Vietnam develops elephant conservation plan

A male elephant at the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC) in Buon Don district, Dak Lak province. (Photo: VnExpress)

Announced on November 20, the plan includes 33 measures for wild elephants and 21 for captive ones, aiming to conserve and increase the elephant population while fostering harmonious coexistence with humans. Long-term goals involve expanding the protected area network, strengthening anti-poaching measures and promoting eco-tourism to support conservation efforts and local economic development.

For wild elephants, the action plan outlines four primary objectives, including conserving and restoring elephant populations by mitigating threats and improving legal frameworks; ensuring suitable habitats by maintaining and enhancing habitat quality, preventing habitat encroachment and fragmentation; managing human-elephant conflicts by improving local livelihoods and implementing conflict resolution strategies; and enhancing capacity and cooperation mechanisms for effective conservation.

According to the Forest Protection Department, Vietnam’s Asian elephant population has plummeted from around 2,000 in the 1980s to fewer than 200 today.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Quoc Tri emphasized the critical role of elephants as indicators of forest ecosystems. "The existence of elephants is essential for biodiversity conservation and the survival of other species. Protecting elephants represents not only the harmony between humans and elephants but also the balance between humans and nature," he said.

Since 1996, Vietnam has issued multiple national and ministerial-level action plans for elephant conservation, including programs in 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2022./.