Ha Noi, 27 August 2026 – The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency (NBCA), Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) officially launched the Project “Promote Wildlife Conservation and Responsible Nature-Based Tourism for Sustainable Development in Viet Nam” (WTP Project), funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through UNDP in Viet Nam.

With USD 7.15 million in GEF funding and an expected implementation period from 2026 to 2030, the project aims to harness the economic value of nature and tourism without degrading the ecosystems, wildlife species, and landscapes that underpin Viet Nam’s tourism appeal. At the same time, the project seeks to channel a portion of the economic value generated by nature and tourism back into conservation and to create additional livelihood opportunities for local communities.

The event was chaired by Mr. Bui Chinh Nghia, Director General of the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency and Deputy Head of the WTP Project Steering Committee, with the presence of Ms. Francesca Nardini, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Viet Nam; representatives of several central-level agencies; representatives of the participating provinces of Quang Tri and Khanh Hoa; and relevant organizations and experts.

Turning the value of nature into resources for conservation
Viet Nam is home to exceptionally high levels of biodiversity, including numerous ecosystems and species of global conservation significance. This biodiversity also represents an important comparative advantage for the development of nature-based tourism. However, if not properly planned and managed, tourism growth can place additional pressure on ecosystems through uncontrolled infrastructure development, pollution and waste, visitor overcrowding, unsustainable resource exploitation, habitat disturbance, and increased demand for wildlife products.

At the same time, the potential of tourism to generate financing for conservation and deliver direct benefits to local communities remains underutilized. Existing gaps relate not only to financial resources, but also to the lack of technical guidance and criteria for nature-based tourism, limitations in inter-sectoral coordination, and insufficient participation by communities and the private sector.

To address these challenges, the WTP Project promotes responsible nature-based tourism, whereby tourism activities contribute to protected area management and the protection of species and habitats, while also generating additional economic and livelihood opportunities for local communities.

The project is implemented through four closely interconnected components: (1) strengthening guidelines, criteria, and tools to better align the development of nature-based tourism with biodiversity conservation; (2) piloting management, partnership, and financing models for nature-based tourism in Nui Chua National Park and Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park; (3) strengthening capacities and promoting behavioural change among actors across the tourism value chain to protect wildlife and biodiversity; and (4) knowledge management, monitoring, and evaluation to consolidate, share, and scale up results.

Expected results of the project
The project is expected to contribute to systemic changes in the way biodiversity conservation is integrated into the development of nature-based tourism in Viet Nam. It will support the development and improvement of standards, criteria, and technical guidelines to incorporate conservation requirements into the planning, management, and operation of nature-based tourism and ecotourism in areas of high biodiversity value.

Issues such as destination carrying capacity, visitor management, zoning, monitoring of tourism impacts, and the protection of sensitive habitats will be considered, thereby creating a basis for tourism development that remains within the ecological limits of destinations rather than focusing solely on increasing visitor numbers.

These tools and approaches will be piloted in Nui Chua National Park and Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, where the project will connect protected area management authorities, local governments, businesses, and communities to develop nature-based tourism models directly linked to species and habitat conservation and livelihood improvement. These practical models will help test new guidelines, mechanisms, and solutions before lessons are consolidated and recommendations are developed for wider application in other areas of high biodiversity value across Viet Nam.

A key focus of the project is to progressively channel a portion of the economic value generated by nature and tourism back into conservation. The project will study and pilot partnership mechanisms among the public sector, businesses, and communities; benefit-sharing mechanisms; and solutions for mobilizing and reinvesting tourism revenues into natural resource management. In particular, at Nui Chua National Park, the project is expected to undertake an economic valuation of ecosystem services and pilot a payment for marine ecosystem services mechanism.

In parallel with policy and financing solutions, the project will strengthen biodiversity protection and monitoring capacities. The SMART patrol system will be established at Nui Chua National Park and expanded at Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, with links to information systems supporting monitoring and decision-making. Technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, mobile applications, and data collection tools will also be used to support biodiversity monitoring, wildlife rescue, fire prevention and response, and the detection of illegal activities. The project will also promote the participation of communities and local people in species monitoring and natural resource protection.

Through these activities, the project is expected to improve management effectiveness across approximately 145,414 hectares in Nui Chua National Park and Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park, while contributing approximately 15.7 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent towards emissions reduction targets.

In terms of livelihoods, the project is expected to create, restore, or stabilize 1,800 “green” jobs, 70 per cent of which will be for women, while generating direct benefits for approximately 3,000 people in the project areas.

In addition to policy, financing, and management solutions, the project will promote behavioural change among people participating in the tourism sector. Awareness-raising and behavioural change activities will target tourists, businesses, and communities to reduce demand for the purchase, use, and consumption of illegal wildlife products; limit tourism activities that damage habitats and sensitive ecosystems; and promote demand for responsible, low-impact tourism products, services, and experiences.

Biodiversity criteria will also be strengthened within industry training programmes, certification schemes, and codes of conduct. By the end of the project, the project aims to have 295 tour guides certified and equipped with enhanced knowledge of biodiversity conservation.

Through these interventions, the WTP Project aims to advance a development model in which nature conservation, tourism, and community livelihoods reinforce one another: better-protected ecosystems and wildlife create higher-quality destinations with lasting appeal, while tourism revenues, employment, and economic benefits provide stronger incentives for communities, businesses, and management authorities to continue investing in conservation.

Contact information:
WTP Project Management Unit
Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Agency
Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
No. 10 Ton That Thuyet Street, Cau Giay, Ha Noi
Email: duanwtp@gmail.com
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Project Coordinator; Tel.: 0966466557

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam
Ms. Phan Huong Giang
Media and Communication Analyst, Climate Change, Energy and Environment Unit, 
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org; Tel: 0948466688