Our Mission

Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV) was established in 2000 as Vietnam’s first non-governmental organization focused on conservation of nature and the environment through education.  Our mission is to foster greater understanding amongst the Vietnamese public about environmental issues of local, national and global significance, ranging from protection of wildlife and natural ecosystems to climate change. We employ creative and innovative strategies to influence attitudes and behavior, not only highlighting the need to protect Vietnam’s rich natural heritage and the living world around us, but also encouraging greater public participation in achieving this important and challenging task.

Our Work

ENV specializes in the following five major program areas:

Training of environmental educators
ENV has carried out more than 30 major training courses on environmental education and communication, helping to develop capacity in teachers, community stakeholder groups and staff from parks and protected areas throughout Vietnam.  ENV’s intensive training courses last from one week to more than a month.  During a typical ENV training course, participants have the opportunity to gain important knowledge and communications skills through a combination of classroom work and practice in local schools and villages.  ENV’s new National Environmental Education Training Center is located at Tam Dao National Park and includes both training facilities and an active community-based awareness program.

Developing and implementing community-based awareness activities
ENV works with local partners to carry out community-based environmental education programs at parks and protected areas.  ENV's awareness programs focus on community stakeholders, such as school children, local residents and park visitors.  Activities are designed to increase awareness of environmental issues ranging from local biodiversity to global climate change, and take a variety of formats specially designed to cater to different target audiences, including Nature Clubs at schools, puppet shows, plays and student visits for young people, and adult-focused awareness events in villages.  A separate range of special activities for park protection forges links and cooperation between local communities and parks.

Combating the illegal trade of wildlife
ENV is recognized as a leader in NGO efforts to address the challenging issue of combating the illegal wildlife trade in Vietnam.   In addition to targeted awareness activities and campaigns on television, public radio, and in newspapers, ENV works closely with journalists to increase the coverage and frequency of reporting on wildlife trade issues.  ENV also produces a range of educational materials including films, posters, school curricula, and special publications encouraging public participation in stopping the illegal wildlife trade. 

In early 2005, ENV established a Wildlife Crimes Unit (WCU) to monitor and track wildlife crimes and assist authorities in enforcing relevant wildlife protection laws.  The WCU operates a national hotline which allows members of the public to report wildlife crimes, anonymously and free of charge. We then track each case through to the end, often assisting with the placement of confiscated wildlife.  These cases are documented on ENV’s wildlife crimes database, which contains the circumstances and outcomes of more than 400 recorded since January 2005. 

Provision of technical assistance and support to field programs
Through the Environmental Education Family Network, ENV provides resources and technical support to environmental educators working at parks and protected areas throughout Vietnam, including graduates from ENV training programs.  In addition to producing ‘Nature and the Environment in the News’, a weekly news bulletin for educators with more than 190 past issues, ENV also distributes educational resources, copies of relevant reports and provides ongoing technical input to support field programs. 

Publication of Green Forest magazine and other educational resources
ENV produces Green Forest, a children's magazine that is distributed nationally through the Environmental Education Family Network.  Two issues of Green Forest are produced each year.   Each issue focuses on an environmental topic and includes student contributions from around the country.  In addition to the magazine, ENV produces a range of other educational resources that support awareness programs and activities, including environmental education curriculum, plays and puppet shows, illustrated stories, films, and posters.

For further information, please contact us:

Education for Nature - Vietnam
N5. IF1, lane 192 Thai Thinh street,
Dong Da District, Ha Noi
Tel/Fax: (84 4) 514-8850
PO Box 222, Hanoi
E-mail: env@fpt.vn