Protect Nam Nung forest to keep upstream water

Nam Nung Nature Reserve is considered a giant “water tank” of Dak Nong . Protecting Nam Nung forest means protecting water resources, preserving life for today and tomorrow.

With an area of over 23,000 hectares, spanning 10 communes in 3 districts of Krong No, Dak Glong and Dak Song, Nam Nung forest has great significance not only in terms of ecology but also in terms of climate, history and culture.

With an altitude of 1,578m above sea level, Nam Nung forest is home to many streams and waterfalls that provide valuable water sources for a large area.

Nam Nung Nature Reserve is over 23,000 hectares wide.

Natural forests with dense canopies are the places that regulate rainfall, retain groundwater, prevent erosion and maintain soil moisture. Experts assess that Nam Nung forest is an important shield to protect upstream water sources.

Nam Nung forest has two main ecosystems: evergreen broadleaf natural forest and mixed bamboo forest. Of which, evergreen broadleaf forest accounts for 90% of the area.

z6492272982515_67342e7e65ba295bddadd38682ca1b4f-3b72b94112f1bea755114e21364dd1fd-1-.jpg — Nam Nung forest preserves many rare and precious wood species.

According to a survey, the flora here has up to 881 species belonging to 175 families, with many rare species such as rosewood, red wood, sen gum, jackfruit oil..., listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world . The fauna is equally rich, with 297 vertebrate species, including many endemic and rare species such as elephants, gaurs, black-shanked douc langurs, clouded leopards...

In particular, Nam Nung forest is also home to 173 species of birds, 66 species of fish, and 37 species of reptiles. This is a rare biological community in the Central Highlands.

Many animal species listed in the Vietnam Red Book appear in Nam Nung Nature Reserve.

Nam Nung Forest is also home to many geological values, with a system of waterfalls, tektite meteorites and granite mountain terrain - rare heritages reflecting millions of years of tectonic history.

Not only does it have ecological value, Nam Nung is also a sacred land, witnessing heroic historical imprints. This was once the uprising base of leader N'Trang Guh in the struggle against French colonialism. Later, Nam Nung was a strategic location in the resistance war against America.

Many endemic and rare animal species live in Nam Nung forest.

Nam Nung Forest is a rich cultural treasure, from traditional festivals to rustic dishes associated with the mountains and forests. These values further enhance the cultural depth of the reserve, creating a living museum in the middle of nature.

Nam Nung Forest plays a particularly important role in the context of increasing climate change. With a rich primary forest ecosystem, Nam Nung contributes to absorbing CO₂, regulating the climate and protecting upstream water sources. The forest helps minimize the impact of extreme weather, drought and soil erosion - obvious consequences of climate change.

Forest protection in Nam Nung is currently facing many challenges. The rugged terrain, long boundaries, and small number of guards make patrolling and controlling the forest extremely difficult.

For many years, Nam Nung forest has been under great pressure from illegal migrants. They are people with difficult economic circumstances, so they often enter the forest to illegally exploit forests, hunt rare animals, and clear forests for farming...

Nam Nung Nature Reserve Management Board deploys many synchronous solutions to protect forests

Faced with this situation, the Nam Nung Nature Reserve Management Board has implemented many synchronous solutions to protect the forest. The Management Board closely coordinates with local authorities and forest rangers to organize regular and surprise patrols.

The unit regularly propagates to raise awareness among the people. In particular, the Management Board signed a forest protection contract with 284 households, with a total area of over 3,000 hectares.

Authorities released a wild cat into Nam Nung forest.

This method not only helps reduce the pressure of forest encroachment, create jobs, increase income for people living near the forest, but also creates a shield from afar for Nam Nung forest. "Currently, people's awareness of forest protection has been significantly improved. Households participating in forest protection contracts are very active, considering the forest as their own family property," said Mr. Nguyen Van Manh, Director of Nam Nung Nature Reserve Management Board.

With a rich ecosystem, majestic landscapes and unique cultural and historical values, Nam Nung forest has great potential for developing eco-tourism, resorts and conservation. There are attractive destinations such as the 7-storey waterfall (Tiger waterfall) - known as "the first waterfall in the Central Highlands"; the wild and poetic Gau waterfall; the special-use forest...

Nam Nung forest has many streams and waterfalls, creating a water source for the vast area of Dak Nong.

Recently, the Nam Nung Nature Reserve Management Board signed a cooperation agreement with two enterprises to develop eco-tourism on an area of over 743 hectares of forest. The cooperation not only aims to exploit tourism potential, but also contributes to biodiversity conservation, creating a sustainable source of income for forest protection.

“Through tourism activities, we want to spread the message of nature protection to the community and tourists. When people understand the value of forests, they will actively join hands to preserve them,” Mr. Manh shared.

In the context of the Central Highlands facing climate change, severe droughts, and declining groundwater levels, the water retention role of natural forests becomes even more important.

Nam Nung Forest is not only the "green lung" of Dak Nong, but also the source of upstream water supply for thousands of hectares of production land and downstream residents.

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Nam Nung Nature Reserve is over 23,300 hectares wide, spread over 10 communes in Krong No, Dak Glong and Dak Song districts. It has a diverse and rich flora and fauna, with many species listed in the Red Book of Vietnam and the world.

Protecting Nam Nung forest means protecting water resources for production and daily life. This is a long-term and sustainable investment, ensuring water security for Dak Nong in a sustainable way.

Amid the challenges of climate change, forest encroachment and uncontrolled development, protecting Nam Nung forest needs to be considered a strategic, long-term task and requires the joint efforts of the entire political system, business community and people.