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.

Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri) is endemic primate to Vietnam and also among the top 25 most threatened primate in the world. The species restricted to the forest on limestone situate in the border of Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Ha Nam and Ha Noi provinces. Early of the 2000s, the population of Delacour’s langur was estimated to occur in 19 locations with a total of 50-57 groups and 281-317 individuals, of which the Huong Son special-use forest was estimated to have 6 groups and 27 individuals . Fifteen years later, the langur population in the Huong Son special-use forests was thought to be extirpated after surveys . Since 2017, CCD has conducted an intensive studying program to search for the existence of Delacour’s langur in its known habitats to assist better protection and population recovery efforts. Under the program, CCD successfully confirm the second largest population of this species in the Kim Bang Forest in 2018 and a group in the Lac Thuy forests in 2021 . A sight of a Delacour's langurs in Huong Son special-used forest, My Duc district, Hanoi(Photo credit to the "Conservation and development of wild and precious fauna and flora's genome in Hanoi city" plan) December 2022, CCD under the continuing survey program, CCD team found a group of at least five Delacour’s langurs in the Huong Son special-use forests, marking this place as the third most important strongholds for the langurs still exist . CCD is continuing its conservation effort for this critically endangered langur through having a detail survey in Huong Son Forest and other known habitats and propose habitat restoration and connecting the existing wild sub-populations through multi-dimension conservation approaches to create a large, safe landscape for the survival and thriving of Delacour’s langurs and other critically endangered species. Nhan Dan Newspaper published an article about the finding. Details are in the link below https://nhandan.vn/theo-dau-vet-vooc-quy-hiem-ngay-giua-ha-noi-post732728.html Nadler, T. (2004). Distribution and status of the Delacour’s langur ( Trachypithecus delacouri ) and recommendations for its long-term conservation. In T. Nadler, U. Streicher, & T. L. Ha (Eds.), Conservation of primates in Vietnam . Frankfurt Zoological Society and Cuc Phuong Endangered Primate Rescue Center. Nadler, T. (2015). The critical status of the Delacour’s langur ( Trachypithecus delacouri ) and the call for a National Action Plan. Vietnamese Journal of Primatology , 2 (4), 1–12. Trinh, D. H., & Nguyen, T. A. (2018). Report on population survey for the Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri) in Kim Bang forests, Ha Nam province, Vietnam . Center for Nature Conservation and Development. Trinh, D. H., Le, T. A., & Lo, V. O. (2021). Report on the census of Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri) population in the Huong Son special-use forest and Lac Thuy forests . Center for Nature Conservation and Development. Lo, V. O., & Lau, A. K. (2022). Report on the survey of primates in the Huong Son special-use forest, Ha Noi, Vietnam . Center for Nature Conservation and Development.

On December 27, 2022, at the Parliament Guest House - Hanoi, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) cooperated with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to organize an assessment workshop of COVID-19 impacts to tourism activities in national parks and nature reserves in Vietnam and future planning. There were more than 40 delegates at the event, representing management boards of special used forests in Vietnam, nature conservation organizations, non-profit organizations, research institutes, tourism companies, universities, colleges, news agencies, IUCN’s representatives. Overview of the workshop The workshop delivered the assessment results and tourism trends in post COVID-19 era, while gathering consultations for planning to improve management, biodiversity conservation, tourism development and benefits for local communities. CCD's team are presenting the study results Considering the rich data compiled, assessment results are respectable to delegates, while extensively illustrating the impact of COVID-19 to tourism activities in national parks and nature reserves in Vietnam. Given the adequate and reliable data, delegates were able to contribute comments on challenges, practical solutions to restore and enhance tourism, while some suggested amendments to the study’s methodology for better assessment in the future. CCD aims to support developing tourism plans for national parks, nature reserves in Vietnam. CCD’s vision is to utilize eco-tourism in special-used forest for the better awareness and responsibility of the public, thus increasing income, mitigating the forest dependency of local communities, and ultimately subside other anthropogenic impacts to the forest and natural resources.

The Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) is set to create the liaison between partners who share interests in sustainable development and environment towards low-carbon society. Contributed in laying a groundwork for the partnership platform in Vietnam, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) cooperates with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) announced six partnership groups in the launch event. Within the event, partnership got a chance to introduce and share their interests as well as initiatives in developing carbon market, such as decreasing the greenhouse gas emission, removing participating burdens in carbon market for manufacturers; raising capacity of local stakeholders; and enhance the benefits for the society. Enabling nature-based carbon projects – A partnership with NatureCo, One Tree Planted, Center for Nature Conservation and Development, Cooper Energy and DFAT to identify opportunities for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) across Vietnam, work with local organisations to build carbon skills and develop a NbS pilot project focused on carbon mitigation through reforestation. Learnings gained will be used to develop a toolkit and lay the foundations for future growth and private sector investment in NbS in Vietnam.