The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tri; Ms. Phan Viet Nga, Deputy Director of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity (Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment); representatives of the Thai Embassy in Vietnam, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, domestic and foreign experts and businesses.

Leaders of Dong Thap province include Secretary of the Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee - Mr. Le Quoc Phong; Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee – Mr. Phan Van Thang, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee – Mr. Pham Thien Nghia, former provincial leaders through periods, and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee – Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Thien.

The Sarus Crane dance performance opened the program announcing the Project

The Sarus Crane species is important, according to Pham Thien Nghia, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee. Since ancient times, this bird has served as a symbol of culture and spirituality in people's spiritual lives, as well as an indicator of a clean environment and the restoration of natural biological qualities. The Sarus Crane's food source and living conditions have been impacted by the altered Tram Chim ecology, which has occurred for a variety of causes.

To fulfill the dream of "Bring the Sarus Cranes back," the province of Dong Thap has created and authorized the "Project for Conservation and Development of Sarus Cranes in Tram Chim National Park for the period 2022-2032," which was just approved. In order to assist Dong Thap province in developing the project, we have recently gotten the assistance and collaboration of motivated organizations and individuals, both domestically and internationally, based on exchanging experiences and success stories from the conservation program of the Kingdom of Thailand.

Chairman of the People’s Committee giving speech at the program

The Provincial People's Committee Chairman also stated that the project has so far carried out a number of specific actions, such as signing a Memorandum of Understanding and Memorandum of Agreement on activities with Thailand's partners and other parties; implementing various ecosystem restoration programs in Tram Chim National Park; deploying an ecological rice farming model towards organic agriculture around the buffer zone; constructing barn facilities to support crane craising; and conducting technical training for the staff and communication activities.

Dong Thap province has benefited greatly from government and specialized units in Thailand, such as the Zoological Parks Organization of Thailand (ZPOT), to accomplish the aforementioned outcomes in Sarus Crane conservation. Vietnam has benefited immensely from the assistance of Thai organizations in the process of getting ready to carry out the project because of their extensive experience and understanding in the conservation and development of this unique species. The International Crane Foundation and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) also play a role in this. They actively collaborate to create a network for the conservation and advancement of Sarus Cranes in addition to carrying out conservation initiatives.

Dr. Tran Triet sharing the Sarus Crane Conservation

According to Dr. Tran Triet, Director of the International Crane Foundation's Southeast Asia Program, the organization has been connected to cranes and Tram Chim for over 30 years. A new chapter in the challenging past and the future protection and development of Sarus Cranes in Tram Chim is being opened by today's event, which marks a significant turning point. The International Crane Foundation is determined to support Dong Thap province in carrying out this important initiative going forward.

In order to foster collaboration in transporting Sarus Cranes to Dong Thap for the purposes of conservation, biodiversity preservation, and the livelihoods of those living in the buffer zone, C.P. Vietnam Livestock Joint Stock Company serves as a link between Dong Thap and friendly units in Thailand.

The vice president of C.P. Vietnam Livestock Joint Stock Company, Mr. Montri Suwanposri, said he was proud to have accompanied and assisted Dong Thap in carrying out several tasks during the previous two years in the effort to bring the sarus cranes back. In addition to working together in many other areas to sustainably preserve the ecology and culture between the two nations, Mr. Montri Suwanposri expects to welcome the first Sarus Cranes to be moved from Korat Zoo (Thailand) to Tram Chim National Park soon.

In addition to thanking five units that collaborated and offered technical assistance to Dong Thap province in carrying out the project, the Provincial People's Committee also announced and thanked eleven businesses that sponsored the project on the conservation and development of Sarus Cranes in Tram Chim National Park for the years 2022–2032.

Provincial Party Secretary Le Quoc Phong and Provincial People's Committee Chairman – Mr. Pham Thien Nghia presenting gifts to thank sponsors

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tri, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasized that the conservation of the Sarus Crane is not only a task to preserve a rare species but also a responsibility to preserve our living environment. He committed to working closely with local communities, scientists, the international community, and everyone else to successfully implement solutions to conserve and sustainably develop this rare species.

Delegates perform the ceremony to launch the Project

Cam Tien

Translated by Gia Vi