Preserving Kim Hy forest through community efforts.

The Kim Hy Nature Reserve is considered a "green lung" of Thai Nguyen and a repository of rare natural values ​​in the Northeast region. With the involvement of the government, the Forest Protection force, and the cooperation of the community, forest protection efforts here aim to preserve resources and ensure sustainability.

Thanks to funding from forest protection programs, the people of Na Lang village (Con Minh commune) have paved the village's internal roads with concrete.

The Kim Hy Nature Reserve covers an area of ​​over 15,000 hectares with a diverse flora comprising 1,060 species of higher plants belonging to 171 families and 5 divisions. The Magnoliophyta division is dominant with 126 families and 763 species. Here, 57 species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book, 12 species are on the IUCN Red List, and 20 species are listed under Decree 84/2021/ND-CP, including many rare species such as: limestone cypress, limestone orchid, honey cypress, various species of seven-leaved one-flowered cypress, agarwood, cypress, yellow cypress, gecko, short-leaved false cypress, ironwood, cypress, etc.

Regarding fauna, the Reserve is home to 458 vertebrate species belonging to 96 families and 25 orders, including 99 mammal species, 256 bird species, 64 reptile species, and 39 amphibian species. Of these, 46 species are listed in the Vietnam Red Book, 43 in the IUCN Red List, and 30 under Decree 84/2021/ND-CP.

Many rare animal species such as the slow loris, pygmy slow loris, golden monkey, white-cheeked black langur, musk deer, white pheasant, golden pheasant, big-headed turtle, sand turtle, serow, badger, along with various civet and wild cat species, are still preserved. These are important biological values ​​that create the uniqueness and attractiveness of Kim Hy, and also open up potential for the development of ecotourism in the future.

In accordance with Government Decree 58/2024/ND-CP, in 2025 the Kim Hy Nature Reserve Management Board implemented many activities to protect and develop the forest, with a particular focus on supporting livelihoods for people in the buffer zone. Recently, Khuoi Hat village (Van Lang commune) received 1,785 chicks for 73 households to help improve their income and reduce pressure on the forest.

Ms. Chu Thi Mai, a household that received 24 chicks, shared: "We received the chicks free of charge and are using light bulbs to brood them, helping them develop well. This support helps stabilize our family's economy and encourages us to actively participate in forest protection."

Currently, the Management Board has contracted the protection of 3,600 hectares of special-use forest to 27 village communities in Van Lang, Con Minh, and Vinh Thong communes, with a support level of 600,000 VND/hectare/year.

In addition, 24 out of 27 eligible villages received a support package of 50 million VND per village to develop livelihoods or improve infrastructure. Na Lang village (Con Minh commune) used the support to concrete a 67.1m long, 2.5m wide, and 14cm thick internal village road, facilitating travel and agricultural product transportation for 34 households.

Ms. Ban Thi Van said: "Thanks to the completed road, travel is easier, especially during the rainy season and harvest time. This support also helps people become more attached to and responsible in protecting the forest."

To date, seven villages have received support including nearly 5,400 breeding chickens and 124 solar-powered lamps, benefiting nearly 600 households. The remaining villages are expected to receive support by December 2025. These activities not only improve the lives of people in the buffer zone but also create a strong link between the community and the forest – a key factor in maintaining long-term conservation efforts.

Residents of Khuoi Hat village (Van Lang commune) receive support in the form of chicken breeds from the forest protection policy.

Alongside livelihood support, the Reserve Management Board regularly promotes the dissemination and education of forestry laws through village meetings, public address systems, distribution of materials, and coordination with schools to implement environmental education activities.

From the beginning of 2025 to the present, the Committee has organized 86 direct awareness campaigns with 4,461 participants, 112 radio broadcasts, and distributed 2,000 leaflets. The task force has also intensified patrols, monitoring, and close coordination with the community to protect forests at the grassroots level.

The Management Board also applies modern tools such as the SMART system, FRMS, MapInfo, and Vtools for Survey to improve the efficiency of monitoring forest changes, contributing to early detection of risks and timely handling.

Mr. Dang Van Hai, Director of the Kim Hy Nature Reserve Management Board, said: Every year, the unit cooperates with schools to organize field trips and environmental protection awareness campaigns to help students develop an early awareness of the role of nature and their responsibility to preserve forests. Signing commitments to protect forests with village communities and households also contributes to creating consensus and improving the effectiveness of conservation in the reserve.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202512/giu-rung-kim-hy-tu-cong-dong-c6c74ce/