WWF and journey of laying the foundation for nature conservation in Viet Nam

Spreading the message of joining hands in nature conservation

More than 30 years ago, an organization symbolized by a panda quietly arrived in Viet Nam. It began as a silent companion, simply camping in the forest, hiking, searching, measuring, documenting, and laying the very first bricks for the journey of preserving Viet Nam's nature.

In the Truong Son mountain range, WWF-Viet Nam recorded the first-ever discovery of the saola, which is an ancient mammal that has survived to this day. Then came the findings of Truong Son that astonished the world, not only for the wonders of Viet Nam's nature but also for the immense conservation potential of this area.

During his visit to Hong Ngu, Dong Thap, an upstream region of the Mekong River, Country Director of WWF-Viet Nam Van Ngoc Thinh expressed his impression that nature-based solutions have been effectively implemented in practice.

"This field trip was truly a memorable experience. We had the opportunity to visit and meet cooperative managers as well as households benefiting from this model. Their stories and understanding of the ecosystem and the way they combine traditional knowledge with modern science inspired us profoundly," he said.

Integrating crops with livestock and fish farming or rotating multiple crop types originates from a deep ecological understanding. According to Mr. Thinh, the Mekong Delta has the potential to become the world's "living laboratory," where countries can learn the method of operating cultivation systems, combining innovation with green finance, and developing more effective support policies.

Following these efforts came the journey of collecting data, documenting ecosystems, and combating marine plastic pollution. At first, the concept of "marine conservation" was still very new, but through these initial steps, national marine conservation programs gradually took shape.

From Phu Quoc to Hon Mun and Cat Ba, a love for the sea began to spread across coastal provinces. The people grew to understand and cherish the ocean, and they wanted to give back through small actions and great responsibility, because safeguarding the blue ocean is also safeguarding the future for themselves and their children.

Toward innovation, responsibility, and sustainability

On the occasion of WWF's 30th anniversary in Viet Nam, Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh expressed his gratitude to strategic partners, those who have accompanied the organization since its first steps. Beyond their technical expertise, shared vision, and commitment, they have also provided powerful inspiration for all of us throughout this challenging journey.

He emphasized the need to adapt traditional farming knowledge to today’s environmental context, in combination with modern science. This is the pathway to building a sustainable and more climate-resilient food system in the future.

Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Vietnam signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with WWF on nature conservation, green development, and sustainable emission reduction. According to Director General of WWF Martin Kabaluapa, 30 years of cooperation between WWF and Viet Nam have established a solid foundation based on mutual respect and shared goals, aiming to create a future where people and nature develop together in harmony.

“Viet Nam's efforts demonstrate its pioneering role in building a nature-positive future with sustainable development, which is also the vision that WWF pursues. We will mobilize our global network in more than 100 countries, provide technical support, share scientific experience, and accompany Vietnam in implementing scalable, effective, and practical solutions,” he shared.

30 years is not a long time, but it is long enough to build the belief that Viet Nam's nature deserves to be protected and that Vietnamese people deserve to live in harmony with their forests, rivers, and seas.

Together possible - Acting together, we can create change is more than a slogan. It is a belief, a motivation, and a source of inspiration that WWF-Viet Nam wishes to spread.

Viet Nam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and WWF 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 active participation of local communities.

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