Bu Gia Map National Park accelerates completion of sustainable forest development plan

On the afternoon of August 11, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang, chaired a working session with leaders of Bu Gia Map National Park in Bu Gia Map Commune, Dong Nai Province. The meeting was also attended by leadership of the Provincial Border Guard Command and representatives from several provincial departments and agencies.

Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang, delivers directives during the working session. Photo: Ngoc Lien.

In the report on the park’s operations over the first seven months of 2025, Director of Bu Gia Map National Park Vuong Duc Hoa, stated: The park comprises a total natural area of over 25,500 hectares (including forests and forestry land), of which more than 25,300 hectares are natural forests (accounting for 98.95%).

Director of Bu Gia Map National Park Vuong Duc Hoa reports on the park’s operations during the working session. (Photo: Ngoc Lien)

Over the past seven months, the Management Board of Bu Gia Map National Park focused on disseminating the central and provincial directives and legal documents on forest protection and development to civil servants, public employees, workers, and local communities, particularly residents of the three buffer zone communes surrounding the park. The Management Board also directed its forest rangers to collaborate with contracted forest protection communities to conduct patrols and inspections, ensuring forest conservation and fire prevention and control across the entire forest area of the park.

The park maintained consistent enforcement against violations related to illegal wildlife and forest product exploitation. Conservation, rescue efforts, and ecotourism development remained stable. Over the past seven months, the park welcomed 4,700 visitors for sightseeing and experiential activities. Additionally, the park regularly conducted biodiversity monitoring and tracked rare wildlife populations across its entire forest area ...

During the organizational restructuring of the political system, Bu Gia Map National Park has strictly implemented directives and regulations from the provincial government and relevant departments/agencies. To date, the park has achieved initial operational stability and discipline, effectively fulfilling its mandated political tasks as required.

Notwithstanding these accomplishments, Bu Gia Map National Park has encountered persistent operational challenges, including: incomplete prevention of illegal forest incursions due to its border location adjacent to both the Kingdom of Cambodia and Dak Nong province; forest rangers have encountered difficulties in administrative penalty procedures for foreign violators. Furthermore, the appraisal and approval processes for feasibility studies on forest protection and development infrastructure projects within the park remain problematic and face procedural obstacles.

Director of Dong Nai Provincial Forest Protection Department Ngo Van Vinh delivers remarks at the working session. (Photo: Ngoc Lien)

To effectively carry out its forest protection, fire prevention, and firefighting duties, the Management Board of Bu Gia Map National Park proposed that provincial leadership and relevant departments approve the installation of a forest fire warning system and procurement of specialized equipment to apply technology for forest conservation, fire management, and biodiversity protection.

Furthermore, they suggested provincial authorities to direct relevant agencies to coordinate in revising the Sustainable Forest Management Plan (2021-2030), and to develop the framework and budget for an Ecotourism and Resort Development Project (2025-2030) with a vision extending to 2040, aligned with Dong Nai province’s investment capacity ...

Speaking at the working session, Member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang, acknowledged the recommendations put forward by the Park’s Management Board. Regarding specific issues, the Vice Chairwoman requested more detailed reporting and instructed relevant departments and agencies to review and advise the Provincial People’s Committee on appropriate solutions. Regarding the sustainable forest development plan, the Park Management Board must proactively revise and finalize the proposal for appraisal by competent authorities before submitting it to the Provincial People’s Committee at the earliest opportunity. According to the Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee, the sustainable forest development plan serves as the foundation for the park to implement subsequent steps in forest management, protection, and value enhancement – particularly for developing forest ecotourism.

Additionally, the Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People’s Committee directed the Department of Agriculture and Environment to formally acknowledge the operational challenges faced by border guard stations and to allocate financial support in compliance with established regulations.

By: Ngoc Lien - Binh Nguyen
Translated by: Tam Binh - Thu Ha