Vietnam Park Turns Wildlife Protection Into Local Jobs

People who once hunted animals to survive are now protecting them for a living at Ben En National Park in Vietnam.

The park has transformed wildlife conservation into a source of stable income for local families. Former hunters now work as forest rangers, removing deadly snares and monitoring endangered species through camera traps.

The shift is showing real results. A massive WWF-Vietnam survey used 350,000 camera-trap days across 21 forests and found signs of wildlife recovery in areas where communities switched from hunting to conservation work.

In Quang Tri province, a wildlife restoration project launched in Kim Ngan commune with $48,310 in funding. The initiative runs through December 2027 and focuses on restoring animal populations while creating patrol jobs that keep families fed without harming the forest.

The model works because it addresses the root cause. Many families hunted because they had no other way to earn money. Now they receive regular wages for the same forest skills, just protecting animals instead of trapping them.

Ben En isn't alone in this approach. Cat Tien National Park covers nearly 72,000 hectares and employs locals at its Rescue, Conservation and Development Centre, which cares for bears, primates, and other endangered species across 66 hectares.

The Ripple Effect

The success is spreading beyond individual parks. Lam Dong province recently released hundreds of rescued animals back into the wild, a milestone only possible because of increased protection efforts. Ta Dung National Park has maintained similar programs for years, building expertise in wildlife rehabilitation.

This model proves conservation doesn't require choosing between people and nature. When protecting forests becomes more profitable than destroying them, everyone wins.

The camera traps tell the story best. Species that were disappearing are showing up again in areas where communities now earn their living through protection instead of poaching.

Vietnam's forests remain among the world's most biodiverse, and they're getting a fighting chance thanks to people who know them best.

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