacity for monitoring trade of endangered wildlife and identifying at-risk species. WildAct also works in local schools in rural communities near nature reserves to offer outdoor education activities and provide books to develop and nurture children’s love for nature. Parents are also engaged in these conservation activities.

WildAct’s community conservation aims to actively form a Community Conservation Committee (CCC) and Community Conservation Team (CCT). This is made up of the local community which participate in planning, managing, and implementing conservation projects in areas with threatened biodiversity. This is significant for poorer communities adjacent to that area to have livelihoods which depend on healthy ecosystems, as it is estimated that over twelve million traps are set every year to hunt wildlife in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR). The CCT and CCC aim to combat this issue in the near future.

A workshop on sexual harassment and response. Image: WildAct

WildAct has also focused on gender inequality by developing workplace safety materials on gender-based violence for women in conservation. They hope to empower local women, leaders, organisations and other members of society to address gender inequality challenges commonly faced by women in research or wildlife conservation sectors.