The event, which took place from August 22-31, was organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Ly Son Marine Protected Area, and An Binh commune People’s Committee under the “Support for community-based marine turtle nesting beach conservation and by-catch reduction in Vietnam” project. It was financed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Twelve volunteer artists from provinces and cities across the nation turned the moss-covered walls of houses into colourful murals depicting marine life.
Besides encouraging environmental and endangered animal, including marine turtles, protection, the presence of the mural village hopes to improve local livelihoods and reduce the pressure of near-shore fishing and other means of unsustainable exploitation.
The event was previously held in An Binh commune in June with 12 murals sending the message of environmental protection.
Currently, there are nearly 5,000 people subscribing to the fanpage “IUCN Vietnam Sea Turtle Volunteer”, 1,000 of whom have joined activities to protect sea turtles, with the figure is expected to increase in the time ahead.
Last year, artists from the Republic of Korea and 12 volunteers started the colourful murals in Trung Thanh fishing village of Tam Thanh commune in Quang Nam province. Last month, artists from Singapore Technology and Design University, Vietnam’s Fine Arts Association, colleges in Hanoi, and local painters also began a coracle and bamboo boat painting for an exhibition in the village.
