Hòn Dung Village is one of the four villages in Sơn Hiệp Commune, Khánh Sơn District, Khánh Hòa Province, with potential for developing community-based tourism, thanks to its attractive tourism resources and the cultural features of the Raglai ethnic group. However, tourism activities in Hon Dung are still fragmented, infrastructure is incomplete, along with the unsystematic management, cultural values are on the brink of fading. Given this situation, Hòn Dung Village needs a coordinated solution to improve livelihoods for the Raglai people while preserving and promoting the natural and cultural values within the community. Picture 1: The traditional long house of Raglai people ©CCD/2025 Picture 2: Ta Gu waterfall, Son Hiep commune - a potential destination in Hon Dung ©CCD/2025 Picture 3: Meeting the basketry artisan at Hon Dung village ©CCD/2025 In December 2024, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Information of Khánh Sơn District held a meeting to approve the project "Building a Community-Based Tourism Village Model in Hon Dung, Son Hiep Commune as a Tourism Destination for Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas in Khanh Son District." This marks the beginning of a process to finalize and apply the community-based tourism model, with a focus on sustainable development in Hon Dung. Picture 4: CCD's specialist at the meeting ©CCD/2025 Picture 5: Mr. Dinh Van Dung - Chairman of Khanh Son district People ©CCD/2025 In its vision, CCD strives to support localities, businesses, and communities in the development of eco-tourism and community-based tourism to increase revenue for the locals, preserve nature, and promote traditional cultural values. Additionally, CCD is committed to empowering vulnerable groups, promoting gender equality, digitization, improving communication and promotion effectiveness, enhancing connectivity for the region, helping communities unite, and stand out as a key local tourism destination.

The limestone mountain ecosystem spanning Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Ha Nam, and Ninh Binh serves as the habitat for the Delacour’s langur ( Trachypithecus delacouri ), an endangered primate species endemic to Vietnam, along with many other wildlife of limestone ecosystems. Since 2018, CCD has conducted additional surveys and monitoring programs on the Delacour’s langur population in the Kim Bang Protection Forest. These efforts have confirmed that this area harbors the second most significant population of Delacour’s langur in both Vietnam and the world. from left to rightPicture 1: Kim Bang Protection ForestPicture 2: Delacour's langurs at Kim Bang©CCD/2025 Since late 2024, CCD has been collaborating with the Vietnam Wildlife Conservation Fund (CV Fund) and the Kim Bang – Thanh Liem inter-district forest protection unit to continue research, monitoring, and the development of a conservation and restoration plan for the Delacour’s langur in the limestone ecosystem of Kim Bang Protection Forest, Ha Nam Province. Currently, the project is establishing a community-based monitoring program aimed at regularly tracking the Delacour’s langur population, identifying areas frequently affected by disturbances, and taking timely action to mitigate threats—such as removing traps and reporting violations to authorities. From left to right:Picture 3: Training on delacour's langur monitoring techniquesPicture 4: Setting up monitoring routesPicture 5: Data management and patrol reporting with SMART app on mobile phones©CCD/2025 In addition to the monitoring program, the project will soon implement awareness-raising initiatives for students at secondary schools in the buffer zone of Kim Bang Protection Forest, as well as for local communities and the general public. It will also enhance the capacity of forest rangers and community-based forest protection teams through training in effective investigation techniques and the use of specialized equipment. The project envisions that conservation efforts involving local communities will contribute to the recovery and sustainable development of the Delacour’s langur population and the limestone ecosystem in Kim Bang Forest, while also fostering a greater sense of responsibility among the community and the public for nature conservation in Kim Bang District.

The Large-antlered Muntjac (Muntiacus vuquangensis) is a member of the Cervidae family, listed as Critically Endangered, living in Annamite Range spanning Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. This elusive, solitary ungulate is now teetering on the brink of extinction due to rampant poaching and habitat loss. From left to rightPicture 1: Aerial view of the Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area in Quang NamPicture 2: Camera traps were installed at the Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area in Quang Nam province. Mr. Oanh (pictured) is one of the most experienced CCD’s fieldPicture 3: Camera traps were installed at the Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area in Quang Nam. Mr. Nham, a ranger from Que Lam Station, was among the key officers accompanying CCD during the camera trap deployment.©CCD/2024 Over the last three months of 2024, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in collaboration with the Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area in Quang Nam province, deployed 200 camera traps across the entire protected area to gather vital data for the conservation of the Large-antlered Muntjac and its ecosystem. from left to right:Picture 4: A Large-antlered Muntjac was detected through camera trapping.Picture 5: Large-antlered Muntjac droppings were discovered by CCD experts during field surveys In addition, CCD conducted a training course on camera trap techniques, data analysis, and the use of other field research equipment to optimize survey efforts. All camera trap data collected have been handed over to the Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area for ongoing monitoring and species conservation planning. from left to right:Picture 6: A group of Stump-tailed Macaque (Macaca artoides), including several juveniles, was recorded by a camera trap.Picture 7: A mother and two juvenile Asian Palm Civets (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus) were recorded foraging by a camera trap.Picture 8: A flock of Vietnamese crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata) was captured on a camera trap.Picture 9: In addition to camera traps, the monitoring team also recorded numerous reptile and amphibian species at the Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area in Quang Nam. Pictured is a Chinese Water Dragon ( Physignathus cocincinus) Picture 10: Ếch gáy dô Beyond the Large-antlered Muntjac, CCD is also conducting intensive surveys to identify other endangered populations across the Annamites. The datasets gathered are critical not only for in-situ conservation but also for ex-situ conservation breeding programs. Furthermore, CCD's efforts aim to foster multi-stakeholder collaboration to support breeding initiatives and rewilding programs for Vietnam’s endangered, precious, and rare species. --------------------------- This initiative is supported by the Species Conservation Fund (SCF) under the Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Ha Long Bay, recognized as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, is celebrated for its majestic natural scenery, geological and geomorphological formations that record millions of years of Earth's evolution, diverse ecosystems, and archaeological sites that bear witness to the cultural and historical life of successive generations. Despite attracting millions of visitors annually, the rapid growth of tourism in Ha Long has raised increasing concerns about the site’s carrying capacity and potential environmental threats that may undermine the outstanding universal values of the heritage. default Picture 1: Ha Long bayPicture 2: Tourism is placing significant pressure on the heritage site©CCD/2025 As part of the project "Developing a Sustainable Tourism Plan for Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage Site until 2035, with a Vision to 2050," in March 2025, the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) collaborated with the Ha Long Bay Management Board to conduct field surveys and discussions on sustainable tourism with UNESCO representatives. The initiative aims to preserve the heritage’s key values while ensuring a balance between tourism development and environmental protection. Picture 3: CCD, Ha Long Bay Management Board and UNESCO co-develop the tourism plan©CCD/2025 Moving forward, CCD and its partners are committed to closely monitoring the project's implementation, ensuring that Ha Long Bay remains not only an attractive destination but also a symbol of harmony between development and conservation, connecting people and nature.

Join the forest guardians of the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) and Xuan Lien National Park, Thuong Xuan District, Thanh Hoa Province, on their forest patrol and periodic wildlife surveys. This activity aims to comprehensively assess biodiversity, supporting the protection and conservation of the ecosystem in Xuan Lien. https://baomoi.com/theo-chan-doi-bay-anh-thu-rung-c51843988.epi?zdlink=Uo9

In March 2025, Nam Cat Tien Protection Forest Management Board, in collaboration with partners including Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), organized a training course: “Data Management and Patrol Reporting Using the SMART Tools.” The training was conducted for staff at Nam Cat Tien Protection Forest. The objective of the course was to introduce the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART Tools) and its applications in patrol management, reporting, and support for forest survey and biodiversity monitoring programs. This initiative aims to enable the Management Board to develop and operate a comprehensive and sustainable management system based on the SMART Tools. from left to right Picture 1: Staff practicing on SMART DesktopPicture 2: Staff using SMART MobilePicture 3: Hands-on field session © CCD/2025 During the training course, CCD experts provided participants with comprehensive guidance on the SMART Tools, including procedures of designing data models, setting up patrol activities, developing data collection protocols, and managing data input and reporting within the SMART system. The program also included hands-on field sessions, where participants practiced collecting information using the SMART Mobile application on smartphones and updating the data into the SMART Desktop system. In addition, participants were guided through the processes of data synthesis, report generation, error correction, and finalizing databases and reports in accordance with the requirements set by the Management Board. CCD has been actively collaborating with various forest management units in Đắk Nông Province — including Ta Dung National Park, Nam Nung Nature Reserve, Nam Tay Nguyen Forestry Company, and Dak Ntao Forestry Company — to develop and standardize management systems based on the SMART Tools. These efforts are aimed at enhancing the accuracy and effectiveness of forest management, patrolling, forest protection contracting, and biodiversity conservation initiatives.

The Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri), is an endemic primate species found exclusively in the limestone ecosystems of northern Vietnam, such as Hương Sơn Special Use Forest (Hanoi), Kim Bảng Protection Forest and Vân Long Wetland Nature Reserve (Ninh Bình). Listed as Critically Endangered (CR) in Vietnam’s Red Data Book (2024) and the IUCN Red List, it ranks among the top 25 most endangered primate species globally. Characterized by its sleek black fur, white cheeks, and distinctive white fur around its rear resembling a “white shorts”, the Delacour’s langur is a symbol of biodiversity in Vietnam's limestone ecosystem. However, it currently faces significant threats to its survival. As part of ongoing conservation efforts, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) has implemented numerous activities, including research, enhanced patrolling, monitoring, and community outreach programs aimed at raising public awareness. One key initiative is the establishment of the community-based monitoring team, which has been a focal point of CCD’s strategy. They are physically fit, knowledgeable about the forest, and, importantly, familiar with the habits of the Delacour’s langur. This team conducts monthly patrols to record information about the langur’s distribution, behavior, and activity, contributing to the development of effective conservation strategies and recovery plans for the species.

Few people are aware that right in the capital city of Hanoi lives one of the world’s rarest primates - the Delacour’s langur ( Trachypithecus delacouri ). In December 2022, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) confirmed the existence of a Delacour’s langur population in the Huong Son Special-Use Forest, Hanoi, following months of intensive field surveys. Since then, CCD and its partners have recorded at least two more groups with around 15 individuals, including newborns documented in February 2024, November 2024, and March 2025. After confirming the population, CCD has worked closely with relevant authorities to implement a series of comprehensive conservation measures for this endangered primate, including: Establishing a community-based forest patrol team: conducting regular patrols, removing snares, recording disturbances, and sharing data with forest managers and the Forest Protection Department for timely intervention. Monitoring langurs and biodiversity: combining drone surveys equipped with thermal cameras, camera traps, transect and point observations, and Spartial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART)/GPS data collection to identify core activity areas, feeding sites, sleeping sites, and seasonal movement patterns for targeted protection measures. Installing conservation awareness and law enforcement signage: strategically placed at the interface between tourism activities at the Huong Pagoda Complex and the langurs’ habitat. Alongside these efforts, CCD is collaborating with the Hanoi Wildlife Rescue Center and the Hanoi Forest Protection Department to develop a proposal to the Hanoi People’s Committee to establish the “Huong Son Delacour’s Langur Species and Habitat Conservation Area.” This strategic initiative aims to secure the long-term survival of this critically endangered primate amidst the complex balance between ecosystem protection in Huong Son’s limestone forests and tourism development in the Huong Pagoda Special National Relic Complex. We will continue to update you on our ongoing efforts to protect the Delacour’s langur in upcoming articles.

Kim Bang Protection Forest is home to the world’s second-largest population of Delacour’s langurs, with more than 100 individuals. In recent years, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD Vietnam), in collaboration with the Ninh Binh Forest Protection Department (formerly Ha Nam), has been conducting forest patrols, monitoring, and protecting the langurs and overall biodiversity. These efforts have helped prevent hunting, trapping, and habitat destruction, allowing the langur population here to recover and increase significantly. However, hunting pressure remains a persistent threat to the survival of this endemic primate species, as well as to the rich biodiversity of the limestone ecosystems in Kim Bang. In September 2025, CCD Vietnam, together with the Forest Protection Unit of Area IV (formerly Kim Bang District Forest Protection Unit), organized communication events with the theme “Protecting Delacour’s Langurs and the Limestone Forest Ecosystem of Kim Bang” for local communities living near the langur’s habitat. The events attracted more than 160 participants. Through interactive activities such as nature-based games, quizzes, and sharing of scientific knowledge, local people gained a deeper understanding of the importance of Kim Bang’s forest ecosystem and the Delacour’s langur, as well as relevant legal regulations on nature and wildlife protection. These community events not only enhanced awareness but also fostered a sense of responsibility, motivating people to join hands in protecting wildlife and their home - the forest ecosystems and natural landscapes. In the coming time, CCD Vietnam will continue to expand community communication activities in Kim Bang, Huong Son, and other priority conservation areas nationwide, enabling more people to understand the vital role of ecosystems and wildlife for life, as well as the legal framework for nature and biodiversity conservation.

In today's era of rapid technological advancement, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for monitoring and surveying wildlife has overcome many limitations of traditional methods- especially in dense forest terrains like those found in Vietnam. Satellite imagery also plays a vital role, allowing experts to read and analyze topography, vegetation cover, hydrology, boundaries, and more. This helps identify species distribution areas, detect changes over time, and recognize threats - all while visualizing data clearly and effectively. These insights provide valuable scientific evidence for species conservation efforts. In September, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) organized an intensive training course on spatial database management and conservation data using Geographic Information System (GIS) software, as well as UAV application in biodiversity monitoring. This hands-on training was supported by Conservation Vietnam, guided by highly experienced instructors. We are committed to applying advanced technologies like GIS and UAVs in biodiversity research and monitoring to enhance both the efficiency and reliability of our work at CCD and with our partners. The scientific evidence we gather not only supports the conservation of rare and endangered species, but also equips environmental educators, managers, and policy-makers with clearer, more accurate data to inform their decisions.

Ea Sô Nature Reserve (over 26,800 ha), located in the transitional zone between the South Central Coast and the Central Highlands, is home to a rich assemblage of flora and fauna, including many endemic and rare species. A 2025 survey conducted by Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) in collaboration with the Ea Sô Nature Reserve Management Board recorded numerous endangered and critically threatened species such as: silver-backed chevrotain, gaur, banteng, Indochinese silvered langur, black-shanked douc, green peafowl, lesser fish eagle, Dak Lak narrow-mouth frog, along with valuable plant species such as Dalbergia cochinchinensis (Siamese rosewood) and Dalbergia oliveri (Burmese rosewood). This biodiversity richness not only highlights the exceptional value of Ea Sô but also poses significant challenges for management and protection in the face of pressures from hunting, resource extraction, and unsustainable use in the buffer zone. To enhance community participation in conservation efforts, CCD has worked with the Reserve Management Board and local authorities in buffer zone communes to implement an environmental communication program, including: Training in communication skills for reserve staff Implementing a long-term communication program in buffer zone villages The program aims to: Raise awareness Foster community pride in their natural heritage Emphasize the indispensable role of local communities in safeguarding and restoring biodiversity. This marks the first comprehensive communication program on biodiversity conservation at Ea Sô. CCD is committed to continuing its support, expanding activities to all buffer zone villages, and contributing to strengthening community knowledge, responsibility, and action in protecting, preserving, and promoting the unique natural values of Ea Sô.

Aiming to foster sustainable green and community-based ecotourism, in August 2025, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD), in collaboration with the Management Board of Xuan Thuy National Park (Ninh Binh province), developed a Master Plan for Ecotourism, Leisure, and Recreation Development in Xuan Thuy National Park through 2030, with a vision to 2050. The plan focuses on identifying and zoning signature tourism sites and routes based on natural conditions, biodiversity values, and local cultural heritage. At the same time, it proposes solutions to attract investment in tourism infrastructure while strengthening the park’s management and monitoring capacity to ensure sustainable tourism development. This approach contributes to enhancing biodiversity conservation and restoring the unique ecosystems of this internationally important wetland area. CCD will continue to accompany Xuan Thuy National Park in tourism planning, management capacity building, and developing community-based tourism models. These efforts are expected to create stable income sources for local communities, while also raising public awareness of nature conservation and the protection of the Red River Delta’s biodiversity values. Did you know? In 1988, the Xuan Thuy Wetland Reserve was recognized as Vietnam’s and Southeast Asia’s first Ramsar Site - a wetland of international importance, particularly as a stopover for migratory waterbirds. On January 2, 2003, the reserve was officially upgraded to Xuan Thuy National Park, covering a total natural area of 7,110.08 hectares. With its outstanding biodiversity and cultural values of the Red River Delta, in December 2004 UNESCO designated Xuan Thuy as a core area of the Red River Delta Biosphere Reserve. Located at the mouth of the Red River, Xuan Thuy is home to a wide range of wetland flora and fauna characteristic of northern Vietnam. It provides habitat for more than 222 waterbird species, including many globally threatened species such as the Black-faced Spoonbill, Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann's Greenshank, Spot-billed Pelican, etc. Its mangrove ecosystems are equally rich, with characteristic tree species such as Kandelia candel, Sonneratia caseolaris, Avicennia, and Rhizophora apiculata Blume . The park’s buffer zone also preserves unique cultural values of the Red River Delta, such as traditional thatched-roofed houses and ancient cheo (oral folk music performance). The harmony of natural and cultural values gives Xuan Thuy a distinctive appeal and opens up vast potential for tourism development, generating additional income for local communities while providing resources for conservation efforts.