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Rosewood species (Dalbergia spp.) are high economic value and have been the most illegal logging and trading in Vietnam and Indochina region. As a result, many wild populations of rosewood species have been depleted in majorities of localities in Vietnam; few populations remained in specific protected areas are being threatened. Dalbergia cochinchinensis and Dalbergia oliveri are being protected by national and international laws and regulations such as Decree 06/2019/ND-CP dated on 22 January 2019 (Group IIA) and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (Annex II). Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) is implementing a program to support protection and restoration efforts of wild endangered species. CCD priorities the strengthening of research, monitoring and law enforcement to effectively prevent illegal hunting, exploitation and trade of wild plants and animals of Vietnam and other countries being illegally transported and traded in Vietnam. During March and April 2020, CCD conducted a distribution survey and regeneration assessment of D. cochinchinensis and D. oliveri in Dak Uy protected area (special use forest/SUF) of Kon Tum province and Bu Gia Map national park of Binh Phuoc province. Although the survey was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental social distancing policies, the survey team completed the field trips as expected schedule. Findings of D. cochinchinensis in Dak Uy SUF revealed that density of trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) from 6 cm and above is approximately 15 trees/ha; density of seedlings are about 35 individuals/ha, of which potential seedlings are 27 individuals/ha, accounting for 76% – relatively high. Shoot regeneration rate is about 56.7% and regeneration rate from seeds is 43.3%. In terms of tree species composition, D. cochinchinensis dominates amongst the average of 17 other tree species in each established sample plot. There is no record of the existence of D. oliveri in Dak Uy forests. The survey of D. oliveri in Bu Gia Map national park resulted that tree density with DBH from 6 cm and above is 7.6 individuals/ha; density of seedlings is more than 5.6 individuals/ha, of which potential seedlings are about 2.8 individuals/ha, equivalent to 49%. Shoot regeneration rate is 55.7% and seed originated regeneration is 44.3%. Amongst the average of 24 tree species per plot, D. oliveri accounts for a small percentage of 5.8%. Not any D. cochinchinensis was recorded in Bu Gia Map national park. The following are photographs of the two surveys. Photo 1: Taking note about Rosewood Photo 2: Making plots to measure tree height and DBH Photo 3: Rosewood’s DBH measurement Photo 4: Measuring DBH of buttress tree

Van Long Nature Reserve (NR) which situates in Gia Vien district, Ninh Binh province (20˚21’-20˚25’N, 105˚49’-105˚55’E) is among the most interesting original wetland reserve of the Red River delta in Vietnam. Van Long NR covers unique landscape and typical forest on limestone habitat with the topography of a series of limestone karst outcrops that rise abruptly out of surrounding alluvial plains and run in Northwest to Southeast direction. Van Long NR is the most important site for the Critically Endangered Delacour’s Langur (Trachypithecus Delacouri) and believed to form a staging post and breeding site for seldom documented migratory birds and certain raptors in Vietnam. The reserve is also an important wetland that supports significant numbers of migratory & waterbirds in the Red River delta. However, besides its unique beauty and biodiversity significance, Van Long is subject to several pressures from surrounding communities because of being surrounded by areas of intensive agriculture on all sides. For instance, plenty of threats from development and agriculture extension including the use of pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers for agricultural activities; pressure from limestone mining for construction material and cement and smoke, dust, and waste disposal from nearby industrial zones. Its biodiversity also threatened by alien invasive species, poaching and small-scale illegal fishing. Therefore, ecotourism seems to be a new and rapidly expanded livelihood option for local community as more than 600 households directly or indirectly involved in tourism services. Besides, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) prioritized its support for the protection of critically endangered Delacour’s langur in Van Long and extended landscape include Kim Bang and Huong Son forests. CCD’s activities then will not solely focus on protecting the langur’s population and habitats but also improving local community’s livelihood through promoting community-based ecotourism, raising conservation awareness, engaging local community in monitoring langur and its habitat to mitigate threats. As a result, Van Long gains some successful stories on conservation of the critically endangered langur and community-based ecotourism. Currently, Van Long is among the pioneer reserves in Vietnam that effectively engaged local community in supporting endangered species and engaged them in the tourism activity that directly benefits their livelihood. Being aware of the benefits from the reserve, local people now actively participate in protection efforts to maintain the reserve landscape and amenity to attract tourists. The nature reserve is now benefiting both wildlife and people.

Ecotourism is a way to help management boards of national parks, protected areas and protection forests to improve their operational efficiency thanks to additional revenue sources for forest protection, management and biodiversity. Moreover, ecotourism also helps raise the society’s awareness of natural values, thereby helping them to understand, appreciate and act more responsibly to protect and preserve those values. The success of some models of ecotourism, community tourism in some national parks and nature reserves in Vietnam such as Cat Tien, Phong Nha – Ke Bang, Ba Vi, Van Long, Tra Su are good lessons learned for forest owners plan to exploit the natural landscape values and ecological values of their units more effectively through tourism development. The Center for Conservation of Nature and Development (CCD) sees ecotourism as a strategic direction to be promoted for special-use and protection forests in Vietnam. Therefore, in 2020, in addition to direct consultation for the development of the “Proposal on development of ecotourism in special-use forests in Xuan Lien Nature Reserve”, CCD has coordinated with Lang Chanh Protection Forest Management Board to develop an ecotourism proposal focusing on experiencing the values of nature and indigenous culture. The goal of the proposal is to sustainably exploit the landscape, ecological and indigenous cultural values more effectively, while raising public awareness and creating jobs, helping to improve the livelihood of the community, reducing their dependence on forest resources. The proposal focuses on promoting the active participation of the community in tourism activities in order to associate the rights and responsibilities of the community with regard to nature conservation and forest protection. In the near future, CCD will promote ecotourism and cultural experience tourism activities in order to help the tourists feel the values of nature and culture, thereby being more responsible in preserving and protecting the values of that nature and indigenous culture.

‘The Consultation meeting on draft 10-year periodic review report of Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, period 2010-2020’ was held on February 14th, 2020 at Ho Chi Minh city Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The workshop welcomes the presence of Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Trung – Director of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Can Gio MBR Management Board; Mr. Le Minh Dung – Chairman of Can Gio District People’s Committee, Permanent Vice Director of Can Gio MBR and representative of Can Gio MBR Management Board, Man and the Biosphere Programme-Vietnam (MAB Vietnam), Department of Science and Technology, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, scientists, universities and Center for Nature Conservation and Development – CCD (consultation division and presenter). Mrs. Vu Thuc Hien – CCD’s Vice Director presented the draft 10-year periodic report of Can Gio MBR. The report highlighted current status, changes and results over the past 10 years of Can Gio MBR. The results were specifically reflected by three biosphere reserve main functions are conservation, development and support. Participants appriciated achievements of Can Gio MBR in the period 2010-2019 and proposed specific activities/solutions to promote and enhance the value of Can Gio Mangrove in the future. Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, the first world biosphere reserve of Vietnam was designated by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on January 21st, 2000 covers an area of 70.445,34 ha including the whole of Can Gio protection forest and surrounding areas. The Center for Nature Conservation and Development is maintaining support programme to enhance governance efficiency of Vietnamese protected areas (National parks, Nature reserves, Ramsar areas, Biosphere reserves). Improved governance will support to promote nature conservation effectiveness, biodiversity protection and create/support communities with stable livelihoods hence enhancing dweller’s life quality. Photo 1: Mrs. Vu Thuc Hien – CCD’s Vice Director is presenting Photo 2: Discussion on biosphere reserve management and the integration of activities of local green growth area Photo 3: Discussion on biosphere reserve management and the integration of activities of local green growth area

There are two species of Lorises have been confirmed in Vietnam, including the slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) and pygmy loris (N. pygmaeus). Moreover, the rapid population decline in recent year pushing them to the brink of extinction. As they are under severe threat both species are protected by national law. The species are also listed as Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Vietnam Red Data Book. Even though the species are under serious decline in population, they are receiving fewer research interests from scientists and protection efforts than other primates. Therefore very little information about the loris is available. Consequently, very few conservation efforts have been made for the species. In December 2019, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) in collaboration with Xuan Lien Nature Reserve conducted a preliminary survey for loris in the reserve. The study aims to collect information to raise fund then to improve protection for the species. Findings from this study confirmed the presence of both pygmy and slow loris in the reserve. The loris found mainly in secondary and mixed woodland-bamboo forests and very little information on their presence in the primary forests. The study also confirmed that the loris is under threat from local community as local villagers are still taking the loris to keep as pets and for food. The reserves have a few efforts to raise awareness of local community on endangered wildlife and loris however, the message hasn’t worked yet. Continuing its loris conservation effort, CCD will collaborate with Xuan Lien to seek for relevant support to conduct more study efforts for the lorises to support more effective conservation actions for these threatened animals. CCD is committing a long-term conservation program for Vietnam’s Endangered species of plants and wildlife that are under threatened by poaching and trafficking from its forest and through the country. The program focuses on enhancing research, monitoring and conservation capacity for forest rangers, local communities and stakeholders involved; provide technical support for management authorities, enforcement bodies to implement more effective effort to stop the poaching and end the trafficking of threatened plants and wildlife.

The conservation program for the critically endangered northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) in Vietnam is a long-term conservation program that has been initiated by the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) with a focus on Xuan Lien and Pu Hoat Nature Reserves (NR). The purpose of this program is to recover the populations of the northern white-cheeked gibbon in their historical distribution areas. Following the regular monitoring of this species, in December 2019, CCD with the support from Xuan Lien management board and a local forest protection group conducted a gibbon survey in the fixed monitoring area – Suoi Sai So (Cat Trang stream) – where the existence of gibbons was confirmed in 2011 to understand the fluctuation of gibbon groups and individuals. The monitoring resulted in at least 16 gibbon groups of about 43 individuals that were recorded through vocalization and observation. Compared with the 2011-2012 baseline survey data included 10 groups and 29 individuals in the same area (Nguyen et al 2012), the number of gibbon groups and individuals dramatically increased after eight years with additional six groups and 14 individuals. It is exceptional from this monitoring that gibbon groups were recorded in the mixed bamboo-timber forest type. This finding is new for the northern white-cheeked gibbon in particular and for crested gibbons in general because all the records of habitat types of the northern white-cheeked gibbons so far have only been in primary forests where large timber trees dominate. Therefore, the result provides new information on the habitats of this species. Gibbon is territorial animals, hence, the monitoring of gibbons in the fixed listening posts can help identify more accuracy of the gibbon population trend. The 2019 surveys showed positive evidence of the recovery and thriving of the northern white-cheeked gibbon population in Xuan Lien NR while their sub-populations are extirpating in many other known habitats. The recovery of the northern white-cheeked gibbon population is also a good indicator to measure the effectiveness of forest protection and conservation efforts that Xuan Lien NR management board and its partners are doing. It is no doubt that Xuan Lien NR is the most important and effective conservation area for Northern white-cheeked gibbon population in Vietnam.

On 19th November 2019, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) in collaboration with Can Gio Biosphere Reserve Management Board to organize a Consultation workshop on second 10-year Periodic Review of Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve (Can Gio BR). Relevant management agencies in Ho Chi Minh cities and scientists and research institutions joined the workshop in Can Gio BR. At the workshop, CCD and Can Gio BR Management Board shared the thematic evaluation focus on the key achievements in period 2010-2012 including: (i) Assess the assurance of criteria of the Biosphere Reserve; (ii) Assess the effectiveness of conservation and support functions of the Biosphere Reserve; (iii) Assess the effectiveness of the development function of the Biosphere Reserve; (iv) Assess the communication and cooperation strategy of the Biosphere Reserve. This information is the mandated evaluation criteria of UNESCO to ensure that the Biosphere Reserves will achieve desired goals. Recognized by UNESCO in 2000, Can Gio Mangrove is the first Biosphere Reserve in Vietnam. This is the most beautiful mangrove forest in Southeast Asia and the largest mangrove of ​​Vietnam. The mangroves forest of Can Gio also is a successful symbol of reforestation effort after severe impacts during the Viet Nam war. Over the past few years, CCD has been actively supporting the Biosphere Reserves, National Parks and Nature Reserves in all over Vietnam to enhance their capacity and facilitate engagement of local people in conservation and sustainable development activities in buffer zone.

Rhinoceros are among the world’s most threatened wildlife. Habitat loss, hunting and wildlife trafficking are the key drivers that lead many species to become extinct. Rhinos are being hunted mostly for their horns that use for Chinese traditional medicine. The last known Vietnamese rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus) was hunted in 2010 and its horn removed by poachers. Vietnam lost its last rhino because of poaching, however, our country has given its rhinos protection effort, a lot of strong actions to protect rhinos are implementing at the moment through enhancing law enforcement and building and maintaining good capacity for the relevant agency to keep the fight against wildlife and rhino horns trafficking in and through Vietnam; raising public’s awareness to change the public’s perception about using rhino horns and products from wildlife. Under our effort to promote the love of nature, reinforce public’s knowledge on endangered wildlife and raising public’s responsibility toward nature conservation especially young generation on October 28, 2019, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) supported Young Conservationists Club (a students’ club of Vietnam University of Forestry) to organize an exhibition and seminar “Born with horns” to convey messages of protect wildlife and endangered species from the brink of extinction. The exhibition was highly appreciated by the students and attracted good attention from the local people in the surrounding areas. CCD implementing robust conservation programs for endangered species on the ground and supporting law enforcement agencies in implement more effective combatting wildlife trafficking efforts to prevent and deter wildlife hunting, trafficking and consumption of wildlife in Vietnam with the goal of zero poachings and trafficking of wildlife in 2030.

The law on Forestry was adopted by Vietnam’s National Assembly on November 12, 2017. The new law includes articles encourage the engagement local community more effectively in the forestry sector Từ ngày 4-7/9/2019, Ông Bùi Tiến Dũng - Chuyên gia lâm nghiệp cộng đồng của Trung tâm Bảo tồn Thiên nhiên và Phát triển (CCD) đã hỗ trợ Dự án “Bảo vệ và quản lý tổng hợp các hệ sinh thái rừng thuộc các tỉnh Quảng Nam, Kon Tum và Gia Lai” (Dự án KfW10) tổ chức các khóa tập huấn phổ biến Luật Lâm nghiệp và các chính sách liên quan đến lâm nghiệp cộng đồng ở tỉnh Quảng Nam. Tổng số có 4 buổi tập huấn phổ biến về Luật Lâm nghiệp cho gần 80 lượt người là các cán bộ kỹ thuật, cán bộ hiện trường của dự án của KfW10, đại diện các chủ rừng là cộng đồng thôn bản của các huyện Bắc Trà My, Phước Sơn và huyện Nam Giang tỉnh Quảng Nam. From September 4-7, 2019, Mr. Bui Tien Dung a Community Forestry Expert from Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) supported the project “Protection and Inclusive Management of Forest Ecosystems in Quang Nam, Kon Tum and Gia Lai provinces” (KfW10) to organize a series of 4 training to disseminate the Law on Forestry for more than 80 local stakeholder and community members in the district of Bắc Trà My, Phước Sơn và Nam Giang, Quảng Nam province. The training focuses on the dissemination of the Law, especially the articles that relate to community and community forestry. After the training, local community will be informed about their role and responsibility and their interest (as the forest owner) in the forest land that they were allocated. For the community forester and project support staffs, they then would know how to support and advise local community more effectively to manage their forest and forest land. The training was highly appreciated with active participation from local community, with lots of discussion and questions raised during the courses on how local community should be involved more effectively include their role and benefit from participation. Shared by Mr. A Dieu the deputy of community forest board of Lao Du village “the course was very useful for me and other members. Now we should know what benefit and responsible community should have with our community forest. We also know better how to handle if our forestry forest would be violated by others. We also recommend that more training like this should be organized to help our community know better about the new policy and regulations then we will manage the forest more effectively”. The Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) is supporting and empowering local community to engage them more effectively in managing natural forest and protecting wildlife and endangered species.

The conservation program for the critically endangered white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) is a long-term conservation program that has been initiated by the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) with a focus on Xuan Lien and Pu Hoat Nature Reserves (NR). The CCD team has just completed the third monitoring trip in August 2019 in Xuan Lien NR. The monitoring results indicated a high concentration of gibbon groups in the fixed monitoring areas. A total of 24 groups with at least 62 individuals were confirmed in the two fixed monitoring areas of Pha Pha mountain located on the Pu Nam Mua mountain range and Vung Bo mountain ridge top. The record in this survey is double as much as the baseline data in 2011 for the same areas (Nguyen et al. 2012). Gibbon is territorial, hence, the monitoring of gibbons in the fixed listening posts can help identify the gibbon population trend. This survey shows a positive evidence of the recovery for this critically endangered species in Xuan Lien while their populations are extirpating in many other known habitats. The recovery of the white-cheeked gibbon population is an encouraging sign of the conservation efforts made in Xuan Lien in particular and in Vietnam as the whole.

From July 30 to July 31, 2019, at the meeting hall of Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve (NR), a consultation meeting for conservation needs assessment and conservation benefit assessment took place to prepare IUCN Green List. This is a support activity of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conducted by Mr. Le Thien Duc, Deputy Director of Center for Nature conservation and development (CCD). Twenty-one participants attending the consultation meeting presented for the Van Long NR; Gia Vien district Forest Protection Department; Leaders of Gia Van commune, Leader of Gia Hoa commune; Van Long commune tourist station, representatives of village heads living in the NR and experts from CCD. The main objective of the workshop was to consult with Van Long NR and local stakeholders to assess conservation needs and the benefits of participatory protected areas to the economic, social, ecological and stakeholder interests that are considered in governance and protection of Van Long NR. At the meetings, Mr. Le Thien Duc – Deputy Director of CCD introduced IUCN’s Green List as well as the benefits for National Parks and Protected Areas if achieving this title. Specifically, this list helps stakeholders: (i) Identify good practices in natural resource management; (ii) A diagnostic tool for targeted actions and capacity development for better results; (iii) Provide evidence to public investors and see for themselves that conservation outcomes have been achieved; (iv) Provide information proving to contribute to global biodiversity goals. During the consultation meeting, a lot of useful information was shared openly by participants related to conservation values, threats, conservation goals, stakeholders, and community benefits when participating in conservation work. This is a significant input to complete the IUCN Green List criteria. Besides, the participation of many representatives of the related parties contributes to ideas and discussions to help gather information more specific and accurate. If the IUCN Green List records meet the criteria and indicators that demonstrate conservation effectiveness and are approved and approved by the approval council, Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve will be one of the nature reserves. Vietnam’s first to achieve this title. This will be a great motivation for Van Long Nature Reserve and other stakeholders to be more active in the activities to conserve the Delacour’s Leaf Monkey population and to sustainably develop the largest karst, wetland ecosystem in Vietnam. At the same time, this title will inspire other National Parks or Reserves to follow.

Vietnam has more than 170 protected areas that representing for variety of unique ecosystems, landscapes and seascapes of the country. Besides their biodiversity’s value, the protected areas have a huge eco-tourism potential that could be used to fund conservation efforts and to raise public awareness on nature conservation. Ecotourism has been prioritized as the key focus for Thanh Hoa province’s protected areas. Initial ecotourism in Be En National Park and Pu Luong Nature Reserve showed promising success. Advancing the success, the People’s Committee of Thanh Hoa province approved a proposal for ecotourism development in Xuan Lien to 2025 and vision to 2030. In order to implement this important plan, Xuan Lien Nature Reserve requested Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) and the Center for Planning, Marketing and Strategy for Agriculture Development of Thanh Hoa province (CPMSA) to provide technical support of the plan. Based on the request, on July 25, 2019 in Thanh Hoa city, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) held a training on “Ecotourism in Vietnamese protected areas” for staffs of Xuan Lien and CPMSA. The training focused on providing approaches, methods and assessment skills on evaluating ecotourism potential for a protected area and ecotourism planning in a protected area. In the training, lesson learnt and best practices on ecotourism in other protected areas were provided so that Xuan Lien could refer and use as an example for the plan. The technical support and training are part of CCD effort on improving protected area governance and sustainable financing in Vietnam by facilitating better engagement of local community, benefit-sharing via community-based conservation and ecotourism/community tourism in the protected area system.