Catholic community (Bird Project)

School and Community

Background

Vietnam lies within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, which itself makes up the central part of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). The four most threatened species known from the Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Calidris pygmaea), Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor), Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes), Saunders's Gull (Larus saundersi), key species fo-r the EAAF Partnership, all of which are threatened by habitat loss and hunting. 

Our survey in 2021 revealed that bird hunting is widespread across the Red River Delta Biosphere in the northern parts of Vietnam, with mist-net being the most popular hunting equipment used; and hunters mainly being practising Catholics.

Read more Illegal Bird Hunting report HERE

Mist-net - the most popular hunting equipment was used to trap birds


In addition, although in recent years there have been numerous awareness-raising campaigns on wildlife consumption in Vietnam, these campaigns focus on large mammals, i.e. rhinos, elephants, and tigers. Therefore, it is vital to raise awareness of the local people and hunters in these identified hunting hotspots in order to conserve the shorebirds in Vietnam effectively.



Goals

  • Raise awareness of birds and birds’ conservation in the identified hunting hotspot of Ninh Binh Province.

  • Empower religious leaders to directly participate in bird conservation in Vietnam.


Objective

  • Religious leaders are empowered to participate directly in birds’ conservation in Ninh Binh Province, by December 2022.

  • Increase the local community’s understanding of the importance of birds and birds’ conservation, from a religious perspective, and of the Vietnamese government's laws and regulations on bird protection, by February 2023.

Expected Outcomes

  • At least 20,000 local people of Ninh Binh were exposed to the radio broadcast on birds and birds’ conservation;

  • At least 08 faith leaders committed to the project activities;

  • At least 10 religious services include bird conservation messages provided directly to approximately 500 local people and hunters;

  • At least 800 students and parents participate in our education campaign;

  • The number of hunting equipment surveyed in 2022 was reduced by 10% in comparison to the 2021 baseline survey.

Watch recap video about activities in Ninh Binh, by January 2023 HERE