The introductory report of VUSTA summarized the important contributions of the intellectual community in uniting, consolidating, and promoting the role of the science and technology workforce, including key specialized fields such as environment and climate change. VUSTA also plans to compile and publish a publication summarizing the outstanding achievements of the Union and its member organizations over the past 40 years.

At the seminar, delegates, including many former leaders of VUSTA such as Associate Professor Dr. Tô Bá Trọng, Dr. Phạm Văn Tân, Dr. Phan Tùng Mậu… engaged in lively discussions and shared their operational experiences. The President of the Vietnam Association for the Consevation of Nature and Environment (VACNE), Dr. Nguyễn Ngọc Sinh, presented a report highlighting four typical activity groups of the Association during the country's 40 years of renovation.

1. VACNE is a reliable address that always promptly meets the country's and community's requirements through advisory and social critique activities.

VACNE is always regarded as a reputable organization, effectively carrying out advisory, critique, and social assessment work on environmental issues. The association has participated in many national-level advisory councils on sustainable development, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and small projects of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)…

At the 6th Congress (2013), the leadership of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment affirmed: 'There is no legal document on natural resources and the environment without the advisory and critical opinions of VACNE and its members.'

Many of the Council's critical opinions were accepted, such as: stopping the implementation of the Tam Dao II Project, recommending appropriate handling of the Vedan incident, calling for caution in exploiting bauxite in the Central Highlands, and not allowing the dumping of dredged materials at Vinh Tan.

2. Focus on innovating content and methods, and enhancing the effectiveness of communication on resources, environment, and climate change response to serve sustainable development.

VACNE focuses on innovating content and methods, and expanding the scope of communication on resources, environment, and climate change. The association has organized hundreds of training courses, seminars, and dialogue sessions to enhance community capacity; it regularly publishes materials such as the Environmental Protection Newsletter, Vietnam Green, vacne.org.vn, and the electronic magazine Nature and Environment, among others.

Many creative communication activities have been maintained, such as: the 'Cycling for the Environment' movement since 2006; the 'For a Green National Environment' movement, 'Planting 1 Million Trees'; environmental technology fairs and exhibitions (2006–2008); the international 'Water' competition for students, with over 32,000 students participating, 20 winners of the First Prize traveled to Sweden to take part in the international competition,...

3. Continuously organize a series of scientific seminars, boldly updating many new and urgent academic contents into practice.

The association and its members have led or collaborated in implementing numerous scientific programs and projects at both the ministerial and local levels; at the same time, they have organized a series of national and international conferences on climate change, biodiversity, and environmental impact assessment.

Notably, there is a series of 6 seminars on 'Global Climate Change and Vietnam's Response Solutions,' 7 seminars on 'Conservation of Biodiversity in the Truong Son Range,' along with international cooperation seminars with South Korea, Japan, and China.

The association is also an advisory body that successfully contributes to the development of biodiversity conservation plans for many localities such as Hanoi, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Dien Bien… and has published numerous scholarly works such as Environmental Security (2010), Conservation of Vietnam's Heritage Trees (2013, 2015, 2020), Green Economy for Sustainable Development (2017), and Natural Resources and Green Transformation (2025).

4. Launch and organize a widespread grassroots movement for the Conservation of Vietnam's Heritage Trees – a creative and distinctive activity of the Association

Initiated in 2010, the Vietnamese Heritage Tree Conservation movement has become a notable cultural and environmental activity, strongly supported by the community, authorities, and the media nationwide.

After 15 years of implementation, more than 8,000 ancient trees belonging to over 160 plant species have been recognized as Vietnam Heritage Trees, distributed across all regions, associated with historical sites, scenic spots, and the spiritual and cultural life of the people.

This movement is considered a creative activity, characteristic of VACNE, not only contributing to the protection of rare genetic resources and the maintenance of natural landscapes but also spreading the spirit of love for nature and community responsibility for the sustainable development of the country.

The workshop also serves as an opportunity to look back on the 40-year journey of dedication and contribution by the Vietnamese scientific and technological intellectuals, in which VACNE continues to affirm its central role, making practical contributions to the protection of nature, the environment, and the country's sustainable development.