Special-use forests and protective forests promote comprehensive development

Effective disaster prevention and sustainable livelihood creation through practical forestry policies are particularly important values ​​of special-use and protective forests.

On December 8, at Pu Mat National Park ( Nghe An ), the Department of Forestry and Forestry Management coordinated with the People's Committee of Nghe An province to organize a conference to review the management of special-use forests and protection forests in 2025.

Chairing the Conference, Mr. Tran Quang Bao, Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection, said: “The system of special-use forests and protective forests accounts for nearly 50% of the total forest area nationwide. These are areas representing most of Vietnam's important ecosystems, playing an important role in biodiversity conservation, natural disaster prevention, land and water resource protection, climate change response, ecotourism development and ensuring national defense and security.

Director of the Department of Forestry and Forest Protection Tran Quang Bao emphasized the importance of the special-use forest and protection forest system. Photo: Quy An.

In 2025, the Government and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued many important legal documents, creating a stronger legal corridor for forest management, especially the special-use and protective forest system, which is the foundation for achieving positive results in recent times.

According to the results of the announcement of the national forest status in 2024, the country currently has 14.874 million hectares of forest land, accounting for 44.89% of the territory. Structured by function of use, there are about 2,238,300 hectares of special-use forests and about 4,689,500 hectares of protective forests.

According to statistics, the 5 provinces with the largest areas of special-use forests in the country are Dak Lak (nearly 224,300 hectares), Quang Tri (over 176,400 hectares), Nghe An (about 167,500 hectares), Da Nang (nearly 158,800 hectares), Lam Dong (nearly 149,400 hectares); the 5 provinces with the largest areas of protective forests are Nghe An (over 326,300 hectares), Lam Dong (nearly 323,900 hectares), Tuyen Quang (318,600 hectares), Son La (nearly 314,900 hectares), Gia Lai (nearly 298,900 hectares).

Nghe An has one of the largest areas of special-use forests in the country. Photo: Viet Khanh.

The current special-use forest system includes 35 national parks, 56 nature reserves, 18 species and habitat conservation areas, 63 landscape protection areas, cultural and historical relics and scientific experimental research forests. The area of ​​special-use forests is mainly located in national parks and nature reserves (accounting for 92%).

Headwater protection forests account for nearly 95% of the total area of ​​protective forests, concentrated mainly in the Northern midlands and mountainous regions. The area of ​​protective forests protecting water sources, protective forests preventing sea encroachment and wind and sand blowing protection forests accounts for 1 to 2% of the total.

Ms. Anja Barth affirmed that Vietnam is on the right track in establishing a better-connected network of special-use and protection forests. Photo: Anh Khoi.

Ms. Anja Barth, Chief Advisor, GIZ Vietnam, commented: “Over the years, Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Germany have cooperated closely to promote sustainable forest management, intertwining conservation efforts. Consistent with the priority area of ​​“Protecting life on Earth - environment and natural resources” of the German Government, GIZ and its partners in Vietnam are making efforts to join hands to address the global challenges of climate change and environmental degradation.

Vietnam is on the right track in establishing a network of better-connected special-use and protection forests that is more resilient, efficient, and sustainable than individual areas.”

Forest values ​​in Pu Mat National Park are diverse and rich. Photo: Viet Khanh.

The year 2025 recorded many positive results in the management, protection and development of special-use and protective forests compared to the same period. In the past 11 months, the country discovered 2,814 cases of illegal deforestation and forest fires, a decrease of 426 cases (17.5%) compared to the same period in 2024; the damaged area was 1,059 hectares, a decrease of 527 hectares (32.9%) compared to the same period in 2024.

Regarding forest development, the whole country has prepared 1,039 million seedlings of all kinds to serve the 2025 forest planting plan, equal to 100% compared to the same period; planted over 85.68 million scattered trees, reaching 71.4% of the plan, up 9% compared to the same period in 2024, estimated to reach about 100 - 120 million trees in 2025.

Pu Mat's ecosystem and biodiversity are very valuable. Photo: Viet Khanh.

The highlight is the breakthroughs brought about by forestry development policies. In particular, the total revenue from the forest environmental service payment policy from 2011 to present has reached more than 29,000 billion VND (average 1,700 billion VND/year). This revenue source supplements timely funding for forest owners, making an important contribution to supporting the improvement of livelihoods for people in mountainous areas participating in forest protection. According to preliminary statistics, about 500,000 households, mainly ethnic minorities in mountainous areas, have directly benefited.

Most recently, Vietnam transferred 10.3 million tons of CO₂e in the North Central region for the period 2018-2025 to the World Bank at a price of 5 USD/ton, thereby earning 51 million USD, managed according to Decree 107/2022/ND-CP. At the same time, signed a Letter of Intent with LEAF to transfer 5.15 million tons of CO₂e for the period 2022-2026 in 11 provinces of the Central Highlands and South Central regions at a price of 10 USD/ton, earning 51.5 million USD, currently consulting on documents for negotiating and signing the ERPA Emission Reduction Purchase Agreement.

Highlanders benefit from many practical policies thanks to forest protection. Photo: Viet Khanh.

Regarding biodiversity conservation, localities and relevant units continue to promote the implementation of the Emergency Action Plan for Primate Conservation in Vietnam to 2025, with a vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 628/QD-TTg dated May 10, 2017; the Project to strengthen the management capacity of the conservation area system to 2025, with a vision to 2030 approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 626/QD-TTg dated May 10, 2017; the National Action Plan for Elephant Conservation in Vietnam to 2035, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) in Decision No. 2958/QD-BNN-LN dated August 28, 2024.

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/rung-dac-dung-rung-phong-ho-thuc-day-phat-trien-toan-dien-d788210.html