In March 2026, Next Continent was honored to be invited to a conservation conference hosted by local conservation organization GreenViet. The event focused on leading sustainable solutions to better protect the critically endangered Grey-shanked Douc Langur (Pygathrix cinerea).

The conference brought together more than 50 delegates from every corner of Viet Nam, including primatologists, scientists, local representatives, and managers, all working together to assess the challenges and develop solutions. Endemic to Vietnam, the Grey-shanked Douc Langur is a strictly protected species listed in both the Vietnam Red Book and the global Red List. With only around 500-700 individuals remaining in the wild, the species is under serious threat from habitat loss, poaching, and other human-related activities.

The conference highlighted much positive progress for the local population (results driven by the efforts of GreenViet, as well as local vanguard teams acting through forest monitoring, setting up camera traps, preventing poaching threats, and raising awareness. As a result of early work, the local population of Grey-shanked Douc Langur has shown signs of recovery, increasing from 69 individuals in 2022 to 75 in 2024. The presence of young individuals has also been recorded, showing a positive sign that the species is breeding successfully.

From a local perspective, participants shared the view that Tam My continues to show strong potential for rewilding and further protection efforts, as well as an opportunity to develop ecotourism that is actively linked with conservation and community livelihoods. However, increasing public awareness and strengthening cooperation among authorities, conservation organisations, and local communities remain an essential step towards long-term and valuable protection of this species (which is the true and ultimate goal).

By learning from experts and sharing our own knowledge on conservation minded ecotourism, Next Continent hopes to continue building strong partnerships that aim at developing sustainable opportunities that support forest protection and the conservation of all biodiversity.

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