USAID Saving Threatened Wildlife

USAID Saving Threatened Wildlife works to help Vietnam control and stop the current and increasingly serious situation of wildlife trafficking. This project seeks to enhance the commitment of leaders within the Government of Vietnam (GVN) at the national and provincial level and engage support from the private sector to reduce demand and consumption of illegal wildlife products. Vietnam remains a global hub of the illegal wildlife trade and is a major destination, origin, and transit country in the illegal trade supply chain. This project focuses on protecting species that are at risk from international trafficking into Vietnam such as African rhinos, African and Asian elephants, and pangolins; as well as animals that are regularly poached and traded domestically or internationally, such as primates, muntjacs, and big cats.

ENGAGE AND DEVELOP COUNTER WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING CHAMPIONS

USAID Saving Threatened Wildlife, with the support of key individuals, fosters collective approaches among GVN entities, local and international organizations, and the business community to address counter wildlife trafficking issues. The project supports multi-sector leadership to implement regional and international commitments to address wildlife trafficking through national and private sector policy actions.

ENHANCE COUNTER WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING LAW ENFORCEMENT

The project will improve access to resources, provide training on how to identify illegal wildlife trade cases, and incentivize and recognize justice and enforcement agencies for counter wildlife trafficking actions. The project enhances interagency collaboration, identifies gaps, and reforms needed, in regulatory frameworks to strengthen understanding and identification of illegal wildlife trade cases.

REDUCE CONSUMER DEMAND FOR ILLEGAL WILDLIFE PRODUCTS

By targeting domestic and international demand for illegal wildlife products through social and behavioral change communications campaigns the project will reduce illegal wildlife consumption in Vietnam and the purchase of illegal wildlife products by local and international tourists.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Commitments from 75 organizations and 25 political leaders to implement policies to counter wildlife trafficking, 2500 staff from enforcement and regulatory agencies trained in counter wildlife trafficking strategy and tactics, increased interagency cooperation, and a 30 percent reduction in consumption of illegal wildlife products.