FOREST
ECOSYSTEM
INITIATIVES
FOUNDER
ReSalt Nature
What began as my growing concern for the disappearing mangrove forests of the Mekong Delta became ReSalt Nature, a student-led initiative built on the belief that protecting nature also means caring for the communities that depend on it. I wanted to move beyond studying environmental challenges and experience what it truly takes to address them.
Together with a team of 20 passionate members, I brought scientific exploration closer to local communities. From introducing young students to satellite imagery and the changing landscapes of their hometowns to working alongside farmers in mangrove restoration, every experience revealed how deeply nature and human livelihoods are connected. Our Right-Tree, Right-Place initiative further encouraged us to approach restoration thoughtfully, combining scientific evidence with local knowledge.
Through ReSalt Nature, I have come to understand that conservation is not simply about planting trees. It is about listening, learning, and creating conditions where both ecosystems and communities can thrive.
Field Trip to Cu Lao Dung, Soc Trang
Supporting Underprivileged Households in Can Tho
Supporting Underprivileged Households in Can Tho
FOUNDER
ELF SHELVES
Living in Germany's Black Forest region, I began to see wood as more than a natural resource. Behind every piece of timber lies a forest ecosystem, and within every carefully crafted object lies the possibility of a second purpose. This inspired me to found Elf Shelves, a student-led initiative transforming responsibly sourced Black Forest wood into sustainable learning furniture for refugee children in Freiburg.
Together with 15 passionate members and guidance from UWC Robert Bosch College faculty, I began exploring how environmental responsibility could meet educational opportunity. Through regular forest field trips, we studied native tree species, participated in reforestation activities, and learned the importance of sustainable forestry. Partnering with DOLD Holzwerke GmbH, we developed a five-step furniture production process, connecting our understanding of forests with practical craftsmanship.
Our goal is to bring bookshelves, desks, chairs, and educational books to children at the LEA Freiburg refugee reception center, creating spaces where they can learn, imagine, and feel a sense of belonging. Elf Shelves has taught me that sustainability is not only about preserving natural resources, but also about transforming them responsibly into opportunities for others.
Wood Species Research & Reforestation Activities
Seed Donations & Planting Guidance for Local Communities
CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH INTERRN
BA VI NATIONAL PARK
My internship at Ba Vi National Park brought me closer to the forests I had long admired, allowing me to experience conservation beyond scientific papers and satellite imagery. Working alongside forest rangers, I surveyed plant habitats and monitored two rare, 300-year-old Calocedrus macrolepis trees, documenting their health and surrounding ecosystems. Standing among these ancient trees, I began to appreciate how much history and biodiversity a single forest can hold.
Beyond fieldwork, I explored conservation policies and transformed scientific observations into educational materials, sharing the importance of biodiversity protection with park visitors. This experience taught me that protecting forests requires more than scientific understanding; it also depends on thoughtful management, community awareness, and the willingness to preserve natural heritage for future generations.
AUTHOR & RESEARCHER
MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH
I explored how scientific modeling could help answer a fundamental question in mangrove conservation: where should different species be restored to thrive? Working with researchers from National Taiwan University, I contributed to developing an integrated framework combining habitat suitability and blue carbon modeling in Soc Trang, Vietnam.
By identifying approximately 48,000 hectares of potential habitat opportunity, our research highlighted how species-specific ecological conditions can guide more effective restoration strategies. This experience strengthened my belief that restoring nature begins with understanding its complexity.
Beyond their visible role in protecting coastlines, mangrove forests perform complex ecological functions beneath the surface. Curious about their ability to regulate water quality, I examined how nitrogen moves, accumulates, and transforms within mangrove estuaries.
Through a critical review of over 20 scientific studies, I explored different analytical methods and the uncertainties surrounding nitrogen retention and removal. I then proposed a five-layer framework for future research, discovering that understanding nature requires not only finding answers but also questioning how those answers are measured.
Witnessing the growing pressures on Vietnam's coastal ecosystems inspired me to investigate how mangrove forests have changed over time. Using satellite imagery, QGIS, and land-cover analysis, I traced mangrove loss across the Mekong Delta from 2007 to 2023, identifying 18,783 hectares of net forest loss and significant spatial overlap with aquaculture development. Beyond mapping environmental change, this research helped me recognize the complex relationship between human livelihoods and ecosystem conservation, reinforcing my determination to seek solutions that consider both.
Accepted for publication in the Journal of Applied Science and Environment
Mentored by Vu Manh Dung (PhD student) & Prof. Ming-Che Hu - Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, NTU
