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Bac Ha district is located in the northeast of Lao Cai province and is one of the recognized tourist attraction & potential tourism sites in Northern mountainous area. In the past ten years, with the advantages of cool climatic condition, natural landscape and unique culture, Bac Ha tourism has constantly developed and recognized by the public. Bac Ha protection forest is located on the administrative boundaries of 18 communes and towns with an area of 15,662.04 ha of forest and forestry land. In Bac Ha protection forest, there are various areas with magnificent landscapes, unique forests which can be proposed as new eco-tourism destinations such as Cave of Angels (Hang Tien), the Chay River, the ancient forest, Mount of the Queen (Nữ Hoàng Peak). In addition to those valuable tourist sites, there are other existing famous tourist attractions in Bac Ha district that will offer tourist a wide variety of choice when they visit the district. (from left to right)Picture 1: A view from the Mount of the Queen (©CCD/2023)Picture 2: Part of the Chay River, a potential tourism site (©CCD/2023) Besides the cultural values, Bac Ha protection forest also has diverse natural values that can be used as new tourist attractions such as the ancient forest where there are hundreds of giant ironwood with more than 3m in diameter and many other iconic species of flora and fauna. With the beautiful forest habitats, between cool climates and fresh air and cultural features, the unique architecture ethnic minority communities villages once would be well-exploited will greatly support a flourishing tourism of the Bac Ha district. (from left to right)Picture 3: Meeting with Bac Ha protection forest and Bac Ha District tourism authority (©CCD/2023)Picture 4: Discussion community to explore ecotourism potentials (©CCD/2023) The Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) is collaborating with Bac Ha protection forest to analyze the current tourism status and identify potentials for planning a new ecotourism strategy in Bac Ha protection forest. The plan will aim to boost the community-based and ecotourism potentials in the protection forest. The ecotourism will promote the public awareness on biodiversity values and offering local community new livelihood, and improving the living standards of local people, especially ethnic minority communities. With its mission, CCD will continue to assist protected areas in Vietnam, especially in Bac Ha protection forest to plan and advance eco-tourism activities more sustainably and responsibly; more importantly ensuring the harmony between conservation and development and promoting a strong sense of responsibility and the human-nature connection.

Xuan Lien Nature Reserve (NR) is located at the upstream of the Chu river, northwest of Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. This area is well known for its high biodiversity and also inhabitant of many endemic, endangered faunas and floras, including Nomascus leucogenys, Trachypithecus phayrei, Muntiacus rooseveltorum, Cunninghamia konishii, Cinnamomum balansae, etc. and many other rare faunas and floras. Xuan Lien NR has the highest biodiversity value in northern Vietnam, however, it has only 33 official officers including administrative and forest protection officers. Those officers have to manage a large area of forest which is one of the difficulties of not only Xuan Lien but also others special use and protection forest management boards, therefore, it affects efficiency of forest, forest biodiversity monitoring activities, and violation prevention, etc. To support special use and protection forest management board in monitoring forest, and forest biodiversity, and also standardizing the patrol and reporting system, SMART and Global Forest Watch (GFW) were applied for Xuan Lien NR, Thuong Xuan Protection Forest Management Board (Thuong Xuan PFMB), and community patrol teams of those management boards. Those applications can enhance not only the quality of the patrol activities, collecting, and managing information, but also synchronize, and unify data among forest rangers, forest protection officers, and community patrol teams. Therefore, the management planning activities of stations, community patrol teams as well as managing data and writing reports become easier and more efficient. from left to right:Picture 1: Training on implementation and utilization of SMART and GFW app for Thuong Xuan Protection Forest Management BoardPicture 2: Training on implementation and utilization of SMART and GFW app for community patrol teams in communes in the buffer zone of Xuan Lien Nature Reserve(©CCD/2023) Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) cooperated with Xuan Lien NR and Thuong Xuan PFMB to organize training sessions on using SMART and introducing the GFW platform in March and April 2023. The participants included community patrol teams from 7 communes located in the buffer zone of Xuan Lien NR, and staff from 6 forest management and protection stations under the Thuong Xuan PFMB. CCD also supports Xuan Lien NR and Thuong Xuan PFMB to build and finalize the standard SMART data model. Picture 3: Trainings promote the coherence between operation of the digital tools and practical utilization. (©CCD/2023) To increase the proficiency of the implementation, CCD will continue to repeat training activities, support the management boards to update data models, reports forms and also participate in periodic patrols with patrol teams to guide them collecting data in the correct procedure. Digitization and application of technology significantly improve forest management activities, and reporting systems, it also supports monitoring and managing patrol teams while they are on the field. CCD will continue to support NRs, and special use forest management boards in Thanh Hoa province and all over the country to enhance management activities, effectively apply patrolling and monitoring tools, and promote the participation of communities in protecting forest and biodiversity.

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution are environmental crises which share close connections and directly impact human health, especially increasing chances of the pandemic outbreak. Among the perplexity of environmental crises, humans are the cause and victim. To address the challenges, strong and collaborative measures are needed among the government, environment protection organizations, business and private sector as well as the public. To effectively restore the key ecosystems, forests, wild areas, and species, business and private sector are the important part of protection forces by contributing financially and investing in environment management, developing new technologies and practices available to support environment protection efforts. Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha - Director of CCD discuss Vietnam’s environment issues with students of Osnabrück University of Applied Science(©CCD/2023) Recognizing the important of the social engaging in environment protection, in May, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) collaborated with Goethe Institut Hanoi and Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences – Germany to convene a workshop on promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) and business engagement on environment issues in Vietnam and the planet as a whole. Students from Osnabrück discuss the perplexity of Vietnam and Germany’s environment issues, thus proposing solutions and initiatives to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR) of the private sector and business companies.(©CCD/2023) The workshop was not only to discuss Vietnam’s environment issues, but to promote engagement between Osnabrück’s students and Vietnamese public, thus promoting the inclusive communication, awareness raising, nurturing solutions and initiatives for the environment protection in Vietnam.

Quang Nam province has a fast-growing tourism industry in a large scale and revenue. World cultural heritages such as Hoi An Ancient town, My Son Temple, the art of Bai Choi, ... and many unique landscapes, craft villages and festivals are the main agents for tourism development in Quang Nam. However, the tourism development in Quang Nam is mainly focus on cultural heritages, Hoi An Ancient town and My Son sanctuary and neglecting promoting other historical values and resources, not to mention the forests and seas have not been harnessed. In particular, Quang Nam is the province with the most forest area in the country, with unique natural landscapes, ecosystems, biodiversity that can make tremendous progress in tourism development, ultimately improve benefits for local communities as well as forest owners. Recognizing the potentials and advantages of Quang Nam, Center for Nature Conservation of and Development (CCD) cooperated with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) to develop ecotourism strategy in a new phase for Song Thanh National Park, Elephant Species & Habitat Conservation Area. Ecotourism development projects will provide strategic orientations for tourism development in these two protected area, while promoting landscapes and biodiversity. Thus, public awareness and responsibility will be enhanced, contributing to the protection of nature and biodiversity.

Implementation time: 2022 - 2023 Partner: Say Cheese Event and Media Co., Ltd Dong Thap province is pertaining to the Mekong Delta with many advantages in tourism development and famous as a eco-cultural destination. Dong Thap has unique tourism products and its tourism images associated with key agricultural products such as lotus, rice cultivation,... Tourism development in Dong Thap has initial success, resonating and imprinted in the experience of domestic and international tourists. Tourism has made an important contribution to creating jobs, improving the economic, cultural and social life of the province. However, under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dong Thap’s tourism faced difficulties and challenges in terms of issues such as ineffective investment, along with the degradation of tourism infrastructure, tourism products entering the recession period, ... Acknowledging the requirements in tourism development of Dong Thap province in the upcoming era, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) in collaboration with Say Cheese Event and Media Co., Ltd developed the plan: "Tourism development and image enhancement for Dong Thap province in 2021-2025 period". The plan’s goals are to successfully develop specific tourism products associated with harnessing potential values and advantages of tourism resources in Dong Thap province, ultimately increase visitors, revenue, routes, develop human resource, promotion, digital transformation, tourism infrastructure,...

Mangrove forests are critical ecosystems to coastal areas with high biodiversity value, provide coastal protection, and environmental services. Coastal areas adjacent to mangrove forests are protected from hazardous weather such as storms, flood, erosion, etc. Mangrove forests form resting, wintering, feeding, and nesting grounds for birds, aquatic species, and invertebrates. Despite its immense values to the environment, mangrove forests are degraded by anthropogenic impacts and invasive species. Ha Tinh province has mangrove forests which are dispersing along estuaries, establishing a protection belt for coastal areas. Unfortunately, the expansion of aquaculture farms and invasion of pests have damaged a large area of mangrove forests in the past 10 years. Beginning in 2022, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) has supported the Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh province to implement the plan of studying integrated solutions to control crustaceans harmful to mangrove forests. The plan aims to manage and restore the decimated and protecting planted mangrove areas. from left to right:Picture 1: CCD's team is surveying the mangrove forest in Thach Mon commune, Ha Tinh provincePicture 2: Representatives from Department of Science and Technology of Ha Tinh province at the planted mangrove site CCD’s team conducted surveys and identified Sphaeroma terebrans – a crustacean species belonging to the Sphaeromatidae family, Isopoda order, Malacostraca class as one of the main agents of the mass death of mangroves. The crustacean colonizes the internal, thereby hollowing out and breaking trunks. from left to right:Picture 3: A Kandelia candel 's trunk is hollowed out by the colonization of Sphaeroma terebrans Picture 4: A matured Sphaeroma terebrans With its mission and an experienced team, CCD will continue to support Ha Tinh province and other localities to restore and develop mangrove forests, thus increasing the value of ecosystem services, coastal protection, and better adaptation to climate change.

Quang Nam is one of the fastest-growing tourism place in Vietnam. Having the advantage of the world cultural heritage sites such as Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Temple Area, Bai Choi art, and a great number of distinctive landscapes, artisan villages, and traditional festivals have been the main drivers for tourism growth in Quang Nam province. However, tourism development in Quang Nam has been focusing profoundly on the cultural heritage sites, other important tourism value such as the natural sceneries, rural and mountainous landscape has not been used to promote and enrich the tourism experiences activity yet. Nature landscape, forest amenities and biodiversity values in the province’s forests and the ocean will be the additional resources that help to boost the province tourism industry, create additional development prospects, and improve benefits for both local communities and forest owners. default Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area To promote green tourism and responsible-tourism development in Quang Nam’s biodiversity richness areas, where home to many ethnic minorities groups with dynamic and unique cultures, the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam) to new develop eco-tourism plan for Song Thanh National Park and the Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area. These ecotourism development plans will be strategic master piece that guide the expansion of tourist development in these two protected areas, promote education and and heighten the understanding of the public toward the nature, biodiversity and threatened species. Song Thanh National Park With its mission, CCD will continue to assist protected areas in Vietnam, especially in Quang Nam province in planning and advancing ecotourism activities more sustainably and responsibly to ensure the harmony between conservation and development and promoting a strong sense of responsibility and the human-nature connection.

Forest rangers are the critical force in forest inspection, monitoring, and protection. To comprehensively perform the duty, forest rangers have to organize communication campaigns and maintain related activities to raise the awareness and promote forest and biodiversity protection behaviors for local communities. Environmental education and communication should be regularly and sustainably organized, therefore adaptability and creativity are crucial in promoting evironmental protection for the people. However, forestry education and training are inordinately focused, despite the benefit of environmental education and communication, hence the mediocre effectiveness of the task. (From left to right)Picture 1: Group's representatives are presenting analysis on the status of environmental education and communication in Cat Tien National ParkPicture 2: CCD's team is providing assessments and recommendations on analysis results (Photo credit: CCD) To enhance the environmental education and communication, in January 2023, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) cooperated with Cat Tien National Park in organizing 02 training courses for Cat Tien’s staffs and rangers. The courses prioritize providing basic understanding, introducing skills and methods in effective communication as well as strategy, planning for communication events. Not only understood and equipped with skills, the training supported Cat Tien’s staffs and rangers to actively develop and implement communication campaigns, propagating activities and community approachment in the most efficient and practical way. (from left to right)Picture 3: CCD's team is facilitating the discussion progressPicture 4: Cat Tien's staffs and rangers are developing environmental education and communication plans on wild animals in the Park With the mission to raise awareness, capacity and responsibility for stakeholders, plus years of experience in implementing environmental education and communication across the country, CCD cooperates with national parks and nature reserves to promote effective solutions in forest protection and biodiversity conservation. By organizing training courses for forestry staffs and facilitating environmental education and communication processes, CCD and partners advance awareness, responsibility for the public, ultimately gather cooperations in nature and biodiversity conservation. (from left to right)Picture 5: Cat Tien's staffs and rangers are planning specific environmental education and communication events for local communitiesPicture 6: Cat Tien's staffs and rangers are planning environmental education and communication activities in local community meetings

On February 13, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) held a ceremony in Hanoi for granting fund from Species Conservation Fund (SCF) to three civil society organizations, including Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), People and Nature Reconciliation (PanNature), Green Vietnam Biodiversity Conservation Center (GreenViet) Representatives from Management Board for Forestry Projects and World Wide Fund for Nature in Viet Nam (WWF Vietnam) are awarding grants for CSO's representatives CCD was awarded a grant for the project of Northern white-cheeked gibbons (Nomascus leucogenys) conservation at Vu Quang National Park, Ha Tinh province. By cooperating with Vu Quang National Park, the project aims to update the inventory of Northern white-cheeked gibbons in the Park, thus recommending effective management and restoration of the aforementioned Critically Endangered primate. In addition, the project will advance the capacity of Vu Quang’s staffs, rangers, and community groups in terms of primates monitoring and conservation skills; raising awareness for local communities, especially pupils of biodiversity and critical wild animals in the area. (from left to right)1. A male Northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) 2. A female Northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) and her child(Photos credit: CCD) The project is expected to be the foundation for a long-term cooperation and technical support of CCD and Vu Quang National Park to effectively carry out the study, monitoring and restoration of endangered wild animals. (from left to right)1. Overview of the ceremony2. Delegates at the ceremony VTV1, Nhan Dan online newspaper, Tai nguyen va Moi truong online newspaper, etc., and other official media aired and published the events with more details of PanNature and GreenViet’s projects, SFC and Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Vietnam (VFBC). VTV1 (the event aired at 10:50 of the news): https://vtv.vn/video/thoi-su-23h-vtv1-13-02-2023-604451.htm?fbclid=IwAR2XH-HH45OK6hKJwSMFffkQk81-zN2foXZGbvmhZllzpU2D_wNE2G0xU5s Nhan Dan online newspaper: https://nhandan.vn/ba-to-chuc-dau-tien-tai-viet-nam-nhan-tai-tro-tu-quy-bao-ton-loai-post738627.html?fbclid=IwAR3TwuIr8qj4b3j4VQPwc9w9UOJPUGlph-tD2FhxSOh_MolOSoFof_0DQJw Tai Nguyen va Moi Truong online newspaper: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/3-to-chuc-dau-tien-nhan-ho-tro-tu-quy-bao-ton-loai-350539.html

Resulting from centuries of topographic evolution, Hanoi city has high biodiversity value and habitats for many endangered and endemic wildlife species. Stretching across 120 kilometers, lying on the area of 17 districts and towns, Red river’s part within Hanoi has many alluvial plains and islets compared to adjacent areas. The alluvial plains and islets are resting, wintering, feeding, and nesting grounds of wild birds. Many species are at globally high endangered levels, including birds in the East Asian – Australasian Flyway. Alluvial plains and islets at Hong Ha ward, Dan Phuong district (Photo credit: CCD) From 2021 to 2022, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) cooperated with Green Field Consulting and Development Co., Ltd (GFD), financially supported by Hanoi Forest Protection Division in studying the inventory of birds, identifying threats to recommend management solutions, protect and restore the habitat for birds at alluvial plains and islets in Hanoi. The study recorded at least 232 species of bird, including 192 migratory species, among them are Critically Endangered specie such as Yellow-breasted bunting (Emberiza aureola) (from left to right)Picture 1: European Starling ( Sturnus vulgaris )Picture 2: Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) Picture 3: Red avadavat (Amandava amandava) (Photo credit: CCD) After 02 years of study, the inventory of birds in Hanoi is updated with European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea). The study provided practical recommendations to protect wild birds, restoring habitat at sites, including communication campaigns to raising awareness and responsibility for the public; organizing experience activities, photo contests; increasing patrols to protect, remove bird nets in the migratory season; establishing protected areas for birds at alluvial plains and islets; planting vegetation and restoring habitats for bird’s sites. The study recorded footages of bird’s behaviors. To introduce the beauty of wild birds in Hanoi, CCD selected and compiled those footages in the video below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67CfosutUX4

The technical meeting took place at Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, Ninh Binh province from January 9 – 10, 2023. This event was held by Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) and Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), with the financial support from Conservation Vietnam fund and Re:Wild to review and update the conservation status of Mammalia in Vietnam and for the publication of Vietnam Red Databook in 2023. The technical meeting gatherd the most experienced, dedicated specialists, experts, and delegates from institutes, universities, rescue centers, governmental department, such as Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW), Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC), Green Viet, University of Science, Hue University, Duy Tan University, Southern Institute of Ecology, Institute of Tropical Biology, Department of Special-use forest and Protection forest management (DOPAM). In regards to the environmental degradation, increasing pressure for wildlife populations and natural habitats, many species are pushed to the brink of extinction. For the effective and prompt conservation, management of threatened species in Vietnam, it is necessarily to review and update the 2007 version of Vietnam’s Red Databook to 2023 versions. (from left to right)Picture 1: Overview of the meeting;Picture 2: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Truong - Diretor of the Vietnam's Red Databook project shared the review criteria;Picture 3: Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha proposed an effective review for over 100 species of Mammalia In the Vietnam Red Book 2007, there are 418 species assessed and classified with different threat levels from DD (Data Deficient), Lower Risk (LR), Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), Critically Endangered (CR), Extinct in the Wilderness (EW), Extinct (EX). On two days of the technical meeting, more than 100 terrestrial species have been updated and classified, many of which have been upgraded to Endangered and Critically Endangered (CR) compared to the 2007 version of Vietnam’s Red Databook. The change in conservation classification shows that the impacts on nature and wildlife species have not decreased. For many species, threats are on the rise. (from left to right)Picture 1: Dr. Ha Thang Long shared at the meeting;Picture 2: Ms. Andie Ang, IUCN species conservation expert at the meeting The updated version of Vietnam’s Red Databook cautions the degradation of biodiversity in Vietnam, especially the fauna. The threatened levels are scientific basis for review and update the list of theatened wild animals in legislative documents; management of resources for the effective conservation and law enforcement, mitigating the negative impact on the thrive of wildife in Vietnam, thus the restoration. CCD will continue to cooperate with research institutes, conservation partners and governmental bodies to carry out studies, implementing conservation and restoration plans for wildlife in Vietnam.

On December 30, 2022, People’s Committee of Dien Bien issued the Dien Bien tourism development plan until 2025, vision to 2030. The plan set tourism to be the most profitable sector for Dien Bien, thus stimulating and restructuring the economy of the province. The plan prioritizes three advantages of tourism in Dien Bien province: (i) Historical-spiritual tourism; (ii) cultural tourism and exploration of natural landscapes; (iii) Leisure, entertaining and health care tourism. (from left to right)Picture 1: Overview of the meetingPicture 2: Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung, Chairman of Dien Bien Phu City shared the city's tourism development plan The complement of utilizing tourism and rapidly development of infrastructure, Dien Bien province is expected to be the transportation center of northwestern region, connecting northern Laos, Van Nam province (China) in aviation and road freight. (From left to right)Picture 1: Mr. Le Thanh Do, Chairman of Dien Bien People's Committee is coordinating the meetingPicture 2: Dr. Nguyen Manh Ha - Director of CCD is presenting the PlanPicture 3: Mr. Nguyen Minh Phu, Head of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Dien Bien province shared the implementation process and the overview of the Plan Along with developing tourism plan for Dien Bien province, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) has supported localities, protected areas, forest owners, companies in tourism development, considering the sustainable, profitable and acknowledgable of every stakeholders in the harmony of nature, culture, and local communities, especially for ethnic minorities.