Project Summary
Countries: Vietnam
Delivery Partner: World Wide Fund for Nature Vietnam (WWF-Viet Nam)
Project Partners: WWF-Viet Nam, HUE University of Sciences, Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area, Centre for Marine life Conservation and Community Development (MCD)
Principal Investigator: Nguyen Thanh Huy, (WWF-Viet Nam), Deborah Mackey, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Contact: huy.nguyenthanh@wwf.org.vn
Addressing key knowledge gaps on seagrass status, restoration, biodiversity and blue carbon in central Vietnam, while supporting climate‑resilient livelihoods and evidence‑based conservation policies through integrated ecological, social and economic approaches
Challenge
Seagrass ecosystems in central Vietnam are experiencing rapid decline, yet significant knowledge gaps persist regarding their distribution, ecological condition, biodiversity value and blue carbon potential. In areas such as Cu Lao Cham, the lack of recent, reliable data constrains effective conservation planning and investment. Current restoration efforts are further limited by the absence of locally adapted, evidence‑based techniques and weak integration of socio‑economic considerations.
At the same time, coastal communities dependent on fisheries and tourism face increasing climate risks, resource degradation, and limited access to sustainable livelihood alternatives. Low awareness and insufficient policy recognition of seagrass ecosystems continue to hinder coordinated action. These challenges underscore the need for interdisciplinary research to generate robust evidence, inform scalable restoration approaches, and strengthen links between science, policy, and community practice.
Insight
Collaboration
This project is founded on strong multi‑stakeholder collaboration across international, national, and local partners. WWF‑UK will lead overall coordination, ensuring technical quality, financial management, and monitoring, while WWF‑Viet Nam will oversee in‑country implementation, drawing on its long‑standing presence and government partnerships. Scientific research and restoration design will be led by Hue University of Sciences (HUSC), ensuring rigorous assessment and locally adapted methodologies.
The Centre for Marine Life Conservation and Community Development (MCD) will support co‑management arrangements and sustainable livelihood development. Local coastal communities will act as active partners, while the Cu Lao Cham Nature Reserve management board will lead field surveys, stakeholder engagement, pilot restoration, and livelihood implementation. Engagement with national and provincial authorities, alongside collaboration with research institutions, NGOs, and development partners, will strengthen policy uptake, knowledge exchange and scalability.
Seagrass ecosystems remain under‑recognised despite their vital role in climate mitigation and coastal resilience. This project will address key knowledge gaps and translate science into scalable restoration and policy action, supporting ecosystem recovery while strengthening sustainable livelihoods in Vietnam.
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Nguyen Thanh Huy
Nguyen Thanh Huy holds an MSc in Ecology and is a marine conservation specialist with over 14 years of interdisciplinary experience across academia, applied research and international non‑governmental organisations. His work focuses on marine biodiversity conservation, coastal and blue carbon ecosystems, and community‑based resource management.
Nguyen Thanh Huy has contributed to research and conservation initiatives through roles in national research institutions, marine protected area management and international development organisations.
Photograph (detail): Lamiot
