TRAFFIC and Vietnamese government discuss communications strategies to counter wildlife trafficking
Ha Noi, Viet Nam, 27th November 2020—TRAFFIC and Vietnam’s Central Committee for Propaganda and Education (CCPE) held a high-level meeting today to strengthen the country’s communications in addressing the illegal wildlife trade. The event, part of the USAID Wildlife Asia project, welcomed 50 CCPE leaders and senior government communicators from various departments of CCPE and other government agencies.
International and domestic counter-wildlife trafficking (CWT) experts gave presentations at the event on wildlife management, the Vietnamese legal framework and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulations, and CWT communication strategies. The participants also discussed social and behaviour change communications (SBCC) to reduce demand for illegal wildlife products, and best practices in wildlife conservation and communications from Australia and China.
TRAFFIC shared with the participants its SBCC campaigns to protect wildlife, which are evidenced-based and targeted, using effective messengers, messaging, and activities. SBCC can also effectively leverage the credibility and authority of a society’s leaders in influencing changes in people’s behaviours.
“Wildlife protection is critical for the protection of human lives, the conservation of traditional culture, and the sustainable development of the country. With regard to nature, we need to change our attitude from “conquering” to “co-living,” so that wildlife species can be better protected. Aside from social groups and mass media, the participation of leaders is of utmost importance,” said Prof. Phung Huu Phu, permanent vice president of the Central Theoretical Council of the Communist Party of Vietnam and president of the Central Scientific Council of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
The event is the latest in a series of workshops between the USAID Wildlife Asia project and the CCPE. A 20-page Journal on Wildlife Protection for CCPE government communicators and leaders at national, provincial and local levels will also be introduced in this meeting. Meanwhile, specific recommendations from this event will be compiled and disseminated to leaders of CCPE agencies and other government agencies.
About USAID Wildlife Asia
USAID Wildlife Asia works to address wildlife trafficking as a transnational crime. The project works to reduce consumer demand for wildlife parts and products, strengthen law enforcement, enhance legal and political commitment and support regional collaboration to reduce wildlife crime in Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam. USAID Wildlife Asia focuses on four species: elephant, rhinoceros, tiger and pangolin. For more information, please visit www.usaidwildlifeasia.org
