A N N U A L R E V I EW FY 2018-2019

CONTENTS

M E S S AG E F R O M O U R C O U N T RY D I R E C T O R 4

W W F ’s M I S S I O N 3

N EW D E A L F O R N AT U R E A N D P E O P L E 5

P R O G R A M M E S 9

F U N D R A I S I N G A N D PA R T N E R S H I P 2 8

PA N D A P O R TA L S 2 9

T H A N K YO U 3 3

HANOI

QUANG TRI

THUA THIEN HUE

QUANG NAM

DAK LAK

LONG AN

BEN TRE

SOC TRANG

BAC LIEU

CA MAU

KIEN GIANG

CAN THO

DONG THAP

AN GIANG HO CHI MINH

PHU QUOC

NGHE AN

BA RIA-VUNG TAU

DONG NAI

LAM DONGNINH THUAN

KHANH HOA

PHU YEN

GIA LAI

BINH DINH

DA NANG

QUANG BINH

HA TINH

WWF-Viet Nam’s Headquarters &Field offices

WWF-Viet Nam’s working areas in 2019

*This map intends to presentthe working areas and offices of WWF-Vietnam, and does not represent the entire area of Vietnam.

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W W F ’ s M I S S I O N

Viet Nam is one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet, supporting the livelihoods and well-being of millions of people in mainland South East Asia. Home to 16% of the world’s flora and fauna species, Viet Nam has an equally diverse landscape of mountain ranges, tropical rainforests, mangroves, dry forests, coasts, oceans, rivers and lakes. Its landscapes have been identified as belonging to part of the 200 Global ecoregions - the world’s most biologically important areas to conserve for future generations. However, many species are threatened or endangered due to habitat loss, poorly planned infrastructure, climate change, unsustainable farming methods and poaching.

In 1985, WWF began working on a national conservation strategy and since then, has worked closely with the Vietnamese Government and local partners on a diverse range of conservation issues, implementing numerous field and research activities, working to stop the degradation of Viet Nam’s natural environment and wildlife populations, boosting community livelihood and engagement, to achieve sustainable development goals and secure a future for nature and people.

The Annual Report is a selection of highlights of this year’s past major achievements and successes, all of which could not be completed without the notable contributions from our gracious network of partners and supporters.

© W

WF-Viet N

am / Thanh The Vinh

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M E S S AG E F R O M O U R C O U N T RY D I R E C T O R

This past year we saw immense action, growth and commitment to the conservation of nature in Viet Nam. Securing the Prime Minister’s public support for the New Deal for Nature and People, in addition to a long term collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, demonstrates the Vietnamese government’s response and willingness to integrate nature based solutions into the sustainable development goals of the country. Plastic waste management and disposal has been cast to the forefront of the conservation agenda in ridding our coasts, oceans, rivers and cities from this human induced pestilence to which the government, businesses and the public have been quite receptive as we continue our nationwide campaign. Our sustainable forest management model was officially recognized by the Deputy Prime Minister and first ever camera trap surveys and prey base assessments were conducted as part of our biodiversity monitoring efforts to rewild a unique transboundary Central Annamites landscape. Numerous businesses joined the newly founded Viet Nam Coalition for Climate Action and the Business for Nature Coalition, seeking nature based business solutions, envisioning sustainable business approaches for long term success.

As the country becomes increasingly positioned in a unique opportunity to redefine its relationship with nature, Viet Nam is showing its leadership and investment in working toward sustainable development goals both in country and in the region. We’re all intertwined with nature, which can be to our benefit, or to our detriment, depending on how this relationship is managed. Working with communities on conservation management generates fresh hope and the drive to continue reconnecting this fragmented ecosystem; to bring back the wild spirits of these ecosystems to a world that knows no boundaries, where humans can live sustainably alongside nature. We are at a profound moment in history to redefine and reimagine our own success and futures, to realize a New Deal for Nature and People, in favor of a more sustainable livelihood for all. We look forward to the collaboration, innovation and boundless spirit of conservation to continue building a green circular economy into our world, for nature, for us, and for our future.

Dr. Van Ngoc Thinh, Country Director, WWF-Viet Nam

© Luong Viet Hung / WWF-Viet Nam

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PUBLIC DECLARATION OF SUPPORT FROM VIET NAM PRIME MINISTER

Viet Nam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc joined a multitude of global leaders to voice his support for an emergency declaration for a New Deal for Nature and People at a side event called Leaders for Nature and People, organised by WWF and partners as a part of 2019 UNGA in New York.

This is the first time ever, WWF-Viet Nam reached this highest level of support.

N EW D E A L F O R N AT U R E & P E O P L E© MONRE

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S T R O N G S U P P O R T F R O M D E P U T Y P R I M E M I N I S T E R

In August, the Permanent Deputy Prime Minister, Truong Hoa Binh visited a WWF-supported project on sustainable forest plantations in Thua Thien Hue province.

After learning about the model, he asked the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development to explore further and replicate the model

nationwide.

N EW D E A L F O R N AT U R E & P E O P L E

© WWF-Viet Nam

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O U R P L A N E T, O U R B U S I N E S S

The Our Planet, Our Business screenings in Viet Nam garnered interest from 350+ corporate representatives in two major cities, the largest number to attend a WWF hosted screening worldwide, with numerous businesses engaging in the Business for Nature Coalition.

The event appeared on the VTV1 News Programme – the most watched national TV channel in VN; also on nationwide covered TV such as VTV6, the People’s TV.

© Nguyen Phuong Ha / WWF-Viet Nam

N EW D E A L F O R N AT U R E & P E O P L E

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P A R T N E R S H I P W I T H M I N I S T R Y O F N AT U R A L R E S O U R C E S A N D E N V I R O N M E N TA 5-year MOU between WWF-Viet Nam and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) was signed, showing a strong cooperation for the realization of a New Deal for Nature and People. 8

PROGRAMMESF O R E S T

W I L D L I F E

O C E A N S

F R E S HWAT E R

S U S TA I N A B L E F I N A N C E

C L I M AT E & E N E R G Y

F O O D

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F O R E S T

N O TA B L E AC H I E V E M E N T S O N I N F L U E N C I N G P O L I C Y R E V I EW E D A N D E S TA B L I S H E D I N T H E S E C T O R :

• Biodiversity monitoring results of WWF has influenced the issuance of new policies on forest protection and enforcement with associated budget allocation for forest patrolling and enforcement in the area.

• Capacity building for 105 rangers managing more than 500,000 ha of forest land of Protected Areas, Watershed Forest Management Boards and Provincial/District Forest rangers in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam.

• The five year sustainable forest management plan toward FSC certification of the Nam Dong Watershed Protection Forest was updated for 2019-2023.

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• Dissemination of the guideline manual on the ‘Legal Sustainable Forestry Cooperative establishment from FSC Smallholder Groups’ developed by Thua Thien Hue-FOSDA.

• Support in renewing a ten year sustainable forest management plan for watershed protection, as well as 50 forest management communities in managing 16,000 hectares of natural forest in central Viet Nam.

• Continue to support FSC certification of a total of 23,478 ha of FSC plantation.

• Improved the quality and biodiversity of plantation forest and its buffer-zones by enriching about 32,000 native species within the FSC plantation forest.

F O R E S TF O R E S T

© Denise Stilley / WWF-Viet Nam

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F O R E S TF O R E S TF O R E S T

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• Completed a systematic camera trap survey of six key protected areas in the Central Annamites Landscape, resulting in numerous images of species including endangered ones.

• Supported the development of ten year plans for biodiversity monitoring of Key Species in the Central Annamites Landscape.

• Conducted a reclassification of Bac Hai Van Watershed Protection Forest to Protected Areas/Special-Use Forest (SUF) as requested by the Thua Thien Hue government.

W I L D L I F E

© Denise Stilley / WWF-Viet Nam

© USAID GA project & WWF-Viet Nam

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• Secured an agreement of the first ever co patrols between Yok Don National Park and the Vietnamese Border Army along the Cambodia border, to improve protection and reduce illegal transboundary trade; resulting in 42 patrols covering 3,918km2.

• For the first time ever, a tiger prey-base assessment was conducted in over 2000km of Yok Don National Park, to support the proposed reintroduction of tigers into the Eastern Plains Landscape, the results of which are being analysed by scientists from India.

• WWF-Viet Nam, Yok Don National Park and Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Center conducted the first ever DNA analysis on Vietnam’s largest remaining population of Asian elephants.

• Wild elephant conservation has expanded to Nghe An province, the province with the second largest wild elephant population, resulting in an urgent action plan for Nghe An elephant conservation between 2021-2025.

W I L D L I F E© Dionne Slagter / Animals Asia Foundation

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WWF SUPPORTED THE DAK LAK FOREST PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (FPD) TO ADDRESS THE ILLEGAL TRADE IN WILD ANIMALS IN DAK LAK PROVINCE CONDUCTING:

• A communication campaign in Buon Ma Thuot city, where two billboards on illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn were installed to warn people in Dak Lak province of the penalties associated with possession, transport and trade under the newly revised Penal Code of Viet Nam.

• A training on illegal wildlife trade control and CITES implementation for fifty enforcement officers from provincial rangers, police, customs and border army.

• The first ever market survey in all trade hot spots by the provincial FPD;

• The biggest enforcement raid to-date, covering eight districts in the province.

R E S U LT S :• Dak Lak province has recognized that the

illegal trade in wildlife, especially in ivory is rampant and needs to be addressed;

• Bush meat, wild animal farming and involvement of the border army in combating the wildlife trade are now priorities by the province for further research and solutions.

W I L D L I F E

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W I L D L I F E

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O C E A N S

• Development of a strategic action plan for plastic waste management on Phu Quoc island till 2025

• 2020 resorts & hotels committed to reduce plastic waste with a clear action plan supported by WWF

• Plastic waste reduction education for hundreds of kids in Phu Quoc & Hanoi schools

• Development of plast ic waste reduction education plans for f ive schools in Hanoi

The first ever research on knowledge – attitude – practice on plastic consumption and discharge in Viet Nam was conducted. Based on the results, a communications campaign called, “The True Cost of Plastic” was rolled out, generating a lot of media buy-in and was shared widely on social media.

Best results from working with numerous players on Phu Quoc island to reduce plastic waste:

• All government offices stopped using single use plastic water bottles

• Every first Saturday of the month is Environment Day of the island when people do clean up activities

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O C E A N S

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F R E S HWAT E R

• Engaged the Viet Nam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) to green the sector in Viet Nam.

• Secured a chapter of sustainability in the National Textile and Garment strategy 2020 – 2030, developed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

• Surveyed textile and garment factories on their water and energy management practices, of which 13 garment and 3 textile factories were selected for water and energy auditing to improve environmental protection and water and energy

performance.

© Thomas Cristofoletti / WWF-US

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IN TRAM CHIM NP (TCNP) AND QUANG NAM PROVINCE IN CENTRAL VIET NAM:• Environmental education: 15,500 students and teachers in Tram Chim areas.

• 5 water filtration storage stations: access to potable water for 1,000 habitants

• 19 tourist boats in TCNP installed noise reduction technology.

• Better Management Practice in aquaculture and agriculture production applied by communities in Quang Nam & TCNP

F R E S HWAT E R

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F R E S HWAT E R

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WWF CONTINUED TO EXERT ITS INFLUENCE IN THE AQUACULTURE SECTOR, PUSHING FOR ADDITIONAL SUSTAINABILITY OUTCOMES:

• Provided direct support for shrimp ASC certification to an area of 3,390 ha and production of 30,542 megatonnes with two new smallholder groups becoming ASC certified.

• First ever use of a traceability application, which monitors the impacts of sustainable aquaculture, has been applied by ten small-scale farmers.

• Capacity building and support for Civil Society Organizations to advocate for sutstainable aquaculture and empowerment of communities, including youth and women, in resource management. R E S U LT S :

• Developed a policy advocacy strategy plan for sustainable shrimp aquaculture in Viet Nam through the application of WWF’s level of engagement and commitment tools.

F O O D

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F O O D

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C L I M AT E & E N E R G Y

• Proud to be co-founder of the Viet Nam Alliance for Climate Action (VCCA) Formation, strengthening CSOs coalitions to advocate for sustainable energy and responding to climate change.

• Successfully extended the One Planet City Challenge program to 02 new targeted cities with 45% and 25% carbon emission reduction respectively.

• The Department of Climate Change (DCC) of the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment signed a second MOU with the Climate Change Working Group for the period from 2019-2023.

• For the first time ever, WWF-Viet Nam became the co-organiser with DCC to host the first national consultation workshop for National Action Plan in Vietnam to get official inputs from other Ministries and provinces.

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For the first time, WWF-Viet Nam signed a 5-year MOU (2019 – 2024) with the Viet Nam Business Council for Sustainable Dev-VCCI to collaborate on the implementation of the Climate & Energy Program, which aims to transform the private sector toward Sustainable Energy and Climate Resilience, and drive business awareness, action and support for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

C L I M AT E & E N E R G Y

© WWF-Viet Nam / Duong Quoc Binh

© WWF-Viet Nam / Le Huyen Dong © WWF

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C L I M AT E & E N E R G Y

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Successfully worked with the Viet Nam Banking Association and International Finance Corporation to organise a training for 40 bankers on Environmental & Social Impact Assessment for credit granting to aquaculture projects for the banking sector.

S U S TA I N A B L E F I N A N C E

Sustainable Finance Viet Nam works with the banking sector and key financial stakeholders to promote sustainable finance practices as Financial Institutions are particularly exposed to both the risks and opportunities in the transition to a low carbon future, and are uniquely positioned to steer the direction of the global economy.

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P U B L I C S E C T O R PA R T N E R S H I P P R O G R A M M E• Fundraising has been quite successful with annual income increasing from US $4.2

million to US $7.7 million

• New partnerships: WWF National Offices (WWF-Norway, WWF-Singapore, WWF-Austria, WWF-Hong Kong); Bilateral donors (SDC, IKI); Global partnerships via NOs (Moore Foundation, HSBC, H&M, Tommy & Hilfiger)

• Continue to receive strong support from WWF National Offices (WWF-Germany, WWF-Denmark, WWF-Sweden, WWF-Switzerland, WWF-US, etc.) and bilateral donors (BMUB/KfW, SIDA, DANIDA, USAID)

C O R P O R AT E PA R T N E R S H I P S P R O G R A M M E• Fundraised in FY19: US $628,603

• New partnerships: Prudential, ACB, Samsung, and Grab.

• Continue to receive strong support from: Tetra Pak, HSBC, Avery Dennison, and SOPEX Viet Nam.

F U N D R A I S I N G & PA R T N E R S H I P

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PANDA PORTALSHERO AT GROUND ZERO OF PLASTIC WASTE

WHAT DOES ELEPHANT POO TELL YOU?

WWF-VIET NAM OFFICE GOES SOLAR

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H E R O AT G R O U N D Z E R O O F P L A S T I C WA S T E

Nguyen Thi My Quynh is a petite girl from Hue. She studied and worked on waste management for four years before joining WWF-Viet Nam in May 2019 to work on two projects: Phu Quoc - Towards a Plastic Waste-Free Island, and Mitigating Marine Plastic Litter on Phu Quoc Island.

The day Quynh arrived in Phu Quoc on her mission, the island was entering its rainy season and constant torrential rains flooded the main roads. In addition, Phu Quoc, as one of Viet Nam’s most loved ecotourism destinations, was facing a serious pollution problem due to excessive plastic waste disposal, posing a serious threat to tourism, the main income for many on the island, and its rare and precious wildlife. At the time, few Phu Quoc residents were interested in reducing plastic waste. The government addressed their own priorities and difficulties. To a girl working far away from home, it meant many challenges.

Challenges, to Quynh, also meant inspiration. “I believe that in the next 5 years, the situation in Phu Quoc will improve by 50%,” Quynh said determinedly. Step by step, not only has she adapted to the island’s unpredictable weather, grown accustomed to the distinctive stench of large exposed dumpsites, and overcome differences in dialects meeting with local people, but Quynh and her team have notably made significant changes on the island.

Quynh has led her team to work with businesses and street vendors to change their practices; advocate the government to issue regulations and policy; work with local communities to improve waste collection; and with local teachers to plant the seed of behavior changes in young kids. All is toward the effort of making Phu Quoc an island free of plastic pollution. Presently, 20 large businesses in tourism and 20 small local businesses have committed to reducing plastic waste. All local authority offices stopped serving plastic bottles during meetings and receptions. In November 2019, Phu Quoc became the first island district of Viet Nam to participate in WWF’s Plastic Smart Cities Initiative.

Now, Quynh has been promoted to become the Project Manager of the Plastic Marine Protected Areas, through which she will continue her dream to make our sea clean and free of plastic pollution.

WWF - Viet Nam

© Denise Stilley / WWF-Viet Nam

© WWF-Viet Nam

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In 2009, WWF started collecting Javan rhino’s dung samples to analyse the population of the species in Cat Tien National Park. At that time, the rhino dung was stored in our fridge in the Hanoi office, together with our staff lunch boxes. It was weird one might think, but we joked that their dung was even more important than our food. That was because one species’ dung could reveal so much about one species and provide crucial information for conservation. About a decade later, WWF set out with an ambition to save the last remaining wild elephant herds in Dak Lak province, Viet Nam. Once again, we are on the hunt to find the dung of an endangered species to better understand the size of their population and their moving habits. This kind of survey has never been done before for the elephant species in Viet Nam. Our experts, together with Yok Don National Park’s rangers and staff from the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Centre, have all been staring at the ground looking out for elephant dung. But of course, this process was eased by a few tricks they had picked up tracking elephants in the field. They would search in areas where it was highly possible that elephants frequented, like abundant grassland, waterholes, saltlicks, or their moving corridors. Collection was done in 29 sites with each site being visited at least six times in every two weeks, respectively. There is a very thorough process of collecting dung samples where collectors must wear gloves and masks, using special equipment to pick up the dung to ensure no cross-contamination of human – elephant DNA. Samples are put in a tube marked with a code indicating date, location, time, notes etc. After that, the dung samples are destroyed to avoid duplication. Samples are later put in freezers and transported to Hanoi National University for DNA analysis. Elephant dung sample collection is still ongoing and when the results come back, we are able to understand the size of each herd, the number of male and female elephants, how many young individuals are in the herd and its moving habits. This information is crucial for successful conservation intervention with only about 100 individuals remaining. Yet, with a wide, transboundary living area, the wild elephants of Viet Nam have much more hope for survival than their fellow, the Javan rhino. Together with the help of local government partners, donors and the steadily increasing awareness of communities, we can help save this iconic species of our country and bring back thriving healthy forest habitats.

WHAT DOES ELEPHANT POO TELL YOU?

© Huynh Thuy / WWF-Viet Nam

© Le Van Thua / WWF-Viet Nam

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W W F -V I E T N A M O F F I C E G O E S S O L A R

On the day some 26 large black panels marched up to the roof of WWF-Viet Nam’s Hanoi office building and the staff felt a strange excitement.

“Yes, everybody was curious. We have heard about it but no one actually had the chance to see it with their own eyes. ” – said Vu Quoc Anh, the Coordinator of the Climate Change Working Group.

Quoc Anh was referring to the 8.19 kilowatt solar power system that WWF-Viet Nam installed on the roof of its Hanoi office headquarters in September, 2019. The system now generates enough electricity to power three air conditioners or 20 laptops every day. Solar energy, together with the office’s energy efficiency commitments, is expected to help reduce 50% of the WWF-Viet Nam office’s energy consumption.

The story of WWF’s office solar power running laptops and air-conditioners has gone viral. We shared this story on our Facebook channel and it generated quite a discussion with some asking us for a possible solar solution for their houses and offices. By walking the talk, WWF shows that another future is possible. In fact, leading companies have also been taking climate actions. In 2016, Viet Nam has signed a commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by 8%, compared to business-as-usual with domestic finance, or by 25% with international support by 2030 under the Paris Agreement, in order to avoid catastrophic climate change. Renewable energy is key to fighting climate change, and WWF-Viet Nam is working with a growing network in accelerating renewable energy towards the target.

The solar power installation is part of WWF UPFRONT, WWF’s Solar and Energy Efficient Office Initiative. The initiative provides energy efficiency training to staff and solar electricity system to almost 40 WWF offices across the globe, and more offices are joining this initiative. Hanoi is the second offices of WWF-Viet Nam going solar. In 2018, its office in Hue installed solar power system on the roof of its office in Hue city, contributed to 1,536 USD saving in electricity cost in the first year.

© WWF-Viet Nam / Duong Quoc Binh

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