The community plays a crucial role in sustainable biodiversity conservation.

The Hue Forum emphasized the importance of the community in biodiversity conservation, strongly spreading the message that nature conservation is the responsibility and right of humankind.

On January 30th, the Hue City Department of Agriculture and Environment, in collaboration with the Agriculture and Environment Newspaper and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Vietnam), organized the "Media Forum to Mobilize Community and Stakeholder Participation in Sustainable Biodiversity Conservation" within the framework of the MiB-GBF project.

The event brought together nearly 120 delegates, including representatives from state management agencies, local authorities, and community and social organizations directly involved in conservation activities in Hue City and the Central region.

'Media forum mobilizing community and stakeholder participation in sustainable biodiversity conservation'. Photo: Kieu Chi.

In his opening remarks at the forum, Mr. Nguyen Dai Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hue City, emphasized that with a comprehensive action strategy, appropriate investment plans, and the joint efforts of the community, Hue City is gradually moving towards a model of harmonious development between people and nature.

Hue City has accumulated valuable experience in mobilizing community participation, gradually establishing mechanisms that empower, enhance accountability, and ensure that people are the main actors in local conservation models.

Mr. Nguyen Dai Anh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hue City, speaks at the forum. Photo: Van Dinh.

“Today’s forum is a space for us to exchange and share experiences, initiatives, and effective models in raising awareness, changing behavior, and mobilizing the participation of people, businesses, and social organizations in biodiversity conservation. It is also an opportunity to strengthen connections between management agencies, experts, and the media, in order to further spread the message that nature conservation is both a responsibility and a right of humanity,” Mr. Tuan emphasized.

In Hue City, over the past years, the City Forest Protection Department has established numerous community conservation groups, primarily composed of village elders, community leaders, core youth groups, women's associations, and influential individuals in the villages. These groups not only participate in patrolling, monitoring, and removing traps, but also play a key role in communicating, mobilizing, and engaging in dialogue with individual households regarding behaviors related to hunting, trading, and consuming wild animals. The community is increasingly participating actively and having a direct voice in local conservation activities, creating a significant shift from a "cadre speaks - people listen" approach to a "community speaks - community changes" approach.

Delegates attending the forum. Photo: Kieu Chi.

Specifically, the community coordinated the organization of over 60 communication events, trained more than 3,000 local people, nearly 1,400 people participated in in-depth discussions on nature conservation and biodiversity, and mobilized nearly 200 service establishments to sign a commitment to "Say No to Wildlife".

According to Mr. Le Ngoc Tuan, Head of the Hue City Forest Protection Department, when conservation messages are conveyed by people within the community themselves using language, customs, and social prestige, the level of trust is higher, behavioral change is more sustainable, and the grassroots communication network is maintained long-term even after the projects end…

At the forum, delegates contributed and shared experiences in mobilizing community participation in implementing the National Strategy on Biodiversity Conservation, disseminating effective models, and proposing solutions suitable to the conditions of each locality.

Mr. Hoang Xuan Huy - Director of External Relations (WWF-Vietnam) shared his thoughts at the forum. Photo: Kieu Chi.

Mr. Hoang Xuan Huy, Director of External Relations (WWF-Vietnam), affirmed that WWF-Vietnam will continue to work alongside Hue City, promoting community-based conservation initiatives, thereby contributing to the effective implementation of the goals of the National Strategy on Biodiversity and the Global Biodiversity Framework.

"We believe that, through close cooperation and active participation from all parties, biodiversity conservation efforts will become increasingly in-depth and bring lasting value to both people and nature," Mr. Huy shared.

On this occasion, the Organizing Committee recognized and commended 8 outstanding community groups and individuals with remarkable achievements in communication and biodiversity conservation, contributing to promoting active community participation in Hue City and neighboring localities during the 2020-2025 period.

Specifically: Mr. Dinh Dien - Phong Dien Nature Reserve Management Board, Mr. Nguyen Huu Hung - Hue City Forest Protection Department, Mr. Dang Van Nong - Deputy Head of Tan My Community Forest Management Board, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tu - Tuyen Hoa White-necked Langur Voluntary Conservation Team, Mobile Forest Patrol and Protection Team (Sao La Nature Reserve), Mr. Pham Viet Nuoc - A Tin Village Community Communication Group (Hue City), Gray-footed Langur Conservation Pioneer Group (Tam My Tay, Quang Nam ).

The project (MiB-GBF) is fully titled “Promoting community participation in achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework goals and the National Biodiversity Strategy in Quang Tri Province, Hue City and Da Nang City”.

The MiB-GBF project in Hue City was approved by the People's Committee of Hue City under Decision No. 475/QD-UBND dated February 25, 2025. The Department of Agriculture and Environment of Hue City is the project owner, and WWF-Vietnam is the sponsor and implementing organization.

During the period 2025-2027, along with Hue City, the MiB-GBF project will also be implemented in Quang Tri and Da Nang City, aiming to support these three localities and communities in implementing new conservation initiatives and maintaining and promoting existing effective conservation results to contribute to the achievement of the National Strategy on Biodiversity goals and Vietnam's international commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/cong-dong-dong-vai-tro-quan-trong-trong-bao-ton-da-dang-sinh-hoc-ben-vung-d795826.html