MAE signs new Memorandum of Understanding with WWF

On the morning of November 7, Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Duc Thang held a meeting with Mr. Martin Kabaluapa, Director General of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) offices, on the occasion of the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on nature conservation and sustainable development between the two parties.

Minister Tran Duc Thang opened the meeting by emphasizing that the Vietnamese Government always prioritizes nature conservation and development. "Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with the Ministry of Public Security, functional agencies, and local authorities, launched a joint program to prevent and combat the illegal hunting and trade of wild animals. This program began in November 2025, and we are confident it will yield positive results, contributing to the protection of Viet Nam's biodiversity," he stated.

Acknowledging WWF's contributions over 30 years of operation in Viet Nam, Minister Tran Duc Thang praised the organization's nature conservation projects, habitat restoration efforts, and technical support. He affirmed that Viet Nam values its cooperative relationship with WWF and looks forward to the organization's continued partnership, technical assistance, and resource support for action programs aimed at green development.

"We are committed to coordinating closely with WWF to translate initiatives into specific, practical actions that serve the common goal of developing an ecological agriculture, modern rural areas, civilized farmers, and protecting nature for a sustainable future," the Minister stressed.

In response, Director General Martin Kabaluapa expressed his deep sympathy for the recent losses caused by natural disasters, storms, and floods in Viet Nam. He also thanked the Government, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and relevant agencies for facilitating WWF's conservation mission.

"It is a great honor for me to be here today to meet with the Minister and leaders of the Ministry on this momentous occasion. On behalf of WWF International, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Minister for the trust, cooperation, and long-term vision in the field of nature conservation," he said.

WWF-Viet Nam cooperation aims for innovation, responsibility, and sustainability

Director General Martin Kabaluapa assessed that over 30 years of cooperation, WWF and Viet Nam have built a sustainable foundation based on mutual respect and the shared goal of creating a future where people and nature thrive in harmony. He also commended Viet Nam's global leadership and vision in promoting biodiversity conservation, reducing emissions, and implementing the "30x30" target, which aims to conserve 30% of land and marine areas by 2030.

"Viet Nam's efforts demonstrate its pioneering role in building a nature-positive and sustainable future, which is also the vision that WWF pursues," he added.

Mr. Kabaluapa noted that the organization would mobilize its global network across more than 100 countries, offering technical support, sharing scientific expertise, and collaborating with Viet Nam to implement scalable, effective, and practical solutions.

"Today's Memorandum of Understanding is not just a connection but a profound development in the cooperative relationship between WWF and Viet Nam, a relationship geared toward innovation, responsibility, and sustainability," he emphasized.

Concluding the meeting, Minister Tran Duc Thang thanked Director General Martin Kabaluapa for his remarks and affirmed Viet Nam's commitment to achieving its net-zero emissions goal by 2050, considering nature conservation and green development to be crucial pillars of its national strategy.

"Viet Nam hopes that WWF will continue to be a trusted partner, accompanying us in conservation and sustainable development programs. I hope that in 2026, we will meet again to summarize the practical cooperation results and spread value to the community and the planet," the Minister concluded.

The meeting ended in a solemn and amicable atmosphere, ushering in a new phase of cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Viet Nam and WWF International, aiming for concrete, substantive, and sustainable outcomes.

During his visit to Viet Nam, Director General Martin Kabaluapa expressed his deep sympathy for the losses caused by recent natural disasters, storms, and floods, and on behalf of WWF International, he presented an aid package of USD 80,000 to the affected people to help overcome current difficulties.

Minister Tran Duc Thang and Director General Martin Kabaluapa signed the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and agreed to focus on three core areas of cooperation:

Promoting sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, based on Nature-based Solutions.

Conserving biodiversity and ecosystems by enhancing landscape connectivity and actively involving local communities.

Responding to climate change, reducing emissions, and undergoing a green transition, with a focus on carbon credit mechanisms in the agriculture and forestry sectors.