As the 2026 Huong Pagoda Festival approaches, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in partnership with the People’s Committee of Huong Son Commune, Hanoi, has launched a forest-awareness campaign along the main pilgrimage route. Twelve conservation signboards have been installed at key forest entrances and residential areas bordering Huong Son Special-use Forest—a site of both spiritual significance and high biodiversity value. From left to right: Figure 1: Community group on the white-buttocked langur monitoring route in Huong Son forest. Figure 2: During the first month of the Huong Pagoda Festival in 2025, the Huong Son Scenic Landscape Complex welcomed 542,676 visitors. The initiative seeks to inspire visitors and local communities to protect endangered wildlife, respect environmental laws, and recognize the ecological importance of Huong Son’s unique limestone landscape. Since 2021, CCD and its partners have supported conservation efforts in the forest through community-based approaches. A community-based monitoring group has been established to help safeguard the critically endangered Delacour’s langur, conducting regular field observations and reporting changes to local authorities. Conservation messages are also shared through pagoda loudspeakers, radio broadcasts, and information boards placed along pilgrimage routes and nearby communities—ensuring that environmental awareness reaches both residents and the millions of seasonal visitors. Looking ahead, CCD will expand outreach activities in schools and local communities surrounding the forest, strengthening understanding of biodiversity conservation and related legislation. Through these sustained efforts, the organization hopes that each spring visitor will not only seek blessings for the new year, but also contribute to preserving the natural heritage that makes Huong Son a place of both spiritual and ecological harmony.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), adopted in 1992, is a major international treaty that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity through national strategies and coordinated global action. Viet Nam signed the Convention on November 16, 1994. In accordance with the Convention’s reporting obligations, member countries are required to periodically submit national reports describing the measures they have taken to implement the Convention and assessing the effectiveness of those actions in achieving biodiversity conservation goals. From left to right, top to bottom: Figure 1: Workshop held with the participation of representatives from domestic and international agencies, organizations, and the private sector. Figure 2: Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha - Director of CCD presenting the plan for the 7th National Report. Figures 3 & 4: The workshop received many contributions from representatives of various units to ensure the report is accurate, relevant to the context in Vietnam, scientifically sound, and comprehensively covers national and international goals and targets. In 2026, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) will work in partnership with the Vietnam Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), along with other partners, to prepare Viet Nam’s Seventh National Report. The report will review the country’s progress during the 2019–2025 period, with particular attention to how national efforts contribute to the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the implementation of Viet Nam’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of Vietnam (NBSAP). Dr. Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan – Deputy Director of the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, chaired the workshop. While the Government plays a central role in managing, monitoring, and safeguarding biodiversity resources, the achievements made by Viet Nam are also the result of active participation from a wide range of stakeholders. These include national and local government agencies, civil society organizations, research and scientific institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, local communities, and international partners. Promoting and recognizing the contributions of these diverse actors is an important principle of the Convention, helping ensure a comprehensive and inclusive approach to biodiversity conservation. Representatives of these stakeholder groups will also contribute to the information-gathering and drafting process of the Seventh National Report in collaboration with CCD. CCD experts share insights on the targets and indicators of GBF and NBSAP. As a Vietnamese science and technology organization, CCD has been actively contributing to the implementation of national biodiversity goals while also supporting government authorities in monitoring and evaluating Viet Nam’s progress toward its international commitments. Through its role in developing the Seventh National Report, CCD will continue to collaborate closely with relevant institutions to compile information, assess achievements and remaining challenges, and propose strategic directions and solutions for the next phase of biodiversity conservation efforts.

1,057 people. 12 ethnic groups. 16 buffer-zone villages. Over the past year, 1,057 community members (591 men and 466 women) from 12 ethnic groups — Dao, Ê Đê, H’Mông, Kinh, Mường, Nùng, Tày, Thái, Gia Rai, Xơ Đăng, Chứt, and Sán Chỉ — across 16 buffer-zone villages of Ea Sô Nature Reserve and Krông Năng Protection Forest participated in communication and awareness-raising sessions on forest protection and biodiversity conservation organized by Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD). These sessions went beyond knowledge sharing. They deepened local understanding of the critical role and value of forests and natural ecosystems for livelihoods and daily life. More importantly, stories about endemic and endangered flora and fauna species of Đắk Lắk Province ignited a renewed sense of pride and responsibility — a shared commitment to safeguarding forests and protecting nature, not only for today but for generations to come. With the participation of women and men, elders and youth, from diverse ethnic communities whose traditions have long been intertwined with the forest, the sessions fostered an open, inclusive, and respectful atmosphere. They also created meaningful opportunities for dialogue, mutual learning, and cross-community exchange. This shared understanding forms a vital foundation for developing locally grounded, community-based conservation initiatives that are both practical and sustainable. Conservation is not only about protecting forests or planting trees. It is about walking alongside communities to preserve the values that sustain human life and to nurture a thriving planet for all. CCD remains committed to partnering with local communities and stakeholders, integrating scientific knowledge with indigenous wisdom to advance community-based conservation solutions — contributing to the sustainable protection, restoration, and enhancement of biodiversity values.

Located at Vietnam’s westernmost point, Muong Nhe Nature Reserve (Dien Bien Province) lies at a tri-border area and is one of the most biologically significant conservation sites in the Northwestern region of Vietnam. However, the biodiversity values of Muong Nhe continue to face increasing pressures from human activities, including hunting, wildlife snaring, illegal logging, and livestock grazing in natural forests. Muong Nhe is also known as an important habitat of the northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) , one of the most endangered primate species in Vietnam and globally. from left to right: Picture 1: Northern white-cheeked gibbon (male and female) Picture 2: Field survey on the northern white-cheeked gibbon. Picture 3: Community awareness-raising session conducted in Nam San 2 village, Muong Nhe commune. ©CCD/2026 From November 2025 to January 2026, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in collaboration with the Management Board of Muong Nhe Nature Reserve, conducted field surveys to assess the status of the northern white-cheeked gibbon population. In parallel, community outreach and awareness-raising activities were carried out in buffer zone villages to improve local understanding of the species’ critical conservation status and the legal regulations protecting this highly threatened primate. The conservation program was supported by The Rufford Foundation and the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund. Survey results confirmed that Muong Nhe is one of the key sites for the conservation of northern white-cheeked gibbons in Vietnam. In addition, the team recorded the presence of several other endangered wildlife species, further highlighting the reserve’s importance for biodiversity conservation efforts at both regional and national levels. from left to right: Picture 4: Community awareness-raising session conducted in Nam San 2 village, Muong Nhe commune. Picture 5: Local residents engage and share information about the northern white-cheeked gibbon and other wildlife species in Muong Nhe. Picture 6: CCD, in collaboration with Muong Nhe Nature Reserve, installs conservation awareness signboards at local villages and schools. Picture 7: Conservation awareness signboards displayed at primary and secondary schools in Sin Thau commune. Picture 8: Conservation awareness signboards installed in Nam San 2 Village, Muong Nhe Commune. ©CCD/2026 Through village-level communication activities, local communities were provided with information about the northern white-cheeked gibbon, its ecological role, and relevant legal frameworks on forest and wildlife protection, with a particular focus on endangered primate species. The collected data on gibbon populations will serve as a crucial foundation for Muong Nhe Nature Reserve to develop more targeted and effective conservation strategies. Meanwhile, awareness-raising activities also contribute to fostering positive attitudes and strengthening community responsibility in protecting forests and biodiversity. CCD hopes that the close collaboration between CCD, Muong Nhe Nature Reserve, and local communities will help safeguard the area’s unique biodiversity values in the long term.

In December 2025, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in partnership with the Nam Nung Nature Reserve - Lam Dong province, conducted a capacity-building training program for reserve staff and forest rangers. The program focused on enhancing skills in species identification, field surveys, and biodiversity monitoring, contributing directly to biodiversity assessments and supporting the formulation of conservation initiatives and annual scientific research plans at the reserve. To translate knowledge into practice, the training placed strong emphasis on hands-on application of modern survey tools, including cameras, camera traps, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Through practical sessions, participants learned how these technologies can be effectively integrated into wildlife monitoring and forest assessments, enabling early detection of changes and timely responses to emerging conservation challenges. from left to right: Picture 1: Guidance on camera trap setup Picture 2: Guidance on identifying threatened and valuable plant species Picture 3: Guidance on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) ©CCD/2025 Complementing the technical components, CCD worked closely with the Nam Nung Nature Reserve to compile and introduce a Field Identification Guide featuring selected endangered, rare, and threatened plant and animal species found within the protected area. The guide incorporates updated scientific information alongside relevant legal frameworks, providing participants with a practical reference to support day-to-day conservation work and law enforcement activities. The training curriculum was developed based on a targeted assessment of on-the-ground needs of reserve personnel. By combining theoretical instruction, field-based practice, and scenario-based discussions, the course strengthened participants’ capacities in species identification, classification, surveying, and monitoring. It also facilitated initial planning efforts for the conservation of several priority species in the area, including the gaur and the red-cheeked gibbon. from left to right: Picture 4: Field guide for the identification of selected endangered, rare, and threatened flora and fauna species in Nam Nung Picture 5: Practice on camera trap setup ©CCD/2025 Building upon previous training on remote sensing technologies, CCD anticipates that staff at the Nam Nung Nature Reserve will continue to refine forest resource management processes and enhance their overall conservation capacity. These combined efforts are expected to deliver long-term benefits for biodiversity conservation, reinforcing the protection of forest ecosystems and safeguarding endangered and rare wildlife species in the Nam Nung Nature Reserve.

The red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus) and the grey-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix cinerea) are among Southeast Asia’s most threatened primate species, found primarily in forest ecosystems along the Annamite Range and extending into Vietnam’s Central Highlands. Chu Mom Ray National Park (Quang Ngai Province) is one of the rare protected areas where both species have been recorded. Despite this significance, conservation efforts focusing specifically on these douc langurs have, for many years, remained limited. from left to right Picture 1: Installation of communication signboards at the Rong house in Sa Thay commune. Picture 2: Installation of communication signboards at the Rong house in Ro Koi commune. Picture 3: Installation of communication signboards at the Rong house in Mo Rai commune. ©CCD/2026 As populations of both red-shanked and grey-shanked douc langurs continue to decline, with hunting, snaring, and wildlife exploitation posing persistent threats, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in partnership with Chu Mom Ray National Park, has stepped up conservation action since late 2025. Key activities include the installation of educational information boards and the distribution of T-shirts bearing douc conservation messages in residential communities located within the Park’s core zone. By integrating conservation messages into everyday communal spaces, the initiative seeks to raise awareness of the ecological importance of these species, strengthen understanding of relevant wildlife protection laws, and encourage local communities to take pride in the rich biodiversity of Chu Mom Ray National Park. These efforts strongly reflect the core values supported by the The Rufford Foundation, the project’s donor and long-standing partner. from left to right Picture 4: Gifting T-shirts with douc langurs conservation message to the villagers. Picture 5: For ethnic groups in the Central Highlands, the rong house lies at the heart of community gatherings, cultural traditions, and spiritual life. ©CCD/2026 Alongside awareness-raising activities, CCD has conducted—and continues to undertake—systematic field surveys and monitoring to improve knowledge of population status, ecological traits, and habitat changes affecting the two douc species. The data collected will be shared with Chu Mom Ray National Park to inform adaptive management and support the development of effective, long-term conservation strategies. Further conservation activities for douc langurs at Chu Mom Ray National Park will be implemented in the coming period—stay tuned for updates from CCD.

In December 2025, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in collaboration with the Management Board of Nam Nung Nature Reserve, organized a training course titled “Application of Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing Software in Forest Resource Management.” The activity aimed to enhance technological application capacity for staff engaged in forest protection and management at Nam Nung Nature Reserve. from left to right: Picture 1: Guiding on how to collect field data Picture 2: Guiding on how to process the collected data ©CCD/2025 During the training, staff from the Management Board and forest protection stations were instructed on using GPS and mobile devices for field data collection; applying Geographic Information System (GIS) softwares e.g MapInfo and QGIS to manage and update forest resource databases; practicing with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to analyze forest conditions, monitor resource changes, and support forest fire control efforts. Based on the practical training needs of Nam Nung Nature Reserve, the course was designed with a strong application-oriented approach. It focused on hands-on operation, on-site implementation, and addressing common challenges encountered in remote sensing, spatial data management, and forest patrol reporting. from left to right Picture 3: Guiding on how to use QGIS Picture 4: Trainees exchange ideas and engage in discussions ©CCD/2025 Through this activity, CCD continues to affirm its role as a close partner to national parks and nature reserves in strengthening capacity for biodiversity monitoring and forest resource management. The integration of advanced technologies not only improves the accuracy and effectiveness of management practices, but also contributes to data systematization and enhances the ability to respond promptly to environmental and resource-related changes in the area.

Over the years, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) has implemented numerous projects to conserve rare and precious wildlife species in Hanoi. Among these, communication activities aimed at raising public awareness about reducing wildlife product consumption and protecting biodiversity have been a regular focus. In December, CCD collaborated with the Hanoi Forest Protection Department and the People's Committee of Phuc Thọ Commune to organize a communication event for bear protection and conservation in Phuc Tho – recognized as the country's largest hotspot for bear bile farming. from left to right Picture 1: A representative from the Hanoi Forest Protection Department speaking at the communication event. Picture 2: Traditional Medicine Doctor Tran Thi Toi introducing herbal plant species as alternatives to bear bile to the local people. ©CCD/2025 Bears are wild, endangered, and rare animals prioritized for legal protection. However, the extraction, transportation, and trade of bear bile and related products remain complex and difficult to control, persisting for many years and leading to a serious decline in Vietnam's wild bear populations. Currently, 71 Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) are still kept in captivity across 16 private facilities in Phuc Tho commune. Although this number has decreased significantly compared to the past, the situation continues to pose challenges for the goal of completely ending bear bile farming. Picture 3-4: Local residents of Phuc Tho Commune (Hanoi) participating in the workshop ©CCD/2025 The communication activity was organized to disseminate legal regulations on wildlife management and emphasize the legal consequences of bear bile trafficking. Additionally, the program introduced herbal alternatives that are safe and effective substitutes for bear bile, calling on the community to reject wildlife products. The event also encouraged and motivated farm owners to voluntarily transfer their remaining bears to rescue centers. CCD hopes that through awareness-raising activities and decisive action from authorities and stakeholders, no more bears will have to endure the lingering pain of bile extraction, allowing them to live safely and freely in their natural state.

Recently, Jack Tordoff, Managing Director of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), visited the Huong Son Special-use Forest in Hanoi, where Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in collaboration with its partners, is implementing a Community-based Monitoring Project for the Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri) and the limestone forest ecosystem. The project is financially supported by CEPF. During the morning field visit, despite dense fog, the delegation was fortunate to observe at least three individual Delacour’s langurs. Along the patrol routes, the donor was introduced to the limestone forest ecosystem of Huong Son and highlighted endangered wildlife species recorded during regular forest patrols. CCD’s work in Huong Son since 2021 has been highly appreciated by the donor for contributing to increased resilience of the Delacour’s langur population as well as other wildlife species. Mr. Jack Tordoff also acknowledged the dedicated efforts of CCD, the community monitoring team, local authorities, and Huong Son commune police in mitigating threats to the forest ecosystem - particularly through the confiscation and removal of extensive bird-trapping net systems surrounding the Huong Son Special-use Forest. Aside from these achievements, CCD is facing long-standing challenges in the area, including: a large forest area (approximately 2,500 hectares) that is not yet covered by community monitoring, where another langur group is known to inhabit; increased hunting and wildlife trapping pressure during the annual Huong Pagoda festival season; and severe declines in certain wildlife populations to levels that hinder natural recovery, posing significant impacts on the forest ecosystem as a whole, including the Delacour’s langur. Within the framework of the project, CCD and its partners will organize environmental education and awareness-raising activities on biodiversity conservation and relevant legal regulations in schools and local communities surrounding the Huong Son Special-use Forest. These activities aim to enhance public understanding of nature’s values and the benefits provided by healthy ecosystems, thereby contributing to collective efforts to combat forest degradation and loss, climate change, natural disasters, and disease risks in Huong Son and across Vietnam.

In early December 2025, the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) accompanied lecturers and students from the College of Alice & Peter Tan - CAPT (National University of Singapore) to study the sustainability of community-based tourism models in Pung Luong commune (Lao Cai province) and Ngoc Chien commune (Son La province). During the 5-day journey, the CAPT lecturers and student interacted with homestay representatives, tourism cooperatives, traditional craftsmen, and community leaders such as village heads and elders, thereby exploring the community from various perspectives within the lives of the H'Mong people in Lao Cai and the Thai people in Son La. The meetings helped the students understand the community through the way they collaborate to preserve traditional crafts, such as making costumes and "banh day" (sticky rice cakes); and explore how the H'Mong and Thai people organize their lives through beliefs, architecture, rituals, customs, agricultural farming, and community-based tourism right in their own homes. Through this approach, the issues of nature-culture conservation and economic development - improving quality of life - were clearly demonstrated. The households participating in community tourism provided the young people from CAPT with a warm welcome and enthusiastic exchanges, helping them understand more about community cohesion as well as sustainability within a community working together in tourism. The trip also evoked many reflections and emotions for CAPT members regarding the harmony between conservation and development, in the context of the rapidly changing socio-economic landscape in Vietnam specifically and Southeast Asia in general. We hope CCD has provided ample material for the themes CAPT is interested in. Wishing you many more new discoveries on your chosen path! CCD has been conducting numerous research and cultural experience trips in mountainous provinces with the goal of promoting the beauty of Vietnam to international friends, while directly supporting households and cooperatives implementing community-based tourism models in these localities. We believe that tapping into and interpreting indigenous cultural and natural elements with understanding and respect is the appropriate and sustainable direction for ethnic minority communities in local tourism development. For more details or to discuss the design of nature-cultural experiences in Vietnam, please contact: info@ccd.org.vn

On December 9, 2025, the Management Board of the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve (BR) collaborated with the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) to organize a 10-year review workshop. The purpose was to prepare the Second 10-Year Periodic Review Report (2017–2027) and the Action Plan for 2027–2037 for submission to UNESCO. The workshop brought together nearly 150 delegates, including leaders from Nghe An province, the Vietnam Man and the Biosphere (MAB) National Committee, relevant departments and agencies, local authorities from buffer zone communes, and the Management Boards of core area national parks and protected areas. Recognized by UNESCO on September 18, 2007, the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve (BR) is the 6th BR of Vietnam. In 2025, CCD and the Management Board conducted a participatory assessment across the core area, buffer zone, and transition area. Key consultations were held with the core area protected area management boards, local communities, and numerous biodiversity and cultural experts. The aggregated and analyzed data indicates that the Biosphere Reserve effectively implemented its three functions (conservation - development - logistic support) during the 2017–2027 period. Furthermore, the assessment highlighted the strengths of inter-sectoral coordination, community participation, and areas needing improvement for the next phase. Over the past years, CCD has effectively collaborated with local authorities to prepare 10-year periodic reports for several other Biosphere Reserves in Vietnam, including Cu Lao Cham, Dong Nai, Can Gio, Cat Ba, and Red River Delta. These reviews help elevate the BR status, reaffirming the effective coordination between nature conservation and sustainable development, while also providing a basis for refining cooperation mechanisms, resource mobilization, and adaptive management during the 2027–2037 period.

Thai Thuy Wetland Nature Reserve, covering 6,560 hectares, was established in 2019 to conserve the biodiversity values of the coastal wetlands of the Red River Delta. With a mosaic of mangrove forests, tidal flats, and near-shore estuarine waters, the reserve is home to more than 1,000 animal species. Notably, it also provides crucial wintering habitat for several globally threatened migratory bird species. Beyond its biodiversity significance, Thai Thuy holds strong potential for ecotourism development thanks to the distinctive coastal culture of local communities and the unique mangrove landscapes of the Red River Delta. To conserve and promote the values of the Thai Thuy wetlands, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) is supporting the Reserve in developing an ecotourism plan that will create high-quality educational tourism products, help stabilize local livelihoods, and contribute to long-term conservation and sustainable development goals. Guided by a vision of a world where conservation and development coexist in harmony, one of CCD’s key priorities is to support and promote sustainable, responsible ecotourism planning across national parks and protected areas in Viet Nam—helping generate stable revenue to fund management, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity conservation efforts.