Hanoi, Vietnam – November 4, 2025: The Forestry and Forest Protection Department (VNFOREST) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), in collaboration with the SMART Partnership, EarthRanger (an initiative of the Allen Institute for AI - AI2), and Save Vietnam’s Wildlife (SVW), is co-hosting the Applied Conservation Technology Congress (ACT Con 2025) from November 4 to 6, 2025, in Hanoi.

The congress is expected to bring together over 400 delegates, including forest rangers, frontline conservationists, technology experts, researchers, government officials, and funding organizations. The event aims to share experiences, connect stakeholders, and promote practical technological solutions to enhance the effectiveness of forest management and biodiversity conservation.

As conservation efforts undergo a significant digital transformation, ACT Con 2025 serves as a bridge between technological innovation and field experience, ensuring that technical solutions deliver tangible results on the ground. The event features case studies, hands-on training, technology demonstrations, and in-depth discussions on transforming monitoring and operational data into timely, effective conservation actions.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Quang Bao, Director General of the Forestry and Forest Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, stated, “The Government of Vietnam has consistently identified digital transformation as a key priority for modernizing the forestry sector and improving nature conservation. Hosting ACT Con 2025 in Vietnam demonstrates our commitment to integrating technology into forest management and biodiversity conservation practices. This is also an opportunity for Vietnam and its international partners to share experiences, disseminate innovative solutions, and strengthen the capacity of our frontline conservation forces.”

The congress features many leading experts in the fields of forestry, conservation, and technology, including:

• Dr. Tran Quang Bao – Director General of the Forestry and Forest Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and forestry sector managers;
• Ms. Leo Cleo Graf – Executive Director of the SMART Partnership;
• Mr. Jes Lefcourt, Director of EarthRanger;
• Ms. Louise de Bruin – Executive Director of the Game Rangers’ Association of Africa;
• Mr. Nguyen Van Thai, Director of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife.
• And many other experts from international and Vietnamese conservation and technology organizations.

Key themes of the congress include:

• Field-oriented technology solutions;
• Data-driven conservation action;
• Equitable access to conservation technology;
• Innovation for the front lines;
• Hands-on labs and intensive training.

ACT Con 2025 follows the launch of the SMART–EarthRanger Conservation Alliance (SERCA), a global initiative designed to unify technology, training, and field expertise to improve protected area management.

Cleo Graf, Executive Director of the SMART Partnership, stated: “ACT Con 2025 bridges the gap between technology developers and end-users, making learning practical and scalable.”

Jes Lefcourt, Director of EarthRanger, shared: “The partnership between ACT Con 2025 and SERCA is built on the belief that technology is merely a tool. This conference allows us to hear directly from those applying technology in the field, helping us refine our products to better meet real-world needs.”

In Vietnam, SVW is serving as a co-organizer, coordinating logistics and communications for ACT 2025. As a non-profit organization dedicated to species conservation and habitat restoration, SVW also implements education and community engagement initiatives, helping to bring the voices of frontline conservationists to this international forum.

Key highlights of ACT Con 2025 include:

• Hands-on Training Lab: Small-group training sessions featuring direct practice with tools such as SMART, EarthRanger, and open-source analytical platforms;
• Technology Exhibition and Demo Zone: Hands-on experience with tracking devices, drones, acoustic sensors, dashboards, and integrated systems;
• Data for Decision-Making: Discussion sessions on data collection, visualization, and analysis to enhance conservation management effectiveness;
• Voices from the Community and Frontline Workers: Sessions led by rangers, protected area managers, and community representatives to ensure solutions are tailored to real-world conditions.

Detailed information regarding the program, registration, and delegate support will be available on the official ACT Con 2025 website. Plenary sessions will be conducted primarily in English, with Vietnamese interpretation provided.

PRESS INFORMATION:

Event name: Applied Conservation Technology Congress (ACT Con 2025)

Date: November 4–6, 2025

Venue: Hanoi Daewoo Hotel, 360 Kim Ma, Hanoi

Organizers: Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; SMART Partnership; EarthRanger; and local co-organizer Save Vietnam’s Wildlife

Language: English (Vietnamese interpretation provided for plenary sessions).

Press kit and event photos

Media contact:

ACT Con 2025 Press Office

Phone: +84 972 093 261 (Mr. Dang Nghia Nguyen) | +1 206 369 9589 (Mr. Jordan Steward)

Email: [email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected]

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS

SMART Partnership: SMART is a comprehensive conservation solution built by and for the conservation community. It provides a robust approach to conservation management, supported by a suite of software tools and training programs designed to build the capacity of conservation professionals by promoting data-driven decision-making to protect biodiversity. The SMART Partnership is a global collaborative effort to scale the adoption of SMART to enhance patrol effectiveness, protect wildlife, and improve decision-making in protected areas and conservation landscapes.

EarthRanger: Developed by Ai2, a non-profit AI research institute based in Seattle, USA, EarthRanger is a free data visualization and analysis system that provides conservationists with real-time information for protecting wildlife, habitats, and communities. EarthRanger collects, integrates, and displays remote sensor data and field reports to monitor tracked wildlife, rangers, law enforcement assets, and infrastructure within protected areas and landscapes. EarthRanger’s applications are diverse and tailored to the specific needs of each region or organization, including large-scale monitoring, wildlife tracking and research, ranger team coordination, and proactive human-wildlife conflict mitigation.

Save Vietnam's Wildlife (SVW): A non-profit conservation organization in Vietnam working to protect species and habitats while implementing community outreach programs; it serves as the local partner supporting ACT Con activities in Hanoi.

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