In the first week of September 2024, Ms. Ho Thi Yen Thu – Permanent Deputy Director of MCD and Chairwoman of the IUCN Member Committee in Vietnam, attended the 8th IUCN Regional Conservation Forum (RCF) for Asia and other affiliated events, held in Thailand, with the participation of about 600 delegates from 31 countries including representatives from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, non-public organizations, academia, businesses, donors and partners, youth forces, and other related stakeholders.

Running under the theme “Reimagining Conservation in Asia: A Nature Positive Future”, the Forum aimed to assess conservation progress, revisit priority goals, and propose strategic directions to effectively address environmental and biodiversity challenges over the next 20 years. In this 8th RCF, IUCN Asia offices together with IUCN member organizations and stakeholders worked actively to address key transformative directions and actions for achieving a nature positive future for Asia and the world. 

“The Regional Conservation Forum is a unique opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to collaborate for the benefit of nature and humanity. Let us seize the moment to enhance our partnerships and accelerate efforts towards a nature-positive future for Asia,” said Mr Thalearngsak Petchsuwan, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), Government of Thailand. MONRE is co-host of the 8^th IUCN Asia RCF.

Photo: High-level delegation inaugurating the 8^th IUCN Asia RCF on September 3^rd, 2024 (source: IUCN)

Aside from high-level and plenary discussions on regional challenges by various stakeholders, the 8^th IUCN Asia RCF featured eight thematic sessions on new and existing programme priorities, as well as 17 side events organised by IUCN Members, Commissions and partners. The RCF also provided exhibition booths to showcase conservation work.

The series of events also featured the inaugural Youth Leaders Forum, organised for and by youth from 23 countries to highlight the importance of young professionals and their increasing roles and contributions to nature conservation.

The Vietnamese delegation, including representatives from all 11 IUCN official members in Vietnam and a number of relevant partners, participated in the main RCF working sessions, contributed to IUCN’s 20-year vision and work plan 2025-2029, and participated in dozens of side events, forums and members meetings such as water conservation, fisheries resources conservation and development, agri-food system transformation, species conservation, urban resilience, nature-based solutions and financing.

Photo: Vietnamese delegates at the IUCN 8^th Asian RCF

Ms. Ho Thi Yen Thu, representative of MCD, fully attended the plenary sessions and discussions of IUCN members and participated in various professional forums such as those on Heathy Oceans and Marine Conservation, Marine Debris Management, Nature-based Solutions, Climate Change Adaptation. In particular, Ms. Thu participated in the working session on the IUCN Report “UUU Trawl Fisheries? Situation Analysis with Case Studies from Southeast Asia and East Asia” and provided comments and suggestions for the Vietnam Chapter in this Report.

At the same time, as Chairwoman of the IUCN Vietnam Member Committee, Ms. Thu attended high-level discussions with the IUCN Director General, the IUCN Asia Regional Director, IUCN Asia Member Committee and representatives of IUCN member committees from other countries, and a special working session on promoting cooperation with the business sector in nature conservation.

Photo: Ms. Thu and some colleagues with Dr. Dindo Campilan, IUCN Regional Director for Asia and Hub Director for Oceania, at the 8^th IUCN Asia RCF 2024