On the 3^rd – 4^th and 9^th – 10^th of November 2020, two two-day training workshops were held in collaboration between the ATP/IMC, Region IV Forest Protection Department (FPD), Phu Yen Department of Natural Resources and Environment (DoNRE), and Biodiversity Conservation Agency (BCA) of Vietnam Environment Administration at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. The two sessions were delivered for five Central Highland provinces (Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong) collectively and for Phu Yen province, central Vietnam.

We were pleased to be joined by 85 officers from provincial FPD, DoNRE, the Border Guard, Environmental Police, Customs, Nature Reserves and National Parks in this special training course. The participants spent a busy two days working with BCA and ATP/IMC’s skilled conservation professionals and learning about the Vietnam National Turtle Action Plan as well as the ‘Asian Turtle Crisis’ and priorities for turtle conservation in the region. Much of the workshop was dedicated to giving the attendees essential skills to aid Vietnam’s conservation efforts such as identification of endangered and protected turtle species (including tortoises, freshwater turtles, and sea turtles and the protected status of different species. Additional practical training was given on how to rescue and provide short term care for animals confiscated from the trade to reduce the stress and increase the survival chances for confiscated tortoises and freshwater turtles while they are awaiting transfer to dedicated rescue centres or release back into the wild.

We are grateful to the attending officers for participating enthusiastically. This training is dependent on our generous donors and we would like to especially thank the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), IUCN Vietnam, and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (CMZ).

29^th December 2020
Press release by: Ha Hoang – ATP/IMC

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