Forest protection contracts proves effective: Nui Ong Nature Reserve

The Management Board of Nui Ong Nature Reserve in Lam Dong Province currently oversees more than 24,355 hectares of forest and forest land.

This area is one of the top priorities in the conservation programme for the Truong Son range, featuring important vegetation types such as lowland evergreen tropical forests, deciduous primary tropical forests, and montane dwarf forests. Given its significance, forest management and protection here not only contribute to biodiversity conservation but also play a vital role in climate regulation, soil protection, erosion control, and disaster mitigation.

To enhance management effectiveness, the unit has implemented forest protection contracting linked to payments for forest environmental services within the hydropower catchments of Ham Thuan-Da Mi and Tri An reservoirs. Since 2015, under sustainable forestry development programmes, nearly 13,988 hectares have been contracted to 254 households. This model has mobilized local communities, turning each contracted household into “eyes and ears” and an extended arm of forest protection forces.

The effectiveness of this approach is clearly reflected in forest monitoring and fire prevention efforts. The regular presence of local people in forest areas enables early detection and prevention of violations, helping preserve forest resources. In practice, the number of violations of the Law on Forestry has decreased by over 10% annually. Hotspots of illegal logging and forest encroachment have been significantly reduced, ensuring forest security across large areas.

Beyond environmental benefits, the contracting policy also delivers important social gains. By creating local employment, it has improved livelihoods for many households, especially ethnic minorities and disadvantaged groups. Stable income from forest environmental services helps reduce poverty, support long-term livelihoods, and strengthen people’s attachment to the forest. When forests become a primary source of income, local communities are more willing to stay, protect, and care for them as their own assets.