Lam Dong forest economy: [1] Protecting border forests

Following the merger of the Thac Mo and Border Belt Protection Forests, the Lam Dong Border Belt Protection Forest now covers more than 16,200 hectares across five communes, Dak Wil, Thuan An, Thuan Hanh, Tuy Duc, and Quang Truc in Lam Dong Province (formerly part of Tuy Duc District, Dak Nong Province before the administrative merger). Most of the forest lies in rugged, heavily fragmented terrain along the national border, making forest patrols and protection efforts particularly challenging.

Despite its recent establishment, the Management Board of the Lam Dong Border Belt Protection Forest has quickly consolidated its organizational structure and deployed dedicated forest protection teams to operate around the clock at key guard stations, ensuring continuous monitoring and protection of the forest.

Mr. Do Thanh Tam, Deputy Director of the Management Board of the Border Belt Protection Forest, said that with responsibility for 25 forest sub-compartments, the unit has implemented a comprehensive range of measures based on the principle of protecting the forest at its source. Monthly and quarterly patrol, inspection, and forest fire prevention and control plans are developed in accordance with seasonal conditions, weather patterns, and the evolving risk of forest violations. Forest protection officers are assigned to specific forest blocks and sub-compartments and maintain 24/7 dutyat key locations, particularly along the border.

"To improve the effectiveness of forest protection, we use drones, camera traps, and specialized monitoring software to detect signs of forest encroachment at an early stage. The Management Board also works closely with local authorities, the Forest Protection Department, the Border Guard, and neighboring forest management units in joint patrols and forest protection activities. High-risk areas are clearly identified, and personnel are assigned systematically down to each team and individual, enabling us to maintain effective control over the area," Mr. Tam said.

Echoing this commitment, Mr. Lo Hoang Thuy, a forest protection officer with the Management Board, said: "Our teams conduct continuous patrols along the border, National Highway 14C, and other high-risk areas. We also intensify monitoring during public holidays, the Lunar New Year, and other sensitive periods. A strict 24-hour duty system is maintained, combined with regular field presence, allowing us to detect potential forest violations early and prevent illegal activities before they escalate."

These measures have delivered positive results in forest management and protection. Thanks to their consistent implementation, forest security has remained largely stable, with no major hotspots reported. Illegal activities have been detected and prevented at an early stage, while forest encroachment, illegal land occupation, unlawful timber harvesting, and wildlife poaching have been progressively brought under control.

In 2025, many local households signed voluntary commitments to protect the forest. The forest allocation scheme also continued to prove effective, with nearly 930 hectares entrusted to 11 community groups involving 166 households. Together, these communities conducted 262 patrols involving more than 1,500 participant-days, helping safeguard the forest areas under their management. Through close coordination between professional forest protection teams and local communities, no violations or forest fires were recorded across the entire forest area managed by the Board, while forest cover remained at 92%.

Public awareness efforts were also intensified through four community meetings attended by 355 households, resulting in the signing of 1,188 forest protection commitments.

These achievements demonstrate that community-based forest management is producing tangible results by reducing pressure on professional forest protection forces while strengthening public awareness and local responsibility for forest conservation.

Despite these encouraging outcomes, forest management and protection in Lam Dong Province continue to face significant challenges, requiring authorities to maintain strict enforcement and further strengthen protection measures.

Mr. Le Thanh Son, Deputy Director of the Lam Dong Department of Agriculture and Environment, said that to strengthen forest management and protection, the Department issued Official Dispatch No. 3268/SNNMT-VP on 24 March 2026, directing the provincial Forest Protection Department to take the lead, in coordination with relevant authorities, in investigating and taking firm action against illegal deforestation. The directive also requires forest protection forces to maintain a strong field presence to promptly detect and prevent forest violations, particularly illegal forest clearance for agricultural expansion.

Local People's Committees have been instructed to strengthen their responsibilities in state forest management while intensifying public awareness campaigns to encourage compliance with forestry laws. Meanwhile, local police are tasked with coordinating investigations into cases showing signs of criminal offenses and pursuing prosecutions where appropriate to enhance deterrence.

"The province has instructed authorities to strictly hold accountable any organizations or individuals who neglect their management responsibilities or show signs of facilitating illegal deforestation. As pressure on forest protection continues to grow, strengthening management has become an urgent priority. However, as offenders adopt increasingly sophisticated methods, forest governance must continue to evolve through stronger monitoring, tighter enforcement, and more rigorous legal action," Mr. Le Thanh Son said.