Grassroots Program

Small but practical and sustained actions, when amplified, can lead to major positive change for nature. With this in mind, Conservation Vietnam has been enabling local initiatives to access the resources, technical support, and accompaniment they need through the Grassroots Program managed by PanNature (Center for People and Nature).

In 2025 alone, the program received 34 project proposals from various organizations and localities. After transparent and objective review rounds, 09 projects were approved for funding, with total commitments of approximately VND 1.81 billion.

One of the first and most representative projects of the Grassroots Program is “Reducing Impacts on Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) Species in the Tuna Purse Seine Fishery”, a community initiative led by the Vietnam Tuna Association (VINATUNA) that is gradually changing how Vietnam's tuna sector interacts with endangered marine species.

The project aims to reduce unintended catch of endangered marine species in tuna fisheries. Through practical interventions such as providing 60 release support kits, training 120 fishers, and conducting 30 offshore data collection trips, the project has improved how fishers handle interactions with marine wildlife while strengthening the data foundation for fisheries management.