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| Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang and a delegation conducted a field inspection of several areas within the Cat Tien National Park forest in May 2025. Photo: A. Nhon |
Over the past period, the forestry and forest protection staff in the province have made many efforts to implement many synchronized tasks and solutions to stabilize the organizational structure and ensure smooth and effective forest protection activities.
The fruits of forest conservation efforts.
On May 8, 2025, we accompanied a provincial delegation led by Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang to inspect forest management and protection work at Cat Tien National Park. The delegation spent considerable time on field visits to assess the situation; at the same time, they visited and encouraged the forest rangers and forest protection staff who regularly man stations deep within the forest.
Along the way, we easily encountered many species of wild animals (deer, bison, squirrels, etc.) foraging in the grasslands surrounding the vast forest with many valuable large trees. To obtain such forest resources, forest protection and management must be implemented strictly and effectively.
According to Pham Xuan Thinh, Director of Cat Tien National Park, the park currently manages over 71,000 hectares, located in the former three provinces of Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc , and Lam Dong (now two new provinces: Dong Nai and Lam Dong). Cat Tien Forest is one of the most important special-use forests in Vietnam and plays a crucial role in environmental issues such as: ensuring water regulation in the upper reaches of the Dong Nai River, providing freshwater during the dry season, and controlling flooding during the rainy season for the downstream areas. Currently, Cat Tien National Park is one of the units that performs its forest conservation duties well and is highly appreciated by central and provincial leaders.
When discussing the achievements in forest conservation over the past period, the Head of the Dong Nai Forest Protection Department, Ngo Van Vinh, said that in 1997, the People's Committee of Dong Nai province (formerly) issued a decision to close all types of natural forests in the province in order to restore, protect, and develop natural forests and preserve biodiversity. Dong Nai became the first locality in the country to close its forests at that time.
Immediately after the policy of closing forests was implemented, the forestry and forest protection sector in Dong Nai province made efforts to implement many plans and solutions for forest management, protection, and development, such as: strengthening patrols and crackdowns to prevent illegal forest encroachment; promoting legal awareness among the people; implementing reforestation and care for native large-timber plantations, nurturing natural forests; and striving to protect rare animal and plant species... As a result, Dong Nai's forests are developing and the value of forest resources is gradually increasing.
According to Tran Dinh Hung, Head of the Forest Protection Department of the Dong Nai Nature and Culture Reserve, the unit has proactively implemented coordination regulations between agencies and forest management units in the bordering areas, resulting in many positive changes in forest protection and management. In particular, after the merger of Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces, the unit's forest protection and management work has become even more convenient and effective.
Continue to cooperate effectively so that the forests remain green.
Before the provincial merger, the former Binh Phuoc province had a total forest and non-forested land area of approximately 171,000 hectares; of which, natural forest accounted for about 55,600 hectares, planted forest nearly 99,000 hectares, and the remainder was non-forested land.
Over the past period, thanks to the timely guidance, coordination, and support from all levels and sectors from the central to local governments, the forestry sector of Binh Phuoc province (formerly) has achieved many positive results. The area of natural forests has been managed, protected, developed, and used sustainably. Forestry violations have been detected, prevented, and handled promptly, strictly, and in accordance with the law, creating a strong educational and deterrent effect. The planting and care of planted forests have received timely attention. For example, in 2024, Binh Phuoc province (formerly) planted 40.39 hectares of large-timber production forests with support funds; and continued to care for nearly 170 hectares of semi-submerged and production forests…
According to Mr. Ngo Van Vinh, after merging with the former Binh Phuoc province, the new Dong Nai province has a total forest and forestry land area of 313.7 thousand hectares; of which, special-use forests account for 39.41%, protection forests 23.14%, and production forests 37.45%. The entire forest and forestry land area is located within the boundaries of 48 out of 95 newly established communes and wards and is managed by 14 forest management units.
The vast area under management presents inherent challenges and complexities in forest protection and management. However, the Dong Nai Forest Protection Department has made concerted efforts to implement several key tasks to ensure that the organizational structure and operations of the department are not disrupted and that its mission remains unaffected. Specifically, the Dong Nai Forest Protection Department was newly established through the merger of the former Dong Nai Forest Protection Department and the former Binh Phuoc Forest Protection Department. The new organizational structure includes: 1 department head, 4 deputy department heads, 4 specialized professional departments (Administration, Forest Protection, Forest Development, Nature Conservation and Biodiversity), 2 mobile forest protection teams, and 10 regional forest protection units. The staffing plan for the subordinate units comprises 17 job positions with a total of 182 civil servants and employees.
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| Bu Gia Map National Park has effectively applied Industry 4.0 technology to forest management and protection. Photo: Le Quyen |
Based on a two-tiered local government structure, two mobile forest ranger teams and ten regional forest ranger units are assigned management areas according to the administrative boundaries of the communes, ensuring the establishment criteria regarding forest area and forestry land. This ensures a rational allocation of personnel, appropriate to the tasks, increases transparency and efficiency, and closely monitors the managed areas…
Following the merger, the Dong Nai Forest Protection Department continued to coordinate the review and completion of the draft policy on investment and support for forest protection and development, and to adjust and supplement policies for forest protection forces for submission to the Provincial People's Council. It continued to base its activities on approved programs, projects, plans, and schemes to implement forest protection patrols and handle violations according to the law. It proactively advised local authorities on strengthening the forest fire fighting command and rapid response teams to minimize conflicts between elephants and humans. It also implemented coordination regulations for forest protection between forest rangers and relevant agencies, local authorities, and forest management units.
In addition, the Dong Nai Forest Protection Department focuses on implementing forest planting and tree planting targets when weather conditions are favorable, ensuring that the targets are met and the planted volume has a survival rate of over 85%; and supporting businesses involved in the production and trading of wood and forest products...
An Nhon - Le Quyen
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202507/chung-tay-giu-gin-la-phoi-xanh-9b811f5/
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