STRENGTHENING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION CAPACITY IN NAM NUNG

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.